ITS America’s COVID-19 Response Report (April 2020)

The coronavirus pandemic is wreaking unprecedented havoc around the nation: 6.6 million initial unemployment claims, 700,000 jobs lost in the March jobs report, more than 368,449 confirmed coronavirus cases, and 10,959 dead (as of April 7). The United States is facing an unprecedented threat in COVID-19. Every sector is being tested, including healthcare, first responders, transportation, technology, the service industry, and state and local governments. In Washington DC, with the economy deteriorating faster than expected and concerns that the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is having only a limited effect, President Trump and Congress are pivoting to a fourth round of assistance to get the nation through the public health emergency.

What matters most now is how the country responds. ITS America will provide timely updates to our members on Washington’s response to the COVID-19 public health emergency and continue to reach out to you to understand your needs and advocate for your priorities. We will continue to work with the Washington transportation community to ensure emergency assistance is available for our sector. This crisis is affecting all aspects of our membership, so we want to make sure our policy expertise, resources, and relationships in Washington, DC are working for you. Finally, we will continue to work on our core priorities through this crisis, including preserving the 5.9 GHz for transportation safety communications, reauthorization of the FAST Act, automated vehicle legislation, and Mobility on Demand (MOD). The following is a summary of ITS America’s April 1 webinar entitled: “COVID-19’s Impact on Transportation and the Federal Response.”