U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Doug Duncan, President and CEO of FedEx Freight, are some of the featured speakers at the Annual Meeting of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), being held October 22 to 26 in Palm Desert, California. In addition to climate change and freight issues, the AASHTO meeting will address the current stalemate over the authorization of a new transportation bill, high-speed rail, safety, and other critical transportation issues. Sen. Boxer and Duncan will be speaking at Sunday's plenary session.

Other speakers include Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez, Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff, and other top federal officials. The winners of the America's Transportation Award Grand Prize and People's Choice Award will also be announced. More than 100,000 votes have been cast for the top ten transportation projects of 2009 in this year's contest.

Transportation officials will get hands-on experience with the latest advancements in automotive technology during the Innovative Mobility Showcase demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday. More than a dozen displays will demonstrate technology that will contribute to a more efficient and "green" transportation system in the future.

The Annual Meeting events are open to media; registration is required on-site or by email to Tony Dorsey, tdorsey AT aashto.org. Additional information about AASHTO's Annual Meeting, including the business program agenda, exhibitors, and sponsors, is available at http://www.transportation.org/meetings/181.aspx.

WHO: U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), FedEx Freight CEO and President Doug Duncan, CEOs from the State DOTs, and top Administration Officials

WHAT: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Annual Meeting

WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 22 to Monday, Oct. 26, 2009

WHERE: J.W. Marriott, Palm Desert, CA