Latest Blogs

Hallelujah! 2021 is Coming

By Mr. Ransford McCourt P.E., PTOE posted 2 hours ago
Be the first person to recommend this.
December is a time of reflection, family gatherings, and contemplation of the past year as we ready ourselves for what comes next. Frankly, most of us would like to put 2020 in our rearview mirror as quickly as possible. It seems to have been the year that careened from one unusual event to the next far too rapidly. I think we all want to change lanes  and get right to 2021. I have witnessed far too many families impacted by 2020 in ways that no one would have imagined a year ago. Our hearts and prayers go out to so many people that have had to endure unimaginable hardships this year. Yet in what has felt at times like one insurmountable crisis after another, ...
0 comments

New Analysis Tools Measures Transportation Health Impacts

By Mr. Todd Litman posted 7 days ago
Be the first person to recommend this.
The   Healthy Mobility Options Tool   is a new health impact analysis model that quantitatively answers the question of   “How much benefit or harm to human health can we expect by changing the mix of active and motorized travel across a county, region, or the entire state?”   The tool calculates the change in deaths, years of life shortening and disability, and costs due to changes in air pollution, physical activity, and traffic injuries associated with changes in active transportation levels (i.e., walking and cycling) on a population level.   This is a web-based version of the  California Integrated Transport and Health Impact Model (ITHIM) ...
0 comments

A Guide to Raised Access Floor Systems

By Frederick Tartt posted 24 days ago
Be the first person to recommend this.
Access floor systems, also known as raised access floor systems, are raised structural floors placed on reinforced concrete slabs. These floors consist of several panels installed on several vertical, yet adjustable pedestals fixed onto the concrete slabs using mechanical adhesives or anchors. As the pedestals can be adjusted, the gap between the “elevated floor” and reinforced concrete can vary between 7.62 centimeters (3 inches) and 121.92 centimeters (48 inches). In extreme cases, such as large data centers, raised access flooring can be even higher, reaching 6 feet to 10 feet high. Raised access floor system panels are made of a cement or wood core ...
0 comments

The Value of Locating Your Office in the Right Spot

By Frederick Tartt posted 29 days ago
Be the first person to recommend this.
When it comes to office spot, the real estate maxim of ‘location, location, location’ applies. If you do not set up your commercial space on the right site, it could be detrimental to your business.  Positioning is one of the primary factors of business success. This includes how you place your product and service in the market, how you position your enterprise using marketing tools and campaigns, and your business’s address.  Here are some reasons to think twice about where you locate your offices: Price When money is tight, you need office space that is functional and affordable. Think about how much space you need and add a little extra for potential ...
0 comments

Strategic Plan 2021-2023

By Mr. Jeffrey Paniati P.E posted 11-01-2020
Be the first person to recommend this.
In this month’s ITE Journal you will read about the new ITE Strategic Plan for 2021-2023, recently adopted by the International Board of Direction. I want to thank ITE Past  President Shawn Leight for his leadership of this important effort and the many ITE leaders who contributed to its development. While I have always been very focused on having a clear strategy in place for the organizations, programs, and activities that I have been charged with leading, I have not always been a fan of the formal strategic planning process. Oftentimes, so much energy goes into developing a great plan that that mostly ends up sitting on the shelf collecting dust. The plan ...
1 comment

Complete Streets, Incomplete Work

By Mr. Ransford McCourt P.E., PTOE posted 11-01-2020
Be the first person to recommend this.
The term “Complete Streets” describes something we as professionals have long strived for on our roads. From a technical perspective, the emergence of the term around 2003 somewhat troubled me, since it seemingly states the obvious. It has always been normal to consider the context, characteristics, and users of every street. But what has gotten in the way is how we’ve decided to use available funds. Many times, we as professionals focus on the street or the rails to such an extent that it missed filling out the system investment in an equitable, balanced modal way in many urban areas. The result led us to incomplete streets. For Denver Bronco fans, say it ...
0 comments

A Virtual Success

By Mr. Jeffrey Paniati P.E posted 10-01-2020
Be the first person to recommend this.
By all accounts, our first-ever virtual ITE Annual Meeting and Exhibition was a success, with nearly 1,800 participants during the two weeks of technical sessions, and many more joining in the 25 Council and Committee meetings held the third week. You can read highlights from the meeting in this issue of ITE Journal, and I want to take this opportunity to reflect on the event and thank those who contributed to its success. It was with more than a little trepidation that we began developing the meeting, not knowing how well the program would translate to the virtual world, or if the technology would hold up. While we were able to gather lessons learned from other ...
0 comments

ITE Professional Development – We Share

By Mr. Ransford McCourt P.E., PTOE posted 10-01-2020
Be the first person to recommend this.
Professional development (noun): the process of obtaining skills, qualifications, and experience that allow you to make progress in your career, including reviewing case studies, consultation, coaching, mentoring and technical assistance. It’s October 2, 1930, and ITE was just formed. Fast forward to October 8, 1976, when I joined ITE. It’s now October 2020, and ITE is celebrating 90 years of serving its members and the transportation profession. One thing that has not changed in 90 years is ITE’s commitment to the career advancement of each of its members through professional development. I can personally speak to my experience that spans nearly half ...
0 comments

Social Justice and Equality

By Mr. Jeffrey Paniati P.E posted 09-01-2020
Be the first person to recommend this.
In the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement, ITE leadership issued a statement on Social Justice and Equality that said in part: “Transportation professionals have a profound duty to provide mobility solutions for all members of our society and to ensure that safe and dignified options exist for all. ITE believes that differences in background and experience enrich the culture and experiences of ITE for our membership as they do for the communities in which we live and work.” I wanted to share more behind why ITE made this statement, and made it now. As transportation professionals, we can make a significant impact on the communities where we live and ...
0 comments

Rural Reflections

By Mr. Ransford McCourt P.E., PTOE posted 09-01-2020
Be the first person to recommend this.
I grew up in a rural community with 54 students—the largest graduating high school class in its history. Two cars at the only four-way stop in our area was congestion, and summer was a pain because we couldn’t get out onto the highway (tourists!). In transportation a “blinking” light defined your town, signs became target practice, and nobody did anything unless somebody died in a crash. You see the worlds as: Rural – Open spaces equate to freedom, independence is valued, you work hard to get ahead, you’re away from crowds, you create your fun, silence and dark skies abound. Urban – Crowded, noisy, “you can’t see the stars,” rules matter with so many ...
0 comments

Great B2B Ideas to Give Small Businesses a Competitive Edge

By Frederick Tartt posted 08-25-2020
Be the first person to recommend this.
Making your mark on the business world as a small business owner takes guts. On top of the massive competition faced in this environment, entrepreneurs face the obstacles of limited resources. Financial resources are always restricted but start-ups also demand loads of time.  Massive energy and time inputs often mean spreading yourself thinly, making personal, financial and relationship sacrifices that can complicate this initiative. Take advantage of a variety of resources to ease the load, and which offer a greater personal and work balance. Outsource writing services Writing services are vital to promoting the online business entrepreneur. Unfortunately, ...
0 comments

6 Key Points to Consider in Coastal Warehouse Construction

By Frederick Tartt posted 08-10-2020
Be the first person to recommend this.
Harbor or coastal warehouses are an integral part of port infrastructures across the world and help in storage and transit logistics. Siting them along the coastline next to the ports is necessary and practical for shipping companies, agencies, and port authorities.  As per the engineers at FRE Composite Inc, construction along the coastline has unique challenges that engineers must address when building warehouses in this environment including the use of corrosion-resistant fiberglass conduits. Here are 6 essential points to consider when undertaking waterfront warehouse construction projects. Check local requirements There are zonal building ...
0 comments

#ITE2020 Leadership Series: Alison Catarella-Michel, PE, PTOE, PTP, RSP1 (F) and Diane Hammonds, PE, PTOE (M)

By Mr. Ransford McCourt P.E., PTOE posted 08-02-2020
Be the first person to recommend this.
  We close out the profiles of ITE Southern District leaders with two individuals who were the lead coordinators of the “ITE Annual Meeting that never was” in New Orleans. Alison Catarella-Michel, PE, PTOE, PTP, RSP1 (F) is the President of Urban Systems in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Diane Hammonds, PE, PTOE (M) a Senior Engineer with Fenstermaker in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I was able to get to know them at a Southern District Board meeting in New Orleans prior to the pandemic where we were brainstorming what the ITE Annual Meeting in their hometown would be like. Things change fast. That meeting will happen this week virtually, not in New Orleans. ...
0 comments

#ITE2020 President's Speech: Shape Your Community

By Mr. Ransford McCourt P.E., PTOE posted 08-02-2020
Be the first person to recommend this.
Good morning and welcome to ITE’s Annual Meeting in it’s 90 th year.  After 90 years you would think we all know ITE. But here we are in our first Virtual Annual Meeting. Today, I want to share with you a journey of what I believe ITE is – the ITE I know now and what we can be in the future. ITE has been, and will be, a partner with you to shape your community.  Many people ask me why ITE?  When you surround yourself with people that are passionate, knowledgeable, thoughtful, supportive, encouraging, sharing and dedicated to making a difference, I have found you can be in NO better place. It is a belief that we can make lives better one project at ...
0 comments

#ITE2020 Technical Program Preview: Brooke Struve, P.E. (M) and The Story Behind Considerations for Making Informed Trade-Off Decisions Related to the Selection of Bikeway Types

By Mr. Ransford McCourt P.E., PTOE posted 08-02-2020
Be the first person to recommend this.
Brooke Struve, P.E. (M) is a design program manager as part of the Safety and Design Team Resource Center of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) near Denver, CO, USA. She is a graduate of Brigham Young University and has been with FHWA since 2002 after a brief stint with Utah DOT. At BYU, she became interested in mountain biking as a recreational activity. Her early work in safety, geometric design, and road safety audits intersected with a personal passion with bicycling. Through a bicycle trail project, her career work in this area accelerated. When the Resource Center assessed the national core crash types—roadway departure, intersection, and pedestrian/bicycle, ...
0 comments

Virtual Meetings to Virtual Streets

By Mr. Ransford McCourt P.E., PTOE posted 07-31-2020
Be the first person to recommend this.
Over the last five months, we all have become more familiar with the virtual world. ITE is hosting its first virtual Annual Meeting this month, and a few of our Districts (Midwestern, Western, and Mountain) have jumped in to create virtual events that expanded the sharing of information for our members in new and valuable ways. Members facing travel challenges to attend in-person meetings are now able to attend virtually, saving time and money. In this new virtual world we live in, events have become easier to navigate, creating a new experience—not one that replaces faceto-face, but complements and enhances it. The virtual world has opened our eyes to new ...
0 comments

2020 ITE Annual Meeting and Exhibition, Reimagined

By Mr. Jeffrey Paniati P.E posted 07-31-2020
Be the first person to recommend this.
As the COVID-19 pandemic started to unfold, it quickly became clear that we would not have the ability to safely gather together for the 2020 ITE Annual Meeting and Exhibition in New Orleans, LA, USA. As you can imagine, this was very disappointing for both the ITE staff and the wonderful group of volunteers on the Local Arrangements Committee (LAC) supporting us. Planning for the Annual Meeting starts almost as soon as the prior year’s meeting concludes. By February, we had already assembled an outstanding technical program. Once we knew we could not meet in person, we monitored what other associations were doing and thought through a number of alternatives. ...
0 comments

ITE Releases What a Transportation Professional Needs to Know about Counts and Studies during a Pandemic

By Ms. Pamela Goodell posted 07-29-2020
Be the first person to recommend this.
Over the past four months, typical transportation activities have changed significantly with the COVID-19 pandemic. Events that impact transportation are not that uncommon; from solar eclipses to Super Bowls. However, this event is unprecedented in its global reach, its unknown duration, and the fact that “normal” is unlikely to return after the event. We have already witnessed altered home and work environments, travel patterns, and unprecedented reductions in congestion. As the pandemic transitions from outbreak to management, some of these changes are returning to normal while others are establishing a “new” normal. The roadmap into the future involves ...
0 comments

#ITE2020 Technical Program Preview: Ramond Robinson and The Story Behind: Designing for Traffic and Transit in Low Density Urban Areas

By Mr. Ransford McCourt P.E., PTOE posted 07-28-2020
Be the first person to recommend this.
Ramond Robinson is the Transportation Officer at Anne Arundel County in Annapolis, Maryland where he leads mobility management strategies. He is one of the most exuberant transportation leaders you will find. Working in Annapolis his transportation experience blends suburban, ex-urban and rural users to determine priorities for transportation improvements that will build a better quality of life for the community. It is a unique community ecosystem of a family of hamlets that are connected together. Ramond sees transportation as a way to reinvest in the community, build value and economic development allowing for growth and work force development.  Ramond’s ...
0 comments

#ITE2020 Leadership Series: Richard Caudle, P.E. (M)

By Mr. Ransford McCourt P.E., PTOE posted 07-27-2020
Be the first person to recommend this.
Richard Caudle, P.E . (M) is a traffic engineer for Skipper Consulting in Birmingham, AL, USA. Richard is one of the most humble servant leaders you will find. Our ITE journeys cross paths in many ways. He has served as Alabama Section ITE (ALSITE) president and was awarded Alabama Section Transportation Engineer of the Year in 2008. Richard is a long-time supporter of ITE’s Student Traffic Bowl for the Southern District. He helped set-up equipment and organize the event from its inception, and has chaired the SDITE traffic bowl committee from 2010 through 2020, recently turning over the reigns to Greg Judy of the Tennessee Section. I was able to share ...
1 comment