Date:  Thursday, July 16, 2009

Contact: Lloyd Brown, WSDOT Communications Director 360-705-7076

SEATTLE – Washington Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond was unanimously elected by transportation directors from 18 states to serve as president of the Western Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (WASHTO) during the organization's annual meeting this week in Seattle.

Texas Transportation Department Executive Director Amadeo Saenz was also elected as vice president. Both officers' terms will run through July 2010.
As WASHTO president, Hammond will work along with the other 17 states to influence federal transportation issues like SAFETEA-LU reauthorization, climate change policy and ARRA (stimulus) project delivery.

“I’m honored to serve in this leadership role at this time because America is at a turning point in transportation – from the need for long-term, sustainable funding for our aging infrastructure to a modern way of thinking about improving our nation’s highways and roadways; operating them efficiently and offering travel options that will reduce congestion and the detrimental effects of vehicle emissions,” said Hammond. “This new Obama administration brings a renewed sense of commitment and urgency at the federal level to having a transportation system that works for the nation.”

WASHTO membership includes departments of transportation from Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Hawaii, Kansas, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wyoming and Washington. The Association was organized to encourage a balanced transportation system across the western United States.

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