Work zone safety takes center stage during T&I hearing
NAPA is leading a work zone safety coalition with other trade associations in the road construction space. The mission of the coalition is to enhance work zone safety legislation at the federal level. The coalition will continue to work with members of congress and federal agencies to make meaningful changes to work zone conditions. For more information, please contact NAPA’s Director of Government Affairs Mitch Baldwin.
On Feb. 12, the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Subcommittee on Highways and Transit continued its work on the Committee’s stakeholder engagement process with a hearing titled America Builds: A Review of Programs to Address Roadway Safety. The focus of the hearing was a general review of safety related programs that have been authorized in prior legislation as well as an overview of the safety challenges ahead on America’s highway system.
In his opening remarks, Subcommittee Chairman David Rouzer (R-NC), highlighted the challenges that highway contractors must navigate while maintaining our nation’s critical roadway network.
“Reckless driving puts our roadside workers at greater risk of injury or death,” Rouzer said. “According to the Associated General Contractors of America, 64 percent of contractors reported a motor vehicle had crashed into their work zone since 2020. This number is unacceptable. Again, our enforcement can discourage reckless driving in work zones, but we can also look at ways to better design work zones and related traffic patterns to curtail these incidents.”
Rouzer is no stranger to this issue; he joined NAPA’s Hill Day fly-in event and discussed his goals on T&I with various NAPA attendees. In late November, he also attended a plant tour in Benson, N.C. with NAPA member Fred Smith Co. of Construction Partners Inc. and toured a job site on Interstate 95.
Clearly, the plant tour and work zone site visit had a profound impact on Congressman Rouzer as he experienced first-hand what so many asphalt professionals experience every day; managing busy work zones with minimal protection and constant traffic. It was a great opportunity to showcase a dynamic work zone on a busy section of interstate highway, and Chairman Rouzer left with some valuable takeaways as his team begins drafting work zone safety language in the next highway reauthorization package. “NAPA worked diligently on building Hill champions focused on meaningful improvements for work zone safety. We know this is a key priority for our membership and after countless meetings and work zone visits by elected officials this past year, we are now shifting gears from awareness and education to legislative goals and implementation” Baldwin said.
While Chairman Rouzer highlighted the complexities and safety concerns of work zones in his opening statement, many other Highway Subcommittee members echoed NAPA’s policy priorities and willingness to find WZS solutions.
