In the past two decades, new transportation technology development, demonstration and deployment such as Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) has continued to improve the performance and sustainability of transportation systems. However, in the past few years, new technology and new user services, such as shared mobility, have caused significant changes in travel patterns resulting in disruptions to traditional transportation planning and design. Then, in the past few months, COVID-19 has caused radical, unprecedented disruptions to transportation. This presentation will reveal key factors that are helping to progress through these difficult times and which are assisting to accelerate the return to more normal conditions. The focus will be on the role of nongovernmental organizations such as professional and technical groups and their collaboration with governmental units.
Ron Boénau, International Transport Research Advisor, has over 40 years experience in multimodal transportation research, development and deployment of emerging advanced technologies and innovative user services. He was ITS Transit Division Chief for the Federal Transit Administration during development of USDOT’s ITS Initiative and was a research engineer with the Federal Highway Administration in addition to work with Florida DOT and consulting engineering firms. He received the Silver Medal, one of the highest awards given by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation and is an active member and speaker at conferences of TRB, ITE, ITS America, SAE, ASCE, NSPE, COTA and PIARC.