The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has created the Intercity Bus Task Force to improve interconnectivity of the national transportation network with intercity passenger travel. According to Emil Frankel, the DOT's assistant secretary for transportation policy, the task force will brings a multi-modal perspective to transportation policy development. Peter J. Pantuso, president and CEO of the American Bus Association (ABA), applauded the action. "For years we have strived to bring critical industry issues to the top of the work agenda for the transportation department," he said. Preliminary policies and programs that affect the industry identified by the task force include markets/competition, facilities access, and traveler information — all issues and areas ABA addresses in its TEA 21 reauthorization recommendations.