Director of Policy and Government Relations
AASHTO
Susan Howard serves as Director of Policy and Government Relations at the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), a nonprofit, nonpartisan association representing transportation departments in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. She works to advance AASHTO’s federal legislative and policy efforts and serves as a key liaison between AASHTO and Congress, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and other national organizations. Susan previously held the position of Program Director for Transportation Finance and Program Manager for Freight at AASHTO. Prior to joining AASHTO in 2018, she worked as Director of Government Relations for the National Association of Development Organizations. She also served as the Federal Programs Coordinator for the North Carolina Department of Transportation and worked on Capitol Hill as a Legislative Assistant, responsible for transportation issues for a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee. Susan earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Guilford College in Greensboro, N.C.
From toll roads to TIFIA, issuers across the country are exploring innovative ways of bringing in revenue and understanding road usage to fill funding gaps. How much can issuers rely on the highway trust fund and Congress’ willingness to fill the continuing holes in it? What’s in store for the next transportation reauthorization legislation in 2026?