ConceptionThe realization of the enormous growth of the highway industry in the Mid-20th century, in particular, the inauguration and implementation of the National System of Interstate and Defense Highway Act of 1956, and the recognition that the knowledge for such a program could only be consummated by the whole-hearted and integrated efforts of all persons associated with the highway industry, led to the formation of the American Society of Highway Engineers with the intent and determination to assume its responsibility for the development of the rapid growing demands of the highway industry.
History
The Society was incorporated in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1958 with the conception and inception of the first Chartered Section credited to a small group of dedicated engineers from the Pennsylvania Department of Highways, in association with a group of outstanding contractors, material suppliers and consulting engineers in the Harrisburg area.
Chesapeake Section
The Chesapeake Section was chartered in April, 1988, with 123 Charter Members, a record number for any ASHE section chartered to that date. Maryland represented the fifth state for which an ASHE Section was created.
Mr. Paul McConnell of the Delaware Valley Section made first contact with a transplanted ASHE member, Dave Greenwood, formerly of the Delaware Valley Section also, to suggest a new section be organized in Maryland. Paul came to the Aberdeen Sheraton Inn to make a formal introduction and presentation about ASHE. Paul was instrumental in generating interest to form the new section. A diverse group of individuals representing the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA), Baltimore County Department of Public Works (DPW), Interstate Division for Baltimore City (IDBC), various consultants, and other highway industry personnel was assembled to serve in the capacity of officers or board members for the Section.
An inaugural meeting was developed for the spring of 1988 in advance of “Charter Night”. The seminar-style program was presented by SHA’s Ed Stein on Stormwater Management and Sediment & Erosion Control; the meeting was an opportunity for SHA to provide “on-the-spot” training for all attendees. The meeting was held at the Engineers Club, a facility converted from two, large historic brownstones, located in the Mount Vernon section of Baltimore in close proximity to Baltimore’s Washington Monument.
Charter Night was held on April 21, 1988. Charter Number 24 was signed by the then-National President, Ron Springman, and National Secretary, Terence Connor. Harry McCullough, then Chief, Interstate Division for Baltimore City, was Master of Ceremonies, and a multi-media program presentation on the Fort McHenry Tunnel project was presented by Ken Merrill. A record number of Charter Members attended, a record maintained until the Carolina Triangle Section was chartered in January, 1992.
David Greenwood served as the Section’s Charter President and later served as a National Board Director and National President in 1996/1997.
Soon after the chartering of the Chesapeake Section, approval to host the 1993 Annual Conference was requested and received. The conference was held at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor with a program emphasis on highway impacts to the environment and the associated mitigation design. Activities included a tour of the Engineers Club (Icebreaker), a project tour of the new Maryland Route 100, and a special Saturday Session on TravTech vehicles, the first generation of cars to include a navigation system; a TravTech vehicle was brought on site for navigation system capability viewing. Other activities included a Baltimore Orioles baseball game and a tour of Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
Proceeds from the Conference were used to initiate a scholarship program for college engineering students. The program was named for John Bruck, an SHA employee, who labored tirelessly during the Conference to ensure all activity-related transportation needs were met. John was a man of vision and held the highway industry dear to his heart. The amount of $1,500 is currently awarded to one individual selected from the engineering schools at Johns Hopkins University, Morgan State University, and the University of Maryland. The scholarship program also is supported by an annual golf outing.
The Chesapeake Section co-sponsored the 2006 National Conference in Williamsburg, Virginia; the conference emphasized the past, present and future of the highway industry and included activities such as a visit to historic Jamestown and guided tours of historic Williamsburg.
Members of the Chesapeake Section have been involved with the New Sections Committee in the past helping to form new sections in Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, New Jersey and North Dakota. This effort was instrumental in expanding ASHE’s national exposure.
The Chesapeake Section continues to hold section meetings at the Engineers Club. The standard meeting format is unique to ASHE and includes technical sessions in the afternoon followed by a social hour, dinner, and a speaker. This format provides for professional development hour (PDH) opportunities, while, at the same time, promoting the attendance of younger members. Each meeting’s technical program places an emphasis on a specific discipline, whether it is planning, traffic, hydrology/hydraulics, water resources, or highway construction.
As ASHE celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, the Chesapeake Section will be celebrating its 20th anniversary this Spring. We look forward to the celebration of both events and continued success in the future.
Administration
The Board of Directors consists of representatives of contractors, consulting engineers, government agencies, materials producers, utility companies and other highway related agencies being duly elected Officers to serve as the Administrative Staff of the Society.
Membership
Membership in the American Society of Highway Engineers is open to all those who have demonstrated experience in the highway or a highway related industry. Neither a college degree nor professional licensures are prerequisites to membership. We welcome all those committed to abide by the Constitution and By0laws of the American Society of Highway Engineers and to support us in the fulfillment of our vision and mission.
Scope
At the present time, the Society membership numbers over four thousand consisting of eleven (11) sections in Pennsylvania - Altoona, Clearfield, Delaware Valley (Philadelphia area), East Penn (Allentown, Easton, Reading areas), Franklin, Harrisburg, Mid-Allegheny (Indiana area), North-East Penn (Scranton area), Pittsburgh, Southwestern Pennsylvania (Uniontown area) and Williamsport; six (6) sections in Ohio - Cuyahoga Valley (Akron-Canton area), Western Reserve (Youngstown area), Central Ohio (Columbus area), Lake Erie (Cleveland area), Northwest Ohio (Toledo area), and Triko Valley (Cincinnati area); one (1) section in West Virginia - North Central West Virginia (Clarksburg area); two (2) sections in New Jersey - Southern New Jersey and North Central New Jersey; one (1) section in Delaware - First State Section; one (1) section in Maryland - Chesapeake; two (2) sections in Virginia - Potomac (Virginia - D.C.) area and Old Dominion (Richmond); two (2) sections in North Carolina - Carolina Triangle (Raleigh area) and Carolina Piedmont (Charlotte area); two (2) sections in Florida - Central Florida (Orlando area) and Tampa Bay (Tampa area); one (1) section in North Dakota - Central Dakota (Bismarck area) and one (1) Section in New York City. The Society also includes members from numerous other states.
Benefits
The many and diverse benefits of a mutual desire among the members to cooperatively approach and solve the common concerns that must be faced has become manifest. The direction of the Society is presented by the goals in the Long Range Plan. The spirit of professional and personal fellowship has added to the strength of all.
Our Mission