Swanson School hosts White House Roundtable with Federal Highway Administration's Victor Mendez

PITTSBURGH  (June 11, 2012) … The White House, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Swanson School of Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh hosted a roundtable discussion community leaders in transportation this afternoon, June 11 with Victor Mendez, Administrator, Federal Highway Administration . Administrator Mendez was in Pittsburgh to participate in the International Bridge Conference at the David Lawrence Convention Center.

The White House and the US Dept. of Transportation utilized the roundtable - one of many held around the country - to gain input and recommendations from regional transportation leaders. The roundtable at the Swanson School was moderated by  Radisav Vidic, PhD, P.E. , William Kepler Whiteford Professor of Environmental Engineering and Chairman of the  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering . 

"On behalf of the Swanson School and our guests, I want to thank Administrator Mendez for listening to our comments and concerns about transportation and infrastructure issues in our region," Dr. Vidic said. "Improving our infrastructure and addressing transportation needs not only regionally but also nationally can positively impact the economy, so we hope that the Administration welcomes our input once Mr. Mendez returns to Washington."

Mr. Mendez oversees FHWA's 2,900 employees in Washington and field offices across the country and provides executive guidance on strategic initiatives and policy. Mr. Mendez previously served as the Director of the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), working to improve the agency's customer service in both its highway and motor vehicle divisions. Mr. Mendez was elected president of both the Western Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, its national counterpart.

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(Pictured above l. to r.: Mark Magalotti, Director, Center for Sustainable Transportation Infrastructure (CSTI) and Coordinator, Transportation Engineering Program; Administrator Victor Mendez; and Radisav Vidic, PhD, P.E., Chair of Civil & Environmental Engineering. Photo: Joseph John Kapelewski Jr.)