December 19, 2013

Did You Know?

AASHTO has gone through some identity changes throughout its history. Originally named the American Association of State Highway Officials, the organization became the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials in 1973 to reflect a shift from a highway-oriented organization to one that addresses all modes of transportation. This change came just years after the U.S. Department of Transportation was established, which encompassed various federal agencies with transportation responsibilities.

Soon after its name change (specifically, in 1976), AASHTO created various new multimodal committees dealing with areas such as aviation, water, and public transportation. This was done to fully realize AASHTO's mission of representing all transportation modes.

In addition to the new committees, AASHTO expanded its international presence in the 1970s. While state transportation departments stood as the focus of the organization, AASHTO welcomed two Canadian provinces — Ontario and New Brunswick — as affiliate members.