ITE Annual Event Scores Big

The Annual Meeting & Exhibition of the Institute of Transportation Engineers was held this past August in Chicago. In addition to the unveiling of the premiere issue of Transportation Management + Engineering, an excellent array of 66 technical sessions was coupled with over 100 companies in the exhibition area.

Transportation Management + Engineering takes a quick look at some of the highlights of the ITE show and recognizes the winners of the Burton W. Marsh Award for Distinguished Service and the Theodore M. Matson Memorial Award.

Part of the ITE Opening Session included the awarding of the Burton M. Marsh Award for Distinguished Service and the Theodore M. Matson Memorial Award.

The Marsh Award is given to an individual who has contributed to the advancement of ITE over a period of years in an outstanding fashion.

This year’s winner of the Marsh Award was Nazir Lalani, principal engineer, Ventura County, Calif., Public Works Agency, Transportation Department.

In recognition of his achievements, Transportation Management + Engineering is featuring Lalani as this issue’s Industry Icon, which is featured on page 11.

ITE also took time during the Opening Session to distinguish Ethlyn Ann Hansen as the Theodore M. Matson Memorial Award winner. Since 1957, the Matson Award is awarded in recognition of outstanding contributions in the field of traffic engineering.

Hansen held the position of deputy district manager for Caltrans District 4 before retiring in 1994. She is regarded as a pioneer in opening opportunities and providing a role model for women in engineering. Over the course of her career, Hansen was responsible for state highway design activities throughout California; administered a $30 million engineering consulting program; served for eight years as deputy district director for operations; served as district design coordinator; and was appointed deputy district director.

The presence of attendees was evident throughout the entire time the show floor was open. Transportation Management + Engineering took advantage of the flow of attendees to unveil the premiere issue of TM+E. The August/September 2001 issue was distributed during the exhibition hours and most attendees were very interested in the new publication.

"I did get a premiere copy of the magazine and found it to be very good, practical and I will be able to use it in my job," said Bob Turner, senior traffic engineer, city of Spokane, Wash.

Others were impressed by the editorial content that TM+E offers.

"Having a monthly interview with industry leaders like Christine Johnson will be interesting," said Bill Kloos, division manager, signals/street lighting/ITS, city of Portland, Ore.

Covering a vast array of transportation-related issues and topics were 66 technical sessions that were the nucleus of the ITE event and TM+E managed to sit in on a number of sessions.

Overall, TM+E found attendees’ reaction to the content delivered in the technical sessions to be positive, especially those attendees who were interested in one particular area.

"I attended most of the sessions on pedestrians," said Kloos. "I think that ITE is doing an excellent job on pedestrian access and safety—creation of the new Bike/Pedestrian Council indicates the priority of this issue. I learned several things at the sessions which I hope to apply in Portland."