In conjunction with the release of President Trump’s ‘Legislative Outline for Rebuilding Infrastructure in America’, the country’s main intelligent transportation organization has announced the formation of its new Smart Infrastructure Task Force.
ITS America believes that re-investing in the USA’s infrastructure is not just about building more pavement and using more concrete, but deploying new technology to move larger numbers of people and goods safely and securely through the country’s existing roads, bridges, ports and terminals. To this end, ITS America has convened a Smart Infrastructure Task Force to address how technology and innovation can be incentivized. The task force, building upon extensive dialog over the last few years with private sector innovators, as well as state, county and city leaders, will create a set of principles that embrace technological innovation.
Tina Quigley, general manager of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC), will lead ITS America’s new Smart Infrastructure Task Force. Recognized as an innovator among her peers, under Quigley’s leadership RTC has blazed trails in deployment of new technologies. These have included driverless shuttles, vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications, and innovative smart cities concepts, such as the development of Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) solutions that combine options from different transportation modes and providers, including transit, ridesharing services and even bike share, all into a single mobile service.
“We need an infrastructure strategy that rewards innovation,” said Quigley. “Technology is the new asphalt. Automated and connected vehicles along with smart communities are just the beginning. I’m excited to lead ITS America’s effort to rebuild and modernize our transportation infrastructure.”
Launching the Task Force initiative, Shailen Bhatt (right), president and CEO of ITS America, noted, “Technology requires special attention. Road infrastructure is static and long-lived, but transportation technology must adapt and change, and investment and partnership strategies must reflect that.
“We need unique solutions to address this in any new infrastructure effort. I’m excited to see our smart infrastructure task force taking on this challenge.”
ITS America and the USA’s other leading transport organization AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials) are both looking forward to engaging with Congress and the Trump Administration on the practical steps to rebuilding and upgrading the country’s infrastructure.
AASHTO’s executive director, Bud Wright, said, “State DOT leaders appreciate the president’s ongoing interest in, and support for, increased federal investment in infrastructure. We hope the release of the Trump infrastructure plan can be a starting point for a robust conversation on how best to make the critical investments in surface transportation.”
