Andy McDonald and Olivia Oshry Florida state association convention
OAAA & States
State outdoor advertising associations are key partners to OAAA, and September was a very busy month for annal meetings and conferences. The OAAA Government Affairs team gave presentations and updates to the Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, and Texas associations on state, federal, and legal issues of importance to the industry.
U.S. 20
The House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee approved a bill to name U.S. Route 20 as the National Medal of Honor Highway. U.S. 20 is the longest road in the country running from Boston, MA to Newport, OR. The Medal of Honor naming project is supported by veterans’ service organizations and has been approved by numerous state legislatures.
FHWA Funds
The Federal Highway Administration has spent over $800 million across 36 states for emergency roadway repairs due to natural disasters. This figure does not include recent infrastructure devastation due to Hurricane Helene, which is sure to test FHWA funding reserves.
Travel Data
A recent study showed that total vehicle miles traveled (VMT), a key metric on driving mobility, increased 12% from May 2019 compared to May 2024. VMT is rising faster now than when highway travel first rebounded post-pandemic.
Published: October 4, 2024