Over 25 years ago, when I was fresh out of graduate school and attending my first ITE Annual Meeting as a professional, I was offered the opportunity to become involved in one of ITE's technical councils: the
Traffic Engineering Council (TENC). I had been involved in the Texas A&M University Student Chapter as an officer and was looking for a way to remain involved in our great organization. At that meeting in Milwaukee, a colleague reached out to me to help with a technical project being led by the TENC. Though I wasn't necessarily an expert in the topic, I was willing to contribute my time to help complete the project . . . and the rest is history!
The Traffic Engineering Council is ITE's largest technical council, and is a community of professionals interested in the broad field of traffic engineering. Because it is a large Council, it offers a wide variety of activities and opportunities for members to help advance traffic engineering practices and the profession. On the
Traffic Engineering Council Community site, you will find active discussion on a variety of topics, which are a great resource to connect and collaborate with fellow council members. The discussions are technically-oriented, with council members seeking or sharing guidance on various topics. Members can search past discussion postings and all attachments to these posts are automatically added to the TENC library; a great tool to find new content.
In addition to the wealth of information on the TENC discussion forum, the Council prepares quarterly newsletters, articles published in ITE Journal, and information or presentations from sponsorship of seminars and technical sessions at ITE international, district, section, and chapter meetings. The Council also works on various technical products and has two standing committees - the Roundabout Standing Committee and Joint Rail Grade Crossing Committee - that are always looking for members to become involved and help out.
Consider this blog a formal invitation to check out the TENC. You won't regret getting involved!