Momentum Issue #174
Empowering Innovation, Together
It’s five weeks until the 2026 ITS America Conference & Expo. Are you ready?
It’ll be a packed few days of information exchange, real-world demonstration experiences, and networking. If you haven’t registered now, do it before the rates go up May 13th.
Below, find the the ultimate guide to maximizing your experience in the Motor City this summer.
QUICK FACTS
- Detroit, Michigan – Huntington Place
- June 9-12, 2026
- 3,000+ industry professionals, 170+ exhibitors and sponsors, 100+ conference sessions, 20+ countries, regions, and territories
DEMONSTRATION EXPERIENCES
Take part in detailed product demonstrations, evaluate new solutions in real time, and interact with the experts driving these developments! Explore these participating companies:
Sponsored by Integral Blue.
I-94 Freeway Experience:This live freeway experience demonstrates how V2X communication and cloud-based systems work together to make high-speed travel safer, smarter, and more efficient.
M-1 Intelligent Woodward Experience:See how vehicles, pedestrians, and infrastructure communicate in real time to create a smoother, safer urban environment.
Everyday Downtown Experience:Receive real-time alerts while walking, riding, or taking automated shuttles—showcasing how digital connectivity can improve safety in daily urban life.
Smart Parking Lab: This demonstration features a guided tour of the Detroit Smart Parking Lab, showcasing cutting-edge parking and mobility technologies in action.
Newlab: Newlab operates global innovation hubs and collaborates with industry and government leaders, helping its member companies raise billions in funding and achieve significant growth and exits
More industry leaders including FHWA Saxton Lab, Kapsch, Ouster, AeroNet UTM, P3 Mobility, OmniTrust, Cavnue, Iteris, and Airspace Experience Technologies, Inc. will be showcasing some of the most innovative mobility solutions on the market, including AI road sensing, interactive ride-along V2X connectivity, fleet data integration, smart road corridors, pedestrian detection, air mobility solutions, and more.
TECH TOURS
ACM and UMTRI Tech Tour: Get your hands on some tech at the 500 acre automotive proving ground and test facility at ACM, plus a guided tour from UMTRI researchers to see infrastructure-assisted technologies, including transit signal priority designed to reduce congestion, enhanced safety measures for pedestrians and cyclists, and live visualizations of traffic signals, road layouts, and shared sensor data.
Macomb County Traffic Management Center Tech Tour: Experience a behind-the-scenes tour of Macomb County’s state-of-the-art Communications and Technology Center (COMTEC), where multiple public safety and transportation agencies work together to monitor and manage real-time traffic and emergency operations.
Integral Blue Tech Tour: This “behind the curtain” experience will include interactive demonstrations of ITS equipment integration, network incident response, system troubleshooting, and examples of V2X applications that can solve real problems today, accompanied by breakfast refreshments and coffee.
PROGRAM
We’re honored to have a dynamic speaker list for this year. From public sector leaders, to private sector drivers, to academic researchers—they’re all going to be in Detroit.
Esteemed industry leaders Sean McMaster, Administrator of Federal Highway Administration and Seval Oz, Senior Advisor, USDOT OSTR will be providing keynote remarks to share essential insight and shape the conversation.
A fireside chat Transforming Transportation: 35 Years of ITS – Connecting the Past and Future with the Director of Michigan DOT Brad Wieferich and the Executive Director of Texas DOT Marc Williams will tell the story of ITS throughout the past 35 years.
The fireside chat From Vision to Reality: Enabling the Next Generation of Transportation with Kurtis McBride, CEO and Co-founder of Miovision and Laura Chace, President & CEO of ITS America will be an engaging discussion about unlocking the next era of mobility.
Plenary 1: Transforming Transportation: 35 Years of ITS – Connecting the Past and Future
- Nat Ford, CEO, Jacksonville Transportation Authority
- Peter Montogmer-Torellas, President, Cubic Transportation Systems
- Mike Witzman, Senior Director of Solutions Engineering, CISCO
Plenary 2: From Vision to Reality: Enabling the Next Generation of Transportation
- Tim Haile, Executive Director, CCTA
- Tracy Larkin-Thomason, Director, Nevada DOT
- Ron Thaniel, Senior Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Zoox
- Erik Varney, Managing Director of Telematic and Industrial IoT, Verizon
- Mina Sartipi, Interim Vice Chancellor for Research, UT Chattanooga
Sessions will delve into the timeliest ITS topics, including AI, autonomous vehicles, digital infrastructure, multimodal mobility, and more. It’ll be a trick to hop around to all the sessions you want to!
EXHIBITION FLOOR
The exhibit hall will be overflowing with important people to meet and emerging tech to experience.
Don’t be afraid to stop and chat with the friendly faces of each booth – it might just lead to an exciting partnership or opportunity! Either way, you’ll probably walk away with at least a sticker.
Who will be exhibiting? Oh, everyone important:
- Consulting firms
- Venture capitalists
- Planning organizations
- Engineers and transportation operators
- Public sector agencies
- And more.
Personally, we’re looking forward to seeing some of the most cutting-edge emerging tech and chatting with our peers at our ITSA member booths.
Stop by our booth at #4077 to say hello!
Are you exhibiting and looking for a tool to elevate your presence and increase leads? Check out this resource: https://www.itsamericaevents.com/expo/en-us/exhibitors/business-builder.html
EXPERIENCES
EMERGENCY RESPONSE TECH & DEMO DAY
On Thursday, June 11, Join us for a unique event that brings together the worlds of ITS and emergency response! Witness first-hand applications of emergency-response technology, connected transportation systems, and field-ready operational concepts. Participants will discover innovative ways to enhance first responders’ capabilities by engaging in hands-on demonstrations and immersive scenario-driven discussions.
Sponsored by Integral Blue, brought to you by GFT and Michigan DOT
ITS STARTUPS ZONE
The all-new ITS StartUps Zone is designed exclusively for emerging companies who meet our select criteria to gain the visibility needed to accelerate growth!
For just $1,500, you receive a turn-key package including a dedicated space on the show floor, 2 exhibitor badges, lead and exhibitor analytics, and more. This is the ultimate step up for emerging companies to showcase their innovative solutions, connect with industry leaders, and gain key exposure.
THE TRANSPORTATION HUB
The Transportation Hub is the ultimate destination for the latest in mobility innovation. Attend expert-led fireside chats, stop by our headshot station to commemorate this year’s event, and see The Transportation Channel podcast live!
Special sessions include:
- Sponsored Session Presented by: 2M Transformation Services
- Securing Transportation: Cyber Resilience for ITS, OT, & the Operational Edge from Fortinet
- Threats Don’t Stop at Red Lights: Securing the Expanding ITS Attack Surface from Palo Alto Network
- When Transportation Systems Go Down: How Agencies Keep Critical Operations Running from Claro
- The Next Generation Talen Pipeline Starts Here – Engaging Tomorrow’s ITS Professionals from Square One Education Network
- And more!
Sponsored by: Palo Alto Networks
CYBERSECURITY & DATA ZONE
This dedicated space in the Exhibit Hall is where transportation meets cutting-edge cybersecurity and data solutions. Explore technologies designed to protect connected vehicles, secure smart infrastructure, and strengthen the resilience of transportation systems. This focused area brings together the tools, solutions, and experts shaping the future of secure and reliable intelligent transportation—all in one convenient location.
FUTURE LEADERS PROGRAM
The Future Leaders Program (FLP) offers graduate and undergraduate students a unique platform to dive into the world of ITS. This includes education and training, networking, and an essay competition. The winners of the Future Leaders Program Competition essay and PAVE Essay Contest and Scholarship Program will be highlighted in an awards ceremony.
Square One Education Network, a Michigan-based nonprofit that provides hands-on STEM experiences for K-12 students, will be showcasing their autonomous Innovative Vehicle Design projects.
Sponsored by: SwRI
DISCOVER DETROIT
And while there will be no shortage of activities within the Conference center, there is a whole world in the Motor City to explore!
As the automobile capital of the US, there will certainly be more mobility to experience if you haven’t yet gotten your fill. However, there’s lot’s else to experience including food, shopping, entertainment, and more!
And of course, don’t forget to book your hotel. ITSACE partnered with local hotels to get you the best deals and experience.
