Momentum: Issue #70

April 26, 2021

ITS America Releases Technology Blueprint

Last week, ITS America released our technology blueprint, which outlines how technology can transform the U.S. transportation system. We shared the blueprint with our members as well as many other transportation stakeholders, including key congressional and executive branch staff, and ITS America President & CEO Shailen Bhatt sent a letter about the blueprint to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.

In conjunction with the release, ITS America hosted an online executive roundtable with current and former board members. It was an excellent discussion and is available here if you weren’t able to watch it live. Shailen moderated the conversation with

Tilly Chang, Executive Director, San Francisco County Transportation Authority (SFCTA);
Roger Millar, Secretary, Washington State Department of Transportation;
Leslie Richards, General Manager, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority; and
Desi Ujkashevic, Global Director, Automotive Safety Engineering, Ford Motor Company.

A few tidbits from the discussion:

“We need to incentivize collaboration – how do we break the mold? How can we bring community-based orgs and non-profits together, as well as publics and privates?” Tilly Chang
“Payment technology and Mobility on Demand issues are important for SEPTA. We know we need to be a mobility option of choice.” Leslie Richards
“We believe self-driving vehicles will help make a positive impact and provide greater access to transportation. There’s a lot of work to be done.” Desi Ujkashevic
“It’s about providing people with choices for how they get around and information about those choices. My advice to Washington, DC is to be sure when we’re talking about choices that it is about choices for all Americans.” Roger Millar

We are planning additional virtual events in which we will discuss different aspects of the blueprint, so please keep an eye out!

Let’s Transform the Future Together.

Technology evolves faster than we can imagine the future. Rapidly evolving transportation innovations are being developed and deployed that promise to entirely reshape the way our transportation network operates, facilitating vast improvements to transportation safety and overall mobility. The promise of these innovations is apparent, but the deployment and application of these technologies is not without challenges. While technology disrupts the transportation ecosystem with new innovations and ideas, government, communities, private companies, and researchers must race to catch up to and contend with ideas never thought possible. How do we accelerate change and safely embrace new technology while promoting collaboration across industry to advance shared societal goals? Through nonprofits like the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America).

ITS America and its members have been at the center of these innovations, advocating for transformational technology to save lives, promote sustainability, and improve access to mobility.

Join us.

As advocates for transportation innovation throughout the world’s largest transportation network, ITS America’s public, private and academic members are dedicated to championing smart mobility strategies to ensure safe and thriving communities.
Ramin Massoumi, Global Solutions Director – Mobility, arcadis
Private companies, public agencies and academic institutions committed to influencing the future of intelligent transportation come together at ITS America. Every day, our members advance technology solutions that save lives and improve mobility across the country – in cities, suburbs, and rural communities.
Malcolm Dougherty, National Practice Executive, Transportation, Michael Baker International
At ITS America, our public, private and academic sector members are committed to deploying intelligent transportation technologies to save lives and improve mobility on our nation’s roads. While transportation constantly evolves, we will do all we can to ensure it continues to be the engine that drives our nation’s economy and contributes to improving our quality of life.
Carlos Braceras, Director, Utah Department of Transportation