2026 ITS Arizona Annual Conference

The ITS Arizona Annual Conference was held on October 7–8, 2026, bringing transportation professionals together for two days of focused discussion and knowledge sharing under the theme “Empowering Innovation – Then and Now”.

The conference opened with ITS Arizona’s Day-One Workshop, which convened industry leaders, researchers, and practitioners to examine traffic signal timing strategies from the perspective of agency partners. The workshop featured one presentation on traffic signal timing strategies overview and nine panelists from nine different agencies around the Phoenix metropolitan area discussing their agency perspectives of how signal timing is and should be performed for their jurisdiction’s purposes. Thank you to Jarod Carrell (City of Phoenix), David Lucas (MAG), Micah Henry (City of Mesa), Alisa Doll (City of Chandler), Eric Hernandez (City of Phoenix), Albert Garcia (City of Surprise), Mike Sutton (Town of Gilbert), Isaiah Landavaso (City of Peoria), Jorge Riveros (MCDOT), and John Savage (City of Scottsdale) for your great insights and perspectives shared with workshop attendees!

Day Two began with a keynote address by Erik Dietz, ITS America Vice Chair Board of Directors, titled “From Innovation to Infrastructure: Scaling Connected Corridors Across America”. The keynote provided a forward-looking perspective on innovation, infrastructure, and connecting Arizona across corridors as an important connector through the west.

Following the keynote, attendees participated in 26 technical presentations spanning a wide range of transportation topics, with strong emphasis on innovation occurring now as technology and applications evolve from what they used to be. Attendees also engaged with conference sponsors and exhibitors throughout the day. During lunch, the Past Presidents’ Awards were presented, highlighting the excellent work being done in the state.  In addition, the ITS Arizona Member of the Year was announced, the Graduate Student Paper Award was presented and the results of the elections for the 2027 ITS Arizona Board of Directors were announced.  

The 2026 ITS Arizona Annual Conference continued the organization’s tradition of strong attendance and industry engagement, reinforcing ITS Arizona’s commitment to advancing innovative and responsible transportation solutions across the region.

Day 1 Workshop: Traffic Signal Timing Strategies from the Perspective of Agency Partners Workshop

Workshop Moderator: Chris Lemka, Arizona Transportation Group Director at Burgess & Niple
Opening Remarks: 

FEATURE PRESENTATIONS

Day 1 Workshop – Traffic Signal Timing Strategies from the Perspective of Agency Partners

Day 2 Presentations

Keynote Address – From Innovation to Infrastructure – Scaling Connected Corridors Across America

SESSION 1A— ITS Performance Measures (CRISMON / SIRRINE ROOM): Moderator – Faisal Saleem – Maricopa County Department of Transportation

• Stop Retiming Signals That Can’t Be Fixed – Gary Carlin, FlowLabs
• Connecting Data to Decisions: A Statewide TSMO Prioritization Tool – Karina Trejo, Kimley-Horn
• Beyond Counters and Cameras: See the Past, Monitor the Present, Predict What’s Next – Sri Desikan, Streetlight, a Jacobs Company

SESSION 1B— ITS Applications to Improve Safety (POMEROY/ ROBSON ROOM): Moderator – Bharat Pathivada, University of Arizona

• Investigating Road Users’ Compliance with Yellow and Clearance Time Intervals for Signal Timing Design – Pouya Jalali Khalilabadi, University of Arizona and Simon Ramos, City of Phoenix
• Safe Systems: A More Intelligent Approach to Safer Roadways – Bob Riebe, Econolite

SESSION 1C— Traffic Management & Improving Operations (CONFERENCE THEATER): Moderator – Jarod Carrell, City of Phoenix

• From Support to Strategy: Advancing TMC Operations Through Staff Augmentation – Albert Garcia, City of Surprise, Taylor Dunkle, Kimley-Horn and Jordan Wong, Kimley-Horn
• Probe-Vehicle-Based Approach to Corridor-Level Signal Coordination Performance Evaluation – Zong Tian, University of Nevada Reno and David Palacios, CompassIoT
• What Really Counts: Lessons Learned From a Less-Successful Detection Pilot – Steven Cheshko, ADOT

SESSION 2A— Traffic Management & Improving Operations (CRISMON / SIRRINE ROOM): Moderator – Don Tappendorf, Stanley Consultants

• Strengthening Transportation Cybersecurity: From Devices to Network Infrastructure – Gabe McFadden, Q-Free
• Traffic Signal Communications Over Cellular Networks – Francisco Leyva, City of Tucson
• Customizing an ATMS for ADOT Statewide Traffic Operations – Ryan Roper, Kimley-Horn and Carter Liu, Kimley-Horn

SESSION 2B— Innovative Traffic Signal Operations (POMEROY/ ROBSON ROOM): Moderator – Mohammad Musa, City of Apache Junction

• From Roadside Sensors to Action: Scalable Camera and LiDAR Intelligence for Traffic Operations and Safety – Daijang Suo, Arizona State University
• Modernizing Signal Operations in Arizona: Above-Ground LiDAR for Stop-Bar and Advanced Detection Beyond 800 Feet – Prachi Dalal, Seyond and Austin Wilson, Seyond
• Implementation of Lidar for Advanced Signal Operations and To Improve Roadway Safety for All Users – Scott Clark, Clark Transportation Solutions

SESSION 2C— Improving ITS Safety (CONFERENCE THEATER): Moderator – Ioana Popovici, Burgess and Niple

• Zero Fatalities, Zero Rework: Augmenting Legacy Detectors to Mainstream Connected Mobility – Ahmad Jawad, Iteris
• CrashForesight Tool Application in Minnesota – Ben Pierce, HDR and David Sabers, HDR
• Improving School Zone Safety: A Comparative Evaluation of Variable Speed Limits and Static Signs with Flashers in Peoria, Arizona – Austin Kennedy, City of Peoria and Yung Koprowski, Y2K Engineering

SESSION 3A— AI for ITS (CRISMON / SIRRINE ROOM): Moderator – Ray Yparraguirre, Iteris

• Moving Beyond Manual: Transforming Traffic Engineering Workflows with Generative AI – Christopher Cassani, Miovision
• Speed Management: A Data-Driven Platform for Prioritizing Safety Through High-Resolution Speed Analytics – David Basset, Avenue Consultants
• Exploring AI in the Space of Transportation Data – Edward Smaglik, Northern Arizona University

SESSION 3B— Multi-Modal ITS (POMEROY/ ROBSON ROOM): Moderator – Michelle Beckley, City of Tempe

• Multimodal Multi-Agency Traffic Signal Optimization in Downtown Phoenix – David Lucas, Maricopa Association of Governments, Nic Santiago, City of Phoenix, and Felipe Ladron, Kittleson
• Leveraging the Leading Pedestrian Interval for Transit Improvements – Jason Xu, Fehr and Peers
• Traffic Operations and Pedestrian Activity at Signalized Intersections: Uncovering Nonlinear Cross-Domain Interactions – Danial Chekani, University of Arizona

SESSION 3C— Expanded ITS Applications (CONFERENCE THEATER) Moderator – Mike Sutton, Town of Gilbert

• City of Phoenix ITS Strategic Plan – Alyssa Whitten, City of Phoenix and Chris Lemka, Burgess & Niple
• Smart City Modernization and a Regional Resource for Neighboring Agencies and Cities – Muhammad Musa, City of Apache Junction and Doug Wirthgen – City of Apache Junction
• Development of the MAG Regional Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO) Plan – David Lucas, Maricopa Association of Governments, Deanna Haase, Kimley-Horn, and Sanjay Paul, Mobility Matrix

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