AASHTO Journal - New Leaders for AASHTO Council on Active Transportation

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials has appointed Nancy Daubenberger and Rob Bedenbaugh to serve two-year terms as chair and vice chair, respectively, for the AASHTO Council on Active Transportation.

[Above photos by MnDOT and SCDOT]

AASHTO’s Council on Active Transportation addresses issues related to using human-powered means of travel, which includes walking and bicycling, with or without the use of mobility aids; and may also include using other human-scaled or micro-mobility devices that may be electric-powered or electric-assisted, such as e-bikes and e-scooters.

Daubenberger serves as the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Named to that position in May 2022, Daubenberger – a 22-year veteran of the agency – previously served as Minnesota DOT’s deputy commissioner, chief engineer, assistant commissioner for engineering services, and the state bridge engineer.

She also served in a number of planning, project management, and design roles for the Minnesota DOT Bridge Office and Metro District. Before joining the Minnesota DOT, she worked in consulting for about six years, in both bridge and road design.

Daubenberger previously served as the chair of AASHTO’s Committee on Right of Way, Utilities, and Outdoor Advertising Controls – known as “CRUO.”

CRUO reviews and recommends changes to laws, rules, regulations, and procedures affecting right of way, utility, and outdoor advertising issues, as well as maintaining three AASHTO publications on those subjects.

She also recently participated in a knowledge session held at the AASHTO 2024 Washington Briefing that delved into the funding challenges faced by the transportation sector as well as some of the solutions to those issues. She also served on a panel at the 2024 Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting that delved into the ongoing development of the “Moonshot Project” by state departments of transportation across the country.

Born and raised in Minnesota, Daubenberger holds a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from North Dakota State University along with a master’s in civil engineering from the University of Minnesota. Nancy and her husband reside in Woodbury, where they raised a son and daughter.

Meanwhile, Bendebaugh – the council’s new vice chair – serves as director of the Office of Engineering Support for the South Carolina Department of Transportation.

A nearly 30-year veteran of the agency, Bendebaugh has worked in roadway design, pre-construction support, and other engineering fields.

A graduate of Clemson University with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, Bendenbaugh has also served on the AASHTO Committee on Design, which develops and maintains guidance pertaining to the design and performance of multi-modal transportation systems.