February 21, 2023
Momentum Committee Feature
ITS America members guide the industry and the future of transportation through our volunteer-led committees. The work done by these committees and their working groups helps guide innovation, legislation, and Department of Transportation rules and guidance to ensure that those creating technology have direct contact with those enacting laws and enacting rules that will impact the industry in the future.
There are six committees: Smart Infrastructure, Automated Vehicles, V2X and Connected Transportation, Sustainability and Resiliency, Mobility on Demand, and Emerging Technology. The Working Groups of ITS America cover 13 topics: Broadband Working Group, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Implementation (IIJA) Working Group, Digital Infrastructure Working Group, Cyber Security Working Group, Future of 5.9 V2X Working Group, V2X Decoded Working Group, Beyond 5.9 V2X Working Group, Road Usage Charge Working Group, Friends of Mobility on Demand Working Group, UBM/Mobility Wallet Working Group, Personal Delivery Devices Working Group, Urban Air Mobility Working Group, and the Digital Twinning Working Group.
ITS America standing committees are the regular communities of practice where long-term goals of the industry are the focus. Working groups are focused on tactical items, shorter-term goals, and issues stemming from the work of the standing committee direction, such as the development of white papers and other specific deliverables.
Finding the group that has the most impact on your work and getting involved is one of the best ways to make the most of your ITS America membership. Getting involved is as easy as contacting Tina Williams who can answer all your questions and point you to the right committees at twilliams@itsa_backup
ITS America Committees:
Smart Infrastructure Committee:
Chair: Ted Bailey – Washington State DOT
Vice Chair: Dan Corey – STV INC.
Description of Work: Advocates for automated, connected, shared, electrified transportation and broadband policies and programs that support the rapid deployment of intelligent transportation technologies leading to safer, greener, smarter, and more equitable communities. Committee members work on innovative policies to protect and digitize infrastructure and transportation systems; technologies to improve roadway efficiency, reduce crashes, and facilitate the safe introduction of autonomous technologies into the transportation system; and policies that support the electrification of our nation’s roadways, transit, and freight systems.
Automated Vehicles:
Chair: Corey Clothier – Stantec Autonomous Mobility
Vice Chair: Preeti Choudhary – Drive Ohio
Description of Work: Advocates for policies, practices, and regulatory frameworks to facilitate the safe testing, deployment, and integration of highly automated vehicles into the surface transportation system. Members work together to address highly automated vehicle policies and programmatic efforts covering highly automated vehicles, self-driving trucks, automated transit, workforce impacts and mitigation strategies, and transportation system integration.
V2X and Connected Transportation Committee:
Chair: Chris Armstrong – Panasonic
Vice Chair: Kelly Bartlett – Michigan DOT
Description of Work: Identifies legislative and regulatory barriers and opportunities to safely advance V2X technologies and connected transportation; develops and advocates for related legislative and regulatory policies; monitors national trends and related research; promotes the development of technologies, best practices, and private and public sector partnerships; and serves as a forum to disseminate and exchange related information and best practices. It addresses topic areas such as the development and deployment of connected, V2V, V2I, and V2P technologies and innovations; spectrum allocation and use; standards development; interoperability among technologies and infrastructure; cybersecurity; V2X application priority; and the future of V2X and connected technologies.
Sustainability and Resiliency:
Chair: Seleta Reynolds – LA Metro
Vice Chair: Amy Ford – AECOM
Description of Work: Identifies legislative and regulatory barriers and opportunities to safely advance sustainable and resilient transportation technologies and frameworks; develops and advocates for related legislative and regulatory policies; defines and promotes the roles of public and private sector entities; monitors national trends and related research; promotes the development of technologies, best practices, and private and public sector partnerships; and serves as a forum to disseminate and exchange related information and best practices. It addresses topic areas such as electrified vehicles, charging infrastructure, power generation, power grid capability and resiliency, infrastructure resiliency, roadside management, advanced materials technologies, mobility efficiency, and transportation sector emissions.
Mobility on Demand:
Chair: Pete Costello – Ohmio
Vice Chair: Amber Crabbe – SFCTA
Description of Work: Identifies legislative and regulatory barriers and opportunities to advance Mobility on Demand, monitors national trends and related research, and promote best practices and private and public sector partnerships. It also serves as a forum to disseminate and exchange information and other innovations, addressing areas like transit and cargo delivery automation, payment integration, mobility wallets, accessibility, equity, data sharing, rural/suburban MOD, workforce, insurance, value/congestion pricing and privacy/cybersecurity.
Emerging Technology:
Chair: Beth Kigel – HNTB
Vice Chair: Darran Anderson – SFCTA
Description of Work: Identifies legislative and regulatory barriers and opportunities to safely advance emerging technologies, monitor national trends and related research, and promote best practices and private and public sector partnerships. It serves as a forum to disseminate and exchange information and other innovations, addressing areas such as rapid speed travel hyperloop, urban air mobility and cargo delivery, automated cargo delivery, and blockchain and integrated technology platforms.
ITS America Working Groups:
Broadband Working Group: Focuses on fiber, connectivity, and broadband help communities thrive and get access to critical needs like Wi-Fi and the internet. These critical services are important for future mobility and the delivery of goods and services, this Working Group focuses on bringing together diverse stakeholders from telecommunications, public agencies, network providers, and industry to ensure no community is left behind. This working group is chaired by Dean Gustafson of Lochner.
IIJA Working Group: With over a trillion dollars being invested in our infrastructure and transportation systems, local agencies and transportation stakeholders need resources on how to apply for grants, receive federal funding and partner on innovation. ITS America’s working group provides critical information and services to the industry and communities to ensure they can take advantage of these opportunities.
Digital Infrastructure Working Group: ITS America’s work acknowledges the ways in whichthe transportation system has evolved from one of paved roads and concrete bridges to one that now includes sensors, data, software, and algorithms. With advances and rapid deployments in automation, connected technologies, mobility on demand, and sustainable and resilient technologies, one of our goals is moving the transportation sector toward this new era – the digital infrastructure age – that uses technology and innovation to advance future mobility that is safer, greener, smarter, and more equitable. This new era links the physical system to a digital layer, allowing us to communicate, share, store, and analyze information to save lives, provide faster emergency response, predict weather events, and distribute services more equitably. The working group is chaired by Hugh Martin of Lacuna and co-chaired by Scott Marler of Iowa DOT.
Cyber Security Working Group: Focuses on building on on ITS America’s surface transportation reauthorization cybersecurity policy in Moving People, Data, Freight: Safer, Greener, Smarter, which key elements are included in the Senate passed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs (IIJA) Act, and to produce guidance on how to achieve a cybersecure future for transportation assets and infrastructure. The working group is chaired by Jess Baker of Miter and co-chaired by Scott Belcher of SFB Consulting LLC.
Future of 5.9 V2X Working Group: Evaluates the impacts of the FCC’s proposal to reallocate 45 MHz of spectrum in the 5.9 GHz band, examine how best to deploy V2X in a limited 30 MHz spectrum environment, and to facilitate the industry’s conversation about how to use V2X in the 30 MHz of spectrum to realize as many of the safety, efficiency, economic, congestion, and environmental benefits as possible.
V2X Decoded Working Group: Works to advance the V2X conversation around less technical issues, such as terminology, definitions, and how we communicate about V2X technologies. The working group is chaired by Steve Kuciemba of ITE.
Beyond 5.9 V2X Working Group: Evaluates opportunities to deploy technologies outside of the 5.9 GHz band to provide V2X and connected transportation services, with an understanding that 30 MHz is not sufficient spectrum to support all planned or envisioned V2X services.
Road Usage Charge Working Group: Leads the development of a Road Usage Charge program that is consistent with ITS America’s Road Usage Charge Program Principles. This Working Group will coordinate with USDOT and external entities as USDOT implements the Road Usage Charge provisions included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The working group is chaired by Lori Pepper of CalSTA.
Friends of Mobility on Demand Working Group: Hosts several industry-wide peer exchange discussions focused on the MOD ecosystem. These discussions are supported by USDOT’s ITS Joint Programs Office. The Committee also identifies mobility barriers to MOD (not all modes are evenly deployed everywhere) and the need to more effectively leverage MOD to help with first/last mile access, transit deserts, and other barriers.
UBM/Mobility Wallet Working Group: Identifies and addresses barriers to MOD adoption and deployment. This working group focuses on the challenges of access to mobility (not all modes are evenly deployed everywhere) and the need to more effectively leverage MOD to help with first/last mile access, transit deserts, etc.). It also addresses the question of the customer experience such as efficiency, door to door user experience and first/last miles accommodations. Finally, it looks at accessibility of mediums used in MOD (apps, user interface, trip payment options, smart devices, etc.).
Personal Delivery Devices Working Group: Focuses on sidewalk delivery robotic technologies and is partnering with industry, local agencies and the Transportation Research Board to develop a guidebook on how to support these technologies to deliver critical products and services, including goods delivery.
Urban Air Mobility Working Group: Engaged in several efforts, including: the development of UAM 101 and 201 resources; stakeholder convenings and workshops that acknowledge the complexities of public policy and the important role of actors at all levels of government including the local level; development of a national map of UAM/AAM pilots and deployments; and general trend and market analysis. They have also been engaged since 2020 in NASA’s AAM Community Integration Working Group and committed to bringing the important perspectives of local government stakeholders to these conversations. Finally, they have engaged with several partners and stakeholder in this space including: the Community Air Mobility Initiative (CAMI); U.C. Berkeley; Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI). The working group is chaired by Suzanne Murtha of AECOM.
Digital Twinning Working Group: Technology is often tested in simulated environments, similar to virtual and augmented reality to ensure it is safe and provide stakeholders a clearer understanding of the innovations of the future. This Working Group brings together experts in these ‘digital twins’ to support national and international innovations in simulations and virtual environments. The working group is chaired by Ram Kandarpa of Iteris.
