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Sablan's D.C. fellowship marked by unique opportunity,
unforeseen benefits

From March 2016 to March 2017, ITD Traffic Engineer Kevin Sablan served as a Transportation Management Fellow in Washington, D.C. as part of an AASHTO program that provides mutual benefits for the parent organization, for the state DOT, and for the individual participating.

Sablan was Idaho's first-ever AASHTO Fellow, and one of just three that year, along with Rachel Roper from Hawaii, a policy fellow, and Anne Ellis of Arizona, a fellow in policy and engineering.

Sablan said that when he applied, he didn't focus much on expectations, because he was trying to avoid being disappointed if he was not selected. Being selected was surprise number one — there were more to come.

He said the trip broke down some preconceptions he had of Washington, D.C. He expected the people to be rude and unfriendly, but instead found them to be pleasant and engaging. Coming from Idaho, he also expected a concrete jungle.

"Instead, it was an open feel, probably because of the restriction on really tall and overbearing buildings – buildings within the core of Washington, D..C could not be taller than 555' (the height of the Washington Monument), and it was a very 'green' community – lots of trees, especially in the older neighborhoods."

He did experience some distinctly D.C. events, like a shooter at the Capitol that had his building locked down…during his first week. He said even on normal days, the police presence is EVERYWHERE – to be expected when the U.S. President lives nearby.

He said he did a lot of walking, biking, riding the bus, or hopping on the metro, and not at all feeling guilty that he wasn't contributing to the Highway Trust Fund by buying gas.

Sablan said he learned a lot about how AASHTO works, and will apply that to his job at ITD. He said one unforeseen benefit was the opportunity it afforded him to step back and reflect on his first year as manager at Headquarters after a decade serving District 3.

"My goals are to identify the 'what,' ask 'how,' and explain the 'why.' I think a measurement of success will be better staff engagement, a sense of ownership in the product, their buy-in, and improved job satisfaction/employee morale," he added.

The Capitol building, looking south across the street from AASHTO's office.