2021 Virtual Meeting

The program for the 2021 National Rural ITS Conference will be integrated into the ITE Annual Meeting and Exhibition held July 20-29, 2021 in a virtual setting.  This year’s conference covered emerging technologies and trends from across the transportation industry including a focus on transportation equity considerations and exploration of the potential of big data and data analytics. This conference will offer insights to help understand the impacts of COVID-19 and how to respond to these changes. In addition to traditional ITS topics of interest to transportation professionals, this event will bring together both traditional and non-traditional users to address such issues affecting rural and small communities. This conference’s virtual delivery format provides flexibility for the participant to join in real time or to view archived session recordings. Specific NRITS Sessions during the ITE virtual Annual Meeting program are highlighted below:

Tuesday, July 20

  • 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Opening Plenary Session

  • 12:40-1:25 p.m. – Poster Presentations

  • 1:30-3:00 p.m. Technical Sessions

    • Walking and Biking: User Insights and the Toolkits You Need to Know About

    • ITE Town Hall

    • Rural TSMO Planning in Western States (NRITS)

  • 3:10-3:55 p.m. – Poster Presentations

  • 4:00-5:30 p.m. – Technical Sessions

    • Perspectives on Safety and Operational Benefits for Roundabouts

    • How to Get Thru – Transportation Plans and Performance for Construction and Events (NRITS)

    • VZ Sandbox Competition

Wednesday, July 21

  • 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Technical Sessions

    • Transportation Technology Tournament Judging

    • Systemic Safety Improvements in Local Jurisdictions

    • Signs and Markings: Innovations That Work (NRITS)

  • 12:40-1:25 p.m. – Poster Presentations 

  • 1:30-3:00 p.m. – Technical Sessions

    • Emerging Practices and Technology for Railroad Grade Crossings

    • Building Effective Pedestrian and Bicycle Networks

    • Rural ITS Town Hall (NRITS)

  • 3:10-3:55 p.m. – Poster Presentations 

  • 4:00-6:00 p.m. – Workshops 

    • Our Changing Mobility Landscape: What It Means for Our Profession

    • Walk the Mile: An Interactive Workshop in Transportation Equity

    • Next Generation Traffic Incident Management – Safety and Mobility Benefits for All

  • 6:00-8:00 p.m. – Traffic Bowl

Thursday, July 22

  • 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Technical Sessions 

    • COVID-19 Transportation Impacts and Innovations – Part 1

    • Baking TSMO Into All We Do in Transportation (NRITS)

    • Tools for Advancing Vision Zero and the Safe System Approach

  • 12:40 – 1:25 p.m. – Poster Presentations

  • 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. – Power Plenary Session 

  • 3:10 – 3:55 p.m. – Poster Presentations 

  • 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. Technical Sessions 

    • Complete Corridors

    • Critical Data Integration Between PSAPs and TMCs (NRITS)

    • COVID-19 Transportation Impacts and Innovations – Part 2

Tuesday, July 27

  • 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Technical Sessions

    • Connected Vehicles: The Changing Landscape, Implementation, Lessons Learned, The Future

    • What’s New in Trip Generation

    • Considering Traffic Signals for All Users

  • 12:40-1:25 p.m. – Poster Presentations

  • 1:30-3:00 p.m. Technical Sessions

    • Tools for Complete Streets

    • What Have Connected Vehicle Pilots Taught Us to Date?

    • Pivoting to Virtual Public Engagement

  • 3:10-3:55 p.m. – Poster Presentations

  • 4:00-5:30 p.m. – Technical Sessions

    • 30 Minute Delivery: Understanding Micrologistics Trends and Transport Planning

    • Improving Safety Through Speed Limit Setting

    • Big Data and Cloud-Based Solutions for Improved TSMO

    • Recruiting and Retaining Transportation Professionals: Diversity and Inclusion in Recruitment, Mentoring and Career Development

Wednesday, July 28

  • 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Technical Sessions

    • Equity in Transportation

    • Deepening Crowdsourcing for Operations Roots for More Fruitful Benefits

    • Best Practices from the Transit Community)

  • 12:40-1:25 p.m. – Poster Presentations 

  • 1:30-3:00 p.m. – Technical Sessions

    • Safe System Conversation Circle with State and National Leaders

    • Traffic Analysis, Modeling and Simulation Cornucopia: Core Competencies, Incorporating New Data Sources, Analyzing Emerging Technology

    • Big Data Safety Applications

  • 3:10-3:55 p.m. – Poster Presentations 

  • 4:00-6:00 p.m. – Workshops 

    • Reforming Traffic Impact Analysis to Incorporate Safety and Multimodal Transportation

    • Proactive Tools and Treatments to Address Roadway Safety

    • Game of Modes: Bus and Bike Facility Design in Constrained Corridors

Thursday, July 29

  • 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Technical Sessions 

    • Measures for Managing Speed

    • Focusing on Balancing Safety and Mobility at Traffic Signals

    • Edge Lane Roads – New Uses and Safety Performance

  • 12:40 – 1:25 p.m. – Poster Presentations

  • 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. – Technical Sessions

    • Updating the MUTCD: What’s Being Proposed and What’s Being Said

    • Legal Liability: Perspectives from Both Sides

    • TSMO Performance Management Using Cutting Edge CAV Technologies

  • 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. – Break

  • 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. – Closing Plenary​