With more than 5,000 presentations in nearly 800 sessions and workshops, there were multiple relevant topics to OACES. Some of the topics of interest included: Converting Distressed Paved Roads to Engineered Unpaved Roads, Transportation Needs in Public Lands: Voices from the Field, and Promising New Technologies in Pavement Evaluation. Also in attendance was fellow OACES colleague Joe Marek, Clackamas County, who chairs the TRB Subcommittee on Roadway Safety Culture. Not only is Joe an expert on roadway safety here at home, he’s a leader and champion at the national level and we thank Joe for his continued support and professional guidance supporting Oregon Counties’ local safety action planning. If you are interested in more information on the annual conference and TRB research visit: http://www.trb.org
Also in Washington DC, the NACo Presidents meeting was taking place, giving Brian the perfect opportunity to join AOC Executive Director Mike McArthur and AOC President Craig Pope, Polk County, for visits on Capitol Hill. In addition to reminding our Oregon Congressional Delegation about the support of a federal infrastructure funding plan and the reauthorization of Secure Rural Schools, also discussed was counties’ strong support of the Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) with an emphasis for continued and increased funding and more flexibility for local delivery and creative options for counties to meet funding match requirements. For more information about the Oregon FLAP program, which is currently open for proposals through April 6, visit: https://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/