October 26, 2020
NEW Standing Committees for Members in 2021 – Make your Voices Heard!
Last month, we shared information on the board’s approval to move forward with a multi-year plan to realign ITS America’s priorities and operations with our vision. This decision came out of a strategic planning process that included talking to members, and a common theme from those conversations was the desire to provide more opportunities for all members to engage in the association’s work.
In creating a more equitable model, a driving factor was how to maximize engagement and leverage members’ expertise. To that end, we are establishing standing committees to support the association’s policy, programmatic, and strategic objectives related to advancing intelligent transportation for a safer, greener, and smarter future. The scope of each committee will include policy development, advocacy, legislative and regulatory analysis, programmatic areas of focus, identification of potential research, creation of annual workshops, roundtables, and educational initiatives.
The committees will be set up to encourage members to participate in a forum where they can help shape policies and programs key to their organizations’ goals. While ITS America will staff each committee, it is the ITS America members who will come together and help drive the work of each committee.
Every committee is open to all members. They will provide a forum in which public, private, academic, and research sector members will have an equal voice to tackle challenges and opportunities relevant to each committee. This is your chance to help shape the important work we do, so please review the descriptions below and start thinking about which committees speak to your priorities! Later this year, we will share information about the process for committee participation, and we intend to finalize rosters in the beginning of 2021.
In addition to these new committees, we shared information earlier this month about ITS Insider, a report on emerging industry trends. You will continue to receive this new benefit next year, we will expand its frequency in 2022. Along with these new opportunities, ITS America will continue with current member benefits: large events like our Annual Meeting and global World Congress, member webinars and virtual learning opportunities, and topical and timely communications through newsletters and social media.
Thank you for your continued engagement. All of us at ITS America are excited about all the new opportunities next year has to offer, and we hope you will add your views and your voice to what we hope will be a transformative 2021!
Smart Infrastructure
The Smart Infrastructure Standing Committee 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. Recently, the committee led the policymaking process to develop the association’s FAST Act reauthorization platform – Moving People, Data, and Freight – and its COVID-19 response legislation. Committee members work on innovative policies to protect infrastructure and transportation systems from cyber threats; technologies to improve roadway efficiency, reduce accidents, 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. As COVID-19 continues to impact the nation’s transportation system, the committee will continue its advocacy for emergency assistance for the transportation sectors ITS America represents.
Automated Vehicle
The Automated Vehicle Standing Committee will advocate for policies 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 land use and transportation system integration.
V2X/Connected Transportation
The Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) and Connected Transportation Standing Committee will identify legislative and regulatory barriers and opportunities to safely advance V2X technologies and connected transportation; develop and advocate for related legislative and regulatory policies; monitor national trends and related research; promote the development of technologies, best practices, and private and public sector partnerships; and serve as a forum to disseminate and exchange related information and best practices. It will address 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
The Sustainability and Resiliency Standing Committee will identity legislative and regulatory barriers and opportunities to safely advance sustainable and resilient transportation technologies and frameworks; develop and advocate for related legislative and regulatory policies; define and promote the roles of public and private sector entities; monitor national trends and related research; promote the development of technologies, best practices, and private and public sector partnerships; and serve as a forum to disseminate and exchange related information and best practices. It will address 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.
Emerging Technology
The Emerging Technologies Standing Committee will identify 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 will also serve 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.
Mobility on Demand
The MOD Alliance 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.
For more information, visit www.itsa.org/membership-2021 or contact membership@itsa.org
