The Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office (ITS JPO) joined thousands of industry professionals in Detroit, Mich., for the 2026 ITS America Conference & Expo from June 9-12.

Nearly 250 people visited the ITS JPO booth in the exhibit hall, where USDOT Program Managers discussed innovative ITS topics, such as Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and automated vehicles.

In a plenary session, USDOT Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology Seval Oz and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Administrator Sean McMaster were among the speakers addressing the last 35 years of ITS transformation and what is coming next. In their remarks, they announced USDOT plans to invest $20 million in the modernization of digital infrastructure across the nation’s corridors.

Conference attendees engaged with ITS JPO staff both at the ITS JPO booth and in technical sessions throughout the conference. The ITS JPO staff included:

• ITS JPO Director Brian Cronin
• V2X and Cybersecurity Program Manager Justin Anderson
• ITS4US Program Manager Elina Zlotchenko
• Knowledge and Technology Transfer Program Manager J.D. Schneeberger
• AI Program Manager Lisa Randall
• Automated Vehicle Program Manager Hyungjun Park

The ITS JPO is proud to be on the cutting edge of ITS and looks forward to continuing the exchange of ideas with the transportation professionals and practitioners who work to improve safety and mobility every day.

The USDOT FHWA Saxton Transportation Operations Laboratory (STOL) showcased a fully operational V2X environment deployed by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) along the M-1 Corridor and I-94. Demonstrated at the ITS America Conference & Expo as part of the Interoperable Connectivity/Spectrum program, the deployment highlighted an interoperable transportation ecosystem where existing and emerging technologies from a diverse group of industry partners work seamlessly together, regardless of platform, communication method, or service provider.

STOL led the architecture design and implementation of MDOT’s integrated Direct and Network V2X framework, bringing multiple connected technologies into a unified operational environment. The demonstration showed how real-time connectivity and information sharing can enhance safety, mobility, and situational awareness for road users, vehicles, and transportation infrastructure.

The ITS JPO had a strong presence at the 2026 OmniAir Maryland Plugfest where Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) was presented and vendor devices were tested. The vision and Proof-of-Concept for transforming ITS standards into an MBSE ecosystem was presented to Plugfest attendees. The presentation was well-received and led to an engaging conversation on how MBSE could benefit standards maintenance and improve standards-based V2X deployments. The ITS JPO conducted Wayties device testing in support of OmniAir device certification where vendors could test and validate their OBUs for accuracy and conformance to industry standards. This testing supports vendors in the ITS industry to give deployers more device options.

The Intersection Safety Systems (ISS) Prototyping Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) is accepting proposals until July 20, 2026. Up to $17M (across all awardees and phases) is available to support ISS prototype development, testing, and deployment under real-world conditions.

The goal is to accelerate the development of full end-to-end prototype systems and their components, including sensor fusion, AI-based decision-making, and conflict mitigation. This opportunity is open to any eligible entity, regardless of prior Intersection Safety Challenge participation or prizes won.

The ITS JPO’s Deployment Evaluation Program (DEP) released five new Executive Briefings on: ITS for Planned Special Events, ITS for Asset Management, ITS Cybersecurity, Next Generation Transportation Management Centers, and Transit Innovation. These briefings synthesize findings from real-world deployments, highlighting documented benefits, costs, and lessons learned to help transportation agencies make informed investment and operational decisions. As agencies prepare for major events such as large sporting events, festivals, and conventions, the ITS for Planned Special Events briefing offers practical strategies for managing travel demand, reducing congestion, coordinating operations across jurisdictional boundaries, and handling the dramatic, localized travel surges characteristic of major events. The Program looks forward to learning from the innovative transportation strategies, technologies, and operational experiences deployed by host cities during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Check out the recently released briefings to explore how they help local and regional agencies implement proven technology frameworks that maximize safety and mobility.

The Taskar Center for Accessible Technology (TCAT) at the University of Washington (UW) partnered with the Seattle FIFA World Cup 2026 Local Organizing Committee to develop custom AccessMap features. TCAT is one of the primary awardees selected to lead a major deployment site under the ITS JPO’s ITS4US Deployment Program, a multimodal initiative that improves transportation efficiency while creating strong public-private partnerships, implementing innovative solutions, and delivering cost-saving results that other communities can scale and replicate.

The result is the FIFA AccessMap Multimodal Event Edition, which delivers an accessibility-first, multimodal trip planning experience. This tool is integrated directly into the official FIFA local apps (SEA & WIN) for the Puget Sound region. AccessMap now appears alongside Google Maps and Apple Maps as a first-class navigation option, representing a genuine, high-visibility real-world deployment of UW’s Transportation Data Exchange approach—more than just a standalone demonstration.

The ITS4US Deployment Accelerator Program is a new ITS JPO initiative, in coordination with the Federal Transit Administration. This program aims to significantly accelerate targeted follow-on deployments by rapidly replicating the open-source code developed by the Heart of Iowa Regional Transit Agency (HIRTA) ITS4US deployment site. This solicitation, expected to be released in late 2026, will award multiple sites with seed funding to assess the replicability of HIRTA’s solution in various operating environments.

The ITS JPO Artificial Intelligence (AI) Program recently launched a major revamp of its website, offering a more modern, user-friendly experience with new resources. The website features a streamlined design with expanded content, organized by: Get AI Ready; Put AI in Practice; and Foster AI Learning and Connections.

The ITS JPO AI Program kicked off the FHWA Center for Local Aid Support (CLAS) Innovation Exchange Webinar on May 21, 2026. The webinar titled, “AI in Transportation: Data Collection for Asset Management,” featured a presentation on “AI and Data Strategic Considerations,” focusing on data governance, collection, management, integration and critical considerations around quality, privacy, security for implementing AI in transportation.

Subsequently, the ITS JPO AI Program hosted another FHWA CLAS Innovation Exchange Webinar on June 25, 2026. The webinar titled “AI in Transportation: Project Delivery” featured a presentation on how AI can support specific needs and phases during transportation project delivery. The presentation shared example AI uses cases and applications for environmental, design, right of way and utility coordination, project procurement, project close out, and project operations and maintenance. The materials for this webinar will be posted to the JPO AI Program website in the coming weeks.

The ITS JPO released two free instructor kits that can be used to teach the basics of ITS to students and early career professionals. Each kit includes a slide deck, participant workbook, hands-on activities, and instructor notes. No development time required. Just download, teach, and inspire the next generation of transportation innovators. These ready-to-use modules were developed with input from transportation practitioners and are designed to be easily incorporated into your course curriculum, training programs, and/or onboarding activities.

• Introduction to Intelligent Transportation Systems – A 90-minute module covering real-world ITS deployments, transportation challenges, and career pathways. Search for Course #137000.
• Applying Systems Engineering to ITS Projects – A 90-minute module walking trainees through the Vee model, ConOps development, and stakeholder coordination. Search for Course #137999.

The Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) and Utah DOT (UDOT) V2X Accelerator deployments were recently featured in the March/April 2026 edition of ITS International while the Maricopa County DOT (MCDOT) V2X Accelerator deployment was featured in the May/June 2026 edition. The articles discuss how MCDOT, TTI, and UDOT demonstrate how V2X can save lives today while paving the way for a safer, more connected transportation future and include quotes from representatives from each of the three sites.

TTI hosted USDOT on May 18-21 for an operational readiness check. During the visit, TTI walked through their 15 V2X use cases and demonstrated their current operational functionality at their RELLIS campus test track and within deployment sites throughout College Station and Houston. The TTI team demonstrated the use of both direct and network V2X use cases using roadside units deployed at real-intersections within Houston and the SH6-US290 corridor and onboard units instrumented in several test vehicles. The readiness check validated these operational use cases in a real-world environment and helped identify lessons learned that will help inform future V2X implementations.

The ITS JPO recently released the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Retrospective Analysis and Looking Into the Future Report, which provides a comprehensive overview of the history, current state, and future outlook for ITS in improving safety, mobility, and efficiency across all modes of transportation. The Report aims to capture key milestones achieved in the ITS industry, investments, priorities, transformative technologies, and opportunities to accelerate ITS while also highlighting the importance of collaboration between public and private sectors, new procurement models, and opportunities to accelerate the advancement of ITS in the transportation industry. View full report via the button below!

The USDOT proudly announced the launch of the USDOT DOT Bots Challenge in late June 2026. The Challenge offers up to $1.5 million in prize funding for innovative ideas on how advanced robotics technologies can solve public sector transportation challenges, improve infrastructure, and keep travelers and workers safe. Stage I of the Challenge is now open for submissions through August 10, 2026. Full Challenge details, including key dates, eligibility requirements, evaluation criteria, and submission information, can be found in the DOT Bots Challenge Statement.

Mark your calendar for the ITE Annual Meeting and Exhibition, July 19–22, 2026, in Detroit, Mich. ITS JPO representatives will be available at booth 223 in the exhibit hall. We hope to see you there!