2025 Annual Meeting

The program for the 2024 National Rural ITS Conference will be integrated into the ITE Annual Meeting and Exhibition held July 21-24, 2024 at the Philadelphia Marriott.  This year’s conference theme is Creating Safer, Smarter Mobility.  Transportation is a focal point whether across the street, across town, around the metro area or state to state for work, school, shopping; people walk, drive, bike, take transit, deliver goods from one place to another.  Transportation technologies play a significant role in making it all work safely.

The conference will cover emerging issues from across the transportation industry including a focus on transportation safety considerations and local communities as well as exploration of connecting fiscal resources to agencies that need them.  In addition to traditional ITS topics of interest to transportation professionals, this event will bring together both traditional and non-traditional users to address issues affecting rural and small communities. The rich and dynamic program for the ITE Annual Meeting spans 15 themed tracks outside of rural ITS catering to professionals across various specialties, from planners and engineers to data scientists and educators

Specific sessions in Rural Transportation / NRITS track during the ITE 2025 Annual Meeting program are highlighted below within the overall program:

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Joint ITE International and Florida/Puerto Rico District Annual Meeting and Exhibition

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Sunday, August 10

7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Registration Open
Windermere Foyer 

Workshops

  • Advancing Rural Transportation: Challenges, Opportunities, and Solutions (NRITS)
    9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
    Celebration 7/8 (Fee – Complementary) | 6.0 PDH Credits

Rural transportation presents unique challenges that require innovative, practical, and collaborative solutions. This interactive, full-day workshop will bring together transportation professionals, leaders, and rural stakeholders to explore strategies for improving mobility, safety, and infrastructure in rural communities focused on planning, funding, operations, and emerging technologies tailored to rural contexts.

Learning Objectives:

    • Identify appropriate ITS solutions and their benefits for addressing rural transportation challenges.
    • Evaluate technical, institutional, and operational prerequisites for successful rural ITS deployments.
    • Develop effective strategies for engaging stakeholders and building partnerships across agencies.
    • Create a compelling business case for implementing ITS solutions in rural communities.
  • Brick City Lab: Hands-On Multimodal Street Design
    8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
    Celebration 13 (Fee – $50)
    3.5 PDH Credits
  • Adaptive Reuse Transforming Orlando’s Freeway Crossroads
    9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
    Celebration 9 (Limited to 45 people, Fee – $40)
    6.5 PDH Credits
  • Navigating Ethical Challenges in Engineering
    1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
    Celebration 9 (Fee – $25)
    1.0     PDH Credits
  • The Art of Negotiations
    1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
    Regency Ballroom T (Fee – Complementary)
    2.5 PDH Credits
  • Cruising the Career Highway: Navigating the Transportation Industry as a Young Professional
    1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
    Regency Ballroom U (Fee – Complementary)
    3.5 PDH Credits
  • Harnessing AI for Transportation Safety and Operations: Challenges, Opportunities, and the Future
    1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
    Regency Ballroom P (Fee – $25)
    3.5 PDH Credits
  • Open-Source Tools for Advancing Road Safety Analysis
    1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
    Regency Ballroom V (Fee – $25)
    3.5 PDH Credits
  • Exploring the New AASHTO Bike Design Guide
    1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
    Regency Ballroom O (Fee – Complementary)
    3.5 PDH Credits
  • Accelerating Connected Transportation: Understanding and Implementing the National V2X Deployment Plan
    1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
    Regency Ballroom Q (Fee – Complementary)
    3.5 PDH Credits

4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. First-Timer’s Orientation
Celebration 5

4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. NRITS Steering Committee Business Meeting
Celebration 7/8

6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Opening Reception
Windermere Ballroom

    Monday, August 11

    7:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Registration Open
    Windermere Foyer 

    7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Exhibit Hall Open
    Windermere Ballroom 

    7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast in Exhibit Hall
    Windermere Ballroom

    8:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Opening Business and Plenary Session
    Regency Ballroom R and S | 1.25 PDH/CM Credits

    10:15 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Networking and Refreshment Break with Poster Session
    Windermere Ballroom

    11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Technical Sessions

    • Rural and Small Community Transportation Town Hall (NRITS)
      Manatee Spring | 1.5 PDH/CM Credits

      This session will provide attendees with an overview of strategic issues facing the development and implementation of ITS rural and small communities complemented by a discussion of issues of current importance and potential transferable lessons.

      Facilitator: Steven Latoski, P.E., PTOE, Director, Mohave County Public Works, Kingman, AZ, Chair, National Rural ITS Steering Committee

    • Transportation Operations – Leveraging New Technologies and Data-Driven Solutions
      Regency Ballroom O | 1.5 PDH/CM Credits
    • Integrating Safety at Every Level to Transform Policies, Practices, and Programs
      Regency Ballroom P | 1.5 PDH/CM Credits
    • Transportation Safety Training in Higher Education
      Regency Ballroom T | 1.5 PDH/CM Credits
    • Traffic Signal Investments and Safety Outcomes
      Regency Ballroom U | 1.5 PDH/CM Credits
    • Advancing Transportation Safety & Mobility: Emerging Technologies, V2X Innovations, and Connected Vehicle Applications
      Regency Ballroom V | 1.5 PDH/CM Credits

    12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m. Lunch in Exhibit Hall
    Windermere Ballroom

    1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Technical Sessions

    • Updates on Rural ITS Applications and Plans for the Future (NRITS)
      Manatee Spring | 1.5 PDH/CM Credits

      The session will include an overview of current activities to use of innovative technologies to improve mobility and access in small and rural communities. Attendees will explore challenges in incorporating emerging technologies into their transportation planning. The session will also include discussions where attendees can provide feedback on the resources needed to accelerate ITS deployment in the changing transportation landscape.
    • NOCoE Transportation Technology Tournament — Final Presentations
      Regency Ballroom O | 1.5 PDH/CM Credits
    • Safety Across Borders
      Regency Ballroom P | 1.5 PDH/CM Credits
    • Understanding the Limitations of and Opportunities for the Roadway Functional Classification System in the U.S.
      Regency Ballroom T | 1.5 PDH/CM Credits
    • Approaches to Managing Roadway Speeds
      Regency Ballroom U | 1.5 PDH/CM Credits
    • Innovative AI/ML Transit Solutions Integrating Signal Priority, Sustainability, and Resilience with Connected Vehicle Technologies
      Regency Ballroom V | 1.5 PDH/CM Credits

    1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. ITE Data and Analytics Committee Showcase and Meeting
    Celebration 3/4

    3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. Networking and Refreshment Break with Poster Session
    Windermere Foyer

    4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. ITE Collegiate Traffic Bowl Grand Championship
    Regency Ballroom R and S

     

    Tuesday, August 12

    7:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Registration Open
    Windermere Foyer 

    7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Exhibit Hall Open
    Windermere Ballroom 

    7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast in Exhibit Hall
    Windermere Ballroom

    8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Plenary Session
    A Collective Approach to Transportation Safety—Integrating Vehicles, Infrastructure, Behavior, and Policy
    Regency Ballroom R and S | 1.5 PDH/CM Credits

    10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
    Networking and Refreshment Break with Poster Session
    Windermere Ballroom

    10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
    ITE TSMO Council Showcase and Meeting
    Celebration 1/2

    10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Technical Sessions

    • Safe System Technologies for Rural Roads and Small Communities (NRITS)
      Manatee Spring | 1.25 PDH/CM Credits

      This session focuses on enhancing safety in rural and tribal road networks featuring presentations on: applying the Safe System Approach in rural contexts, quantifying the effectiveness of flashing LEDs in deterring wrong-way driving, available FHWA resources for rural and tribal road safety, and a case study on developing a safer travel vision for US 30 East in Indiana. Attendees will gain insights into practical strategies and resources for improving safety in less densely populated areas.

      Moderator: Blake Hansen, P.E., PTOE,Industry Expert, Olsson, Olathe, KS

      Speakers:

      • Applying the Safe System Approach with a Rural Lens, Kevin Elliott, Marketing Manager, National Center for Rural Road Safety, Panama City, FL
      • Quantifying Effectiveness of Red Flashing LEDs Around Wrong-Wat Signs in Deterring Wrong-Way Driving: A Before and After Study, Huaguo Zhou, Ph.D., P.E., Professor, Auburn University, Auburn, AL
      • Addressing Rural and Tribal Road Safety, Paul LaFleur, P.E., Roadway Departure Program Manager, Federal Highway Administration, Ames, IA
      • ProPEL  US 30 East – Developing a Vision for Safer Travel in Northeastern Indiana, Rusty Holt, P.E., PTOE, Assistant Vice President, Traffic Engineering Manager, WSP USA, Indianapolis, IN
    • TSMO Spotlight on Florida
      Regency Ballroom O | 1.25 PDH/CM Credits
    • Safety Beyond Infrastructure
      Regency Ballroom P | 1.25 PDH/CM Credits
    • Advancing Transportation Safety: Leveraging Near-Miss Data for Proactive Analysis
      Regency Ballroom Q | 1.25 PDH/CM Credits
    • Trip Generation Forum
      Regency Ballroom T | 1.25 PDH/CM Credits
    • Emerging Technologies in Arterial Operations
      Regency Ballroom U | 1.25 PDH/CM Credits
    • Addressing Data Challenges for Safer Transportation Systems
      Regency Ballroom V | 1.25 PDH/CM Credits

    12:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. Awards Luncheon
    Regency Ballroom R and S 

    2:30-3:45 p.m. Technical Sessions

    • Data-Driven Applications Supporting Rural Roads Safe Systems (NRITS)
      Manatee Spring | 1.25 PDH/CM Credits

    This session highlights proactive and data-driven approaches to road safety, particularly in rural settings. Presentations cover: Hillsborough County’s tiered improvements for lane departure prevention, a method for identifying and treating high-risk rural crossroads, FHWA’s proven safety countermeasures for rural communities, and a study on predicting nationwide signage differences in curve advisory standards. Attendees will learn about practical strategies and analytical tools for enhancing road safety. 

    Moderator: Ken King, P.E., Salem District Engineer, Virginia Department of Transportation, Salem, VA

    Speakers:

      • FHWA Proven Safety Countermeasures in Rural Communities, Paul LaFleur, P.E., Roadway Departure Program Manager, Federal Highway Administration, Ames, IA
      • A Proactive Approach to Identifying and Treating High-Risk Rural Crossroads, Dale Harris, MAppSc PGDipArt(GIS) BEM, Principal Transport & Spatial Adviser, Abley Ltd, Canterbury, New Zealand and Steve Abley, CPEng(NZ), IntPE(NZ), CEng(UK), Chief Executive, Abley Ltd., Christchurch, New Zealand
      • Enhancing Road Safety in Hillsborough County: A Data-Driven and Proactive Approach to Lane Departure Prevention with Tiered Improvements and Typologies, Qiong (Linda) Wu, Ph.D., P.E., RSP2I, Traffic Safety Engineer, Burgess & Niple Inc., Tampa, FL and Angelo Belluccia, P.E., Florida District Director, Burgess & Niple Inc., Tampa, FL
      • Predicting Nationwide Signage Differences Between Curve Advisory Standards, Joseph Corbett-Davies, BE(Hons) MS(Eng.), Senior Transportation Planner, Abley Ltd, Christchurch, New Zealand and Steve Abley, CPEng(NZ), IntPE(NZ), CEng(UK), Chief Executive, Abley Ltd., Christchurch, New Zealand
      • Connected Vehicles to Support Cascade Road Closures Traveler Information, Zorica Cvijovic, Ph.D., Connected Vehicle Strategist, Trihydro Corporation, Laramie, WY, USA
    • Measuring and Communicating TSMO Strategies
      Regency Ballroom Salon O | 1.25 PDH/CM Credits
    • Mock Deposition: A Defense of the Safe System Approach and Design Exceptions
      Regency Ballroom Salon P | 1.25 PDH/CM Credits
    • Street Smarts – The 7 Psychological Principles You Need to Design Streets that Work
      Regency Ballroom Salon Q | 1.25 PDH/CM Credits
    • Traffic Signal Timing Strategies
      Regency Ballroom Salon U | 1.25 PDH/CM Credits
    • Securing the Future of Connected Transportation Focusing on Cybersecurity, Standards, and Interoperability
      Regency Ballroom Salon V | 1.25 PDH/CM Credits

    2:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
    Council Leadership Team: Developing Trends Listening Session
    Celebration 1/2

    2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
    Technical Tour: Inside FDOT District 5’s Traffic Management Center
    Meet in Windermere Foyer 15 minutes ahead
    (Limited to 45 people, Fee – $40)

    2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
    Technical Tour: Exploring Orlando City Stadium – Multimodal Access & Stadium Operations
    Meet in Windermere Foyer 15 minutes ahead
    (Limited to 45 people, Fee – $40)

    3:45 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
    Networking and Refreshment Break with Poster Session
    Celebration 8

    4:30 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. Technical Sessions

    • Getting from Here to There Seamlessly (NRITS)
      Manatee Spring | 1.25 PDH/CM Credits

    This panel discussion addresses the critical issue of rural road safety and the path towards Vision Zero. Experts from national organizations, federal agencies, state DOTs, and safety patrols will discuss strategies, stakeholder engagement, and funding opportunities to combat the alarming rise in rural road fatalities and serious injuries. The session emphasizes community involvement and collaborative problem-solving.

    Moderator: John Hansen, Subject Matter Expert-Transportation, Olsson, Peyton, CO

    Speakers:

      • Kevin Elliott, Marketing Manager, National Center for Rural Road Safety, Panama City, FL
      • Steve Latoski, P.E., PTOE, Director, Mohave County Public Works, Kingman, AZ
      • Jatish Patel, Chief Executive Officer, Flow Labs, Phoenix, AZ
    • Opportunities to Integrate TSMO into the Safe System Approach
      Regency Ballroom O | 1.25 PDH/CM Credits
    • Data-Driven Methods and Tools for Safer Transportation Planning, Design, and Operations
      Regency Ballroom P  | 1.25 PDH/CM Credits
    • Florida-Puerto Rico Roundabout Forum
      Regency Ballroom U | 1.25 PDH/CM Credits
    • Advancing Road Safety Audits from Data Collection to Implementation
      Regency Ballroom T | 1.25 PDH/CM Credits
    • Leveraging Big Data, ML, and AI for Smarter Traffic Management and Infrastructure
      Regency Ballroom V | 1.25 PDH/CM Credits

     

    6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Evening Social Event Hosted by ITE International
    at Pointe Orlando, 9101 International Drive

    Wednesday, August 13

    7:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Registration Open
    Windermere Foyer 

    7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast in Exhibit Hall
    Regency Ballroom R and S Foyer

    8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Technical Tour: Advancing Autonomous Mobility at Beep’s Lake Nona Facility
    Meet in Windermere Foyer 15 minutes ahead
    (Limited to 45 people, Fee – $40)

    8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Plenary Session
    Leadership in Action – Engaging, Educating, and Empowering Your Organization
    Regency Ballroom R and S

    10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Networking and Refreshment Break
    Regency Ballroom R and S Foyer

    10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Technical Sessions

    • Transportation Planning for Special Events
      Regency Ballroom Salon O | 1.5 PDH/CM Credits
    • ITE Members as Elected Officials—What Is It Like to be the Decision Maker?
      Regency Ballroom Salon P | 1.5 PDH/CM Credits
    • Quantitative Risk and Resilience Assessments for Project Prioritization
      Regency Ballroom Salon Q | 1.5 PDH/CM Credits
    • Advanced Technologies for Improving Multimodal Safety
      Regency Ballroom Salon T | 1.5 PDH/CM Credits
    • Electric Mobility Planning, Implementation, and Readiness for Unexpected Events
      Grand Ballroom Salon U | 1.5 PDH/CM Credits
    • The Future is Yesterday – Bridging the Gap in Transportation Technology Standards
      Manatee Spring | 1.5 PDH/CM Credits

    12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch
    Regency Ballroom R and S Foyer

    1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Technical Sessions

    • Advancing and Implementing Connected Vehicle Technologies and Infrastructure
      Regency Ballroom Salon O | 1.5 PDH/CM Credits
    • Advancing Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety Through Infrastructure and Innovation
      Regency Ballroom Salon P | 1.5 PDH/CM Credits
    • Innovative Local Strategies for Safer Streets
      Regency Ballroom Salon Q | 1.5 PDH/CM Credits
    • Multimodal Connected Transportation for All Users to Enhance Safety Using Data-Driven Decision-Making and Evaluation
      Regency Ballroom Salon T | 1.5 PDH/CM Credits
    • Transforming Transportation with IoT, AI, and Smart Infrastructure for Safer, Connected Mobility
      Grand Ballroom Salon U | 1.5 PDH/CM Credits
    • Innovative Roundabouts for Multimodal Users
      Grand Ballroom Salon V | 1.5 PDH/CM Credits
    • Applying AI-Driven Innovation in Advancing Mobility, Safety, and Traffic Management
      Manatee Spring | 1.5 PDH/CM Credits