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January 2026 ITE Journal Director's Message: The Many Faces of Volunteer Leadership

By Mr. Stephen Kuciemba posted 3 days ago
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When people hear the phrase “volunteer leader,” they often picture someone standing in front of a room giving instructions, organizing events, or managing a team. While those roles certainly count, volunteer leadership within ITE comes in many shapes and sizes. It can be bold or quiet, front and center or behind the scenes, highly structured or informal. Based on my experience, I believe that one of the most powerful qualities of volunteer leadership is its flexibility. People can lead in ways that align with their personalities, strengths, schedules, employers, and life circumstances. It’s not a one-size-fits-all definition. Having served in many different volunteer ...
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January 2026 ITE Journal President's Message: Happy New Year!

By Mr. Gordon Meth PE,PP,PTOE,PTP,RSP2I posted 3 days ago
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I am honored and humbled to be able to lead ITE for the next year. My desire to lead began when I joined ITE in 1990 as a student member at the University of Waterloo. I was a third-year civil engineering student and had already discovered that transportation engineering/planning was my passion and career path. The president of the ITE Toronto Section came to speak. I was impressed that someone so important had come all the way (75 miles/125 kilometers, to be exact) to talk to a handful of us. That was when I told myself that I wanted to be that person talking and inspiring others someday. Within this role, I consider it my duty to support the nearly 100 Presidents ...
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December 2025 ITE Journal Director's Message: 2025 – A Unique Year

By Mr. Stephen Kuciemba posted 12-03-2025
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We’ve reached the final month of 2025—and what a wild ride this year has taken us on! Geopolitical changes, global economic impacts, and shifts in labor markets have contributed to feelings of anxiety for some, with potential impacts on personal financial stability for others. Uncertainty has been a common word tossed around the water cooler this year. Advancements in technology and AI have reshaped various aspects of life, from transportation and business to how we grow food and approach medicine. Life is significantly different than it was just 25 years ago, a change that is exciting for some, and intimidating for others. Was 2025 a unique year? A one-off? ...
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December 2025 ITE Journal President's Message: 2025 Reflections

By Ms. Karen Aspelin P.E., PTOE posted 12-03-2025
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As ITE members, we are united by a shared dedication to advancing safer, smarter, and more sustainable transportation systems. Reflecting on 2025, I’ve seen firsthand how our collective efforts have made a meaningful global impact—solidifying ITE’s leadership in mobility innovation, professional development, and the exchange of technical expertise. This year’s annual meeting theme—Innovative Pathways to Safer Transportation—was more than a slogan; it was a call to action. More than 1,500 of us gathered in Orlando to exchange ideas, showcase research, and explore new technologies. The event spotlighted the launch of ITE’s Safety Roadmap and Action Plan, a bold ...
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November 2025 ITE Journal Director's Message: The Power of Data

By Mr. Stephen Kuciemba posted 11-05-2025
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In an age where data are abundant and technology continues to evolve rapidly, the field of transportation planning and engineering is undergoing a quiet revolution. Gone are the days when decisions were made based solely on historical trends, location-specific studies, and even gut intuition. Today, data-driven decision making is at the core of designing smarter, safer, and more efficient transportation systems. Why has this trend evolved so much more prominently over the past decade? In part it’s because we have made the cultural shift to recognize that transportation systems are complex and dynamic. They’re influenced by a wide range of factors including ...
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November 2025 ITE Journal President's Message: Data Into Action

By Ms. Karen Aspelin P.E., PTOE posted 11-05-2025
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With the debut of ITE’s Safety Roadmap and Action Plan this year, I’m dedicating this month’s ITE Journal message to exploring the vital connection between data—the topic of this month’s issue—and their roles in advancing transportation safety. Our profession is being called to elevate our approach to safety, and the goal is clear: eliminate fatalities and serious injuries on our roadways. But the path to that goal demands a deeper, more comprehensive understanding of crashes. And that understanding begins with data. Not just any data, but the kind that only a multidisciplinary crash response team can uncover. For decades, transportation engineers and planners ...
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October 2025 ITE Journal Director's Message: Celebrating People and Achievements

By Mr. Stephen Kuciemba posted 10-04-2025
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So many great things happened at this year’s ITE Joint International and Florida Puerto Rico District Annual Meeting (held in beautiful Orlando, Florida). One of my personal highlights each year is the opportunity and pleasure of delivering the annual “State of ITE” speech during the Opening Plenary. One of my themes this year was to celebrate the many accomplishments ITE members helped achieve. I started with talking about our membership, and the remarkable fact that despite a constantly changing environment where jobs are increasingly under pressure, ITE’s membership has remained strong—proof that even in a fragmented world, ITE is still a place people choose ...
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October 2025 ITE Journal President's Message: Rewarding Leadership

By Ms. Karen Aspelin P.E., PTOE posted 10-04-2025
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At the Orlando meeting, I had the honor of giving opening remarks. In this ITE Journal column, I’d like to again reflect on leadership within ITE—what it means, why it matters, and why stepping up is so rewarding. Serving as your International President has given me a front row seat to the passion and dedication of our members. I’ve seen firsthand how we rally around bold ideas, especially through initiatives like our Safety Roadmap and Action Plan. What began as a strategic framework has evolved into a grassroots movement. Districts have taken ownership, forming committees and driving real change in their communities. It’s inspiring to witness strategy turn ...
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September 2025 ITE Journal Directors' Message: Updated TripGen Now Available

By Mr. Stephen Kuciemba posted 09-02-2025
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At last month’s ITE Annual Meeting and Exhibition, I had the pleasure of announcing that the new 12th Edition of the Trip Generation Manual was about to go live. The Trip Generation Manual i s updated every 4 years, and a lot can change during that quadrennial period. Not only have we continued to experience our “new normal” after COVID-19 forever changed commuting patterns—but we added nine new land use classifications, and data from more than 550 sites have been incorporated to ensure the database remains relevant. The ability to predict traffic patterns and plan the necessary infrastructure is a fundamental responsibility within our profession. The ...
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September 2025 ITE Journal President's Message: Planning Growth Responsibly

By Ms. Karen Aspelin P.E., PTOE posted 09-02-2025
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Like many of you, I live in a growing community. In my city, new subdivisions are springing up in nearly every direction. This surge in development is a positive indicator—it reflects economic vitality, population growth, and a strong demand for housing and services. With each new project, however, comes a set of responsibilities that cannot be overlooked. Chief among these is the need to carefully assess the potential impacts on traffic operations and public safety. Without thoughtful planning and thorough analysis, even the most well-intentioned developments can have unintended consequences that affect the quality of life for residents and the efficiency of ...
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August 2025 ITE Journal Director's Message: Something for Everyone

By Mr. Stephen Kuciemba posted 08-02-2025
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Welcome to August, and to our Annual Meeting issue of ITE Journal! This is always an exciting time of the year where leaders from across the industry gather at our conference. If you’re coming to Orlando, then I look forward to seeing you join in that excitement! Throughout my years of attending conferences from many different organizations, I’m always blown away by the technical content at ITE meetings. This is our chance each year to debate the relevant topics of today, share lessons learned, and advance the state-of-the-practice for those who may not have the time or resources to stay on top of all the current trends. I know there are some that come just ...
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August 2025 ITE Journal President's Message: See You in Orlando!

By Ms. Karen Aspelin P.E., PTOE posted 08-02-2025
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I live in a place that undoubtedly boasts the most beautiful summer weather in the entire United States—Colorado. With its sunny skies, low humidity, and cool mountain breezes, it’s hard to imagine wanting to be anywhere else during the summer months. So why, you might ask, am I genuinely excited to head to Orlando, Florida, in the middle of August when the heat and humidity are at their peak? The answer is simple: the ITE Annual Meeting! As I often tell people, the weather at a conference is always the same—an unwavering 68 degrees and just a bit drafty. Conference centers around the world seem to follow this universal climate standard. So whether we’re in ...
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July 2025 ITE Journal Director's Message: Rural Matters

By Mr. Stephen Kuciemba posted 07-02-2025
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It’s easy to fall into the trap of focusing too heavily on issues that are most frequently associated with urban areas. That’s where a significant portion of the population resides, and it’s where a lot of policy debates often take place. But like so many things, context matters—and the rural (and even sometimes exurban) environment is frankly where more lane miles exist. And, unfortunately, where fatality rates are significantly higher when analyzing roadway safety. Assuming you read our International President’s column on the preceding pages of the Journal (if not please go back and read it!), she did an excellent job highlighting the challenges. I totally ...
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July 2025 ITE Journal President's Message: The Roads that Connect Us

By Ms. Karen Aspelin P.E., PTOE posted 07-02-2025
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How often we forget about rural roads! I find myself reminding people time and again that not all ITE members live and work in bustling urban downtowns. While urban streets—and even the scorned suburban stroads—tend to dominate our professional conversations, rural roads quietly serve as the backbone of our transportation network. Every day, thousands of people rely on them, especially freight trucks that keep our economy moving (if you haven’t already, check out my February article on freight for more on that topic!). It’s time we gave rural roads the attention they deserve. Let me explain why. First and foremost, rural roads are heavily used—particularly ...
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Lead the Future of Transportation: Why ITE Leadership Matters

By Mr. John Davis P.E., PTOE,TSOS,RSP1 posted 06-15-2025
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Have you ever considered stepping into a leadership role within ITE? Whether you're early in your career or a seasoned professional, ITE offers meaningful opportunities to grow, connect, and make a difference in the transportation world. Leadership That Makes an Impact ITE leadership isn’t just about holding a title - it’s about being part of something bigger. From organizing local events to representing professionals on a global stage, our leaders help shape the direction of our industry. They drive innovation, advocate for safer, smarter transportation systems, and support the next generation of professionals. What You Gain Taking on a leadership ...
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June 2025 ITE Journal Director's Message: It’s All About Planning

By Mr. Stephen Kuciemba posted 06-02-2025
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Time for a small confession: I’m a habitual planner. I get enjoyment from laying out project schedules, I plan all my trips in detail, I relish the opportunity to map out strategic initiatives, I make a habit of thinking through meeting agendas—heck, I even plan my family activities (much to the annoyance of my free-spirited wife). I know that I get a lot of this from my father; he, too, was a habitual planner, and he ingrained in me the simple philosophy that proper planning prevents poor performance (yes, there are less tactful versions of that saying). It will probably come as no surprise then, that when it comes to planning in transportation, I consider ...
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June 2025 ITE Journal President's Message: Placemaking

By Ms. Karen Aspelin P.E., PTOE posted 06-02-2025
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I’ve written in this column before that some ITE Journal topics are easier for me to write about than others. This month’s topic—Placemaking—seemed tough to write about while wearing only my engineer’s hat. But when I started thinking of myself as a “place-enjoyer” with an engineering background, it made it much easier. Placemaking, according to one definition, is the art and science of crafting spaces that resonate with the community, fostering a sense of belonging and joy. Where I live in Colorado, in the shadow of Pike’s Peak, one of my favorite places is Bancroft Park in Old Colorado City. On Saturday mornings during the warmer months, families, neighbors, ...
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May 2025 ITE Journal Director's Message: Thank a Traffic Engineer

By Mr. Stephen Kuciemba posted 05-01-2025
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This issue of ITE Journal is focused on Traffic Engineering, a topic area that brings large crowds into sessions at our Annual Meeting, generates a lot of interest on our e-Community, and is an incredibly diverse and complex discipline that is sometimes misunderstood by the public (and even by others in the transportation space). For a profession that has been around for more than 100 years, these past few decades have been truly exciting in the traffic engineering arena. Technology has blown open the doors to new possibilities, there has been an increasing acceptance by policymakers that roadway safety oftentimes must come before convenience, and the breadth ...
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May 2025 ITE Journal President's Message: Transformative Changes

By Ms. Karen Aspelin P.E., PTOE posted 05-01-2025
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When I became a “Traffic Analyst,” the title on my first business card coming out of graduate school, I thought I’d be spending the rest of my career developing trip generation tables, running level of service analyses, and making recommendations for green times, turn lane lengths, and yellow clearance intervals. We were using computers to do these calculations—so advanced! What needed to change in the field of traffic engineering? Somewhere in the last three decades, traffic engineering has grown to encompass so much more than these metrics, which almost entirely involved how quickly you could move a car in the peak 15 minutes of the weekday. Today, a level ...
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Lead the Future of Transportation with ITE - Learn More on May 22, 2025

By Mr. John Davis P.E., PTOE,TSOS,RSP1 posted 04-28-2025
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Lead the Future of Transportation with ITE Leadership in ITE offers a dynamic blend of professional growth, community engagement, and the chance to help shape the future of transportation. Whether you’re coordinating a local event or representing members on the global stage, your contributions make a meaningful impact. Beyond the Title ITE leaders influence priorities, mentor the next generation, and drive innovation across the profession. Your voice, experience, and ideas can help guide ITE’s direction and expand its reach. Grow Personally and Professionally · Strengthen leadership, communication, and ...
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