Video: AASHTO 2026 ‘Back to Basics’ Knowledge Session

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently released video of a knowledge session held during its 2026 Washington Briefing in February that focused on the emphasis areas of Russell McMurry, AASHTO’s 2025-2026 president.

[Above photo by AASHTO]

McMurry – commissioner of the Georgia Department of Transportation – moderated a panel that offered a broader transportation industry perspective on his emphasis areas, which focus on reauthorization of federal surface transportation funding, improving safety, and improving project delivery.

That panel featured Marsha Anderson Bomar, president of the American Society of Civil Engineers; Laura Chace, president and CEO of the Intelligent Transportation Society of America; and Jeff Shoaf, CEO of the Associated General Contractors of America.

McMurry described his emphasis areas during the knowledge session as a “back to basics” approach to the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization bill – one that prioritizes robust federal funding; that improves safety outcomes; and speeds up project delivery.

“[Reauthorization] legislation is a means to those ends; one that can deliver tangible outcome in the states,” McMurry said. “Also, technology offers a real opportunity to improve our work flows here, so there is an opportunity to work technology into the reauthorization discussion.”

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