Transportation Committee

The Transportation Committee offers those with an interest in transportation issues the opportunity to network with other professionals, to sharpen their technical and professional skills, and to grow professionally.

The New Infrastructure Plan and Transportation Funding

Understanding the nation's infrastructure needs and future plans and keeping track of the myriad of transportation funding options is a tough job in the calmest of years, and today's political climate has made this an even greater challenge. In this constantly changing world, staying on top of transportation funding is a full-time job. While ASCE members and industry professionals are always up to the challenge of developing designs for the most complicated infrastructure needs, navigating the legislative pathways that lead to the funding that pays for the design and construction can be daunting.

In this month's ASCE NCS Transportation Committee lecture, Cathy Connor, WSP's Director of Federal Government Affairs will provide an update on the Trump Administration's new Infrastructure Plan, what it means to the industry, and what funding options are now available and how you or your clients can take advantage of them to advance your programs. In addition to the Trump Infrastructure Plan, she will discuss the FY 18 and FY 19 USDOT budget/appropriations and FAST Act reauthorization, and the related looming insolvency of the Highway Trust Fund. As anyone who watches the news or follows Twitter feeds knows, things change quickly these days, so by March 27, there may be even more to discuss.

WHEN: Tuesday, March 27, 2018, 11:45AM - 1:10PM (lecture starts at noon)
WHERE: WSP USA Inc., 1015 Half Street SE, Suite 650, Washington, DC 20003
(near Navy Yard-Ballpark Metro Station)

Cathy Connor is a Senior Vice President and Director of Federal Government Affairs for WSP (formerly Parsons Brinckerhoff), located in the Washington, DC office. She was previously with the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), where she was Deputy Director of Government Affairs, and prior to that, was a political appointee at the US Department of Transportation where she served as Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Governmental Affairs. Cathy is responsible for directing WSP's federal legislative, regulatory and political activities. Her extensive experience includes working with industry, federal agency and congressional staff on key infrastructure legislation, such as MAP-21, FAA Reauthorization and PRRIA. Cathy also helps clients identify federal funding sources and plan legislative strategies. She acts as the firm's liaison to numerous industry associations and legislative coalitions where she serves in various leadership roles and speaks at industry events. She is frequently quoted in ENR, Civil Engineering magazine and other industry publications on federal legislative activities.