2025 Convention & Traffic Expo draws global interest, sets another record

2025 Convention & Traffic Expo draws global interest, sets another record

Traffic Expo new features and education day proved popular

ATSSA’s 2025 Convention & Traffic Expo smashed its previous registration record, increasing to nearly 4,600, which is 500 more people than last year’s record-setting event. The annual event brings together people from across the nation and the globe for the premier roadway safety infrastructure industry gathering.

The Convention focused on driving innovation in roadway safety and that was on display throughout the event, which ran from Feb. 28 through Tuesday in Orlando, Fla.

“This was a fantastic event, putting a spotlight on the amazing ways our industry is pulling together to advance roadway safety and prevent both injuries and deaths of motorists and people employed in work zones,” said ATSSA President & CEO Stacy Tetschner. “I always come away from our Annual Convention & Traffic Expo inspired and eager to see what the next year will bring.”

The event included nearly 40 education sessions that explored issues such as assessing whether roads are ready for automated vehicle (AV) technology, systems for connected work zone notification and a session discussing a demonstration of AVs in work zones.

In addition, several sessions tackled tactics to better protect people employed in work zones. Those included options for getting flaggers out of harm’s way, how to leverage technology to minimize exposure and Pennsylvania’s new driver training program, which addresses how motorists can effectively navigate work zones.

The event didn’t just talk about ways to achieve safety, it gave attendees the opportunity to see and touch them while talking to the people who developed the ideas.

More than 260 exhibitors filled the 300,000-square-foot Traffic Expo floor at the Orange County Convention Center, displaying everything from vehicles equipped with features to protect roadway workers to laptops loaded with technological tools.

The Expo floor also hosted a Work Zone Safety Device Demonstration on Tuesday, funded by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). People got a firsthand look at three tools with lifesaving potential—Automated Flagging Assistance Devices (AFADs), Portable Traffic Signals (PTS) and Residential Driveway Temporary Signals (RDTS), which, previously, were known as Driveway Assistance Devices or DADs.

This year’s event also incorporated two tours—the Newcomers Tour on Sunday, which oriented new members and first-time attendees to the event, and the New Products Rollout (NPRO) Tour on Monday that took public agency officials to see each of the 20 products entered in NPRO.

The top product, Safety Cloud by HAAS Alert, won this year’s Innovation Award. Safety Cloud is a connected vehicle and digital alert system. Three other products received honorable mention.

During the Convention, ATSSA members learned representatives from another state will be joining the Association’s Chapters, pending approval by the Board of Directors. Tennessee will become part of the Kentucky Chapter and be known as the Kentucky-Tennessee Chapter.

The Convention began on Feb. 28 with the annual sporting events that serve as the primary fundraisers of the year for the American Traffic Safety Services (ATSS) Foundation – the 33^rd Annual Golf Classic Tournament held at the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate and the 12^th Annual Sporting Clays event held at Tenoroc Shooting Range. Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarship recipients Megan Pirelli (second from right below) and Taylor Lingafelter (third from right) spoke at the Foundation events on Feb. 28.

On Sunday, Megan and Taylor visited the National Work Zone Memorial where they saw the names of their fathers inscribed–Mark Pirelli and Lewis Lingafelter. Both lost their fathers to work zone incidents in Illinois. Megan attended the event with fiance Michael Chaidez, far right. Taylor was accompanied by, from left, her stepfather, Josh Born, brother Teagan Born and mother Marissa Lingafelter Born.

The Foundation also benefited from additional efforts including a new event: Paws for a Cause. Convention-goers enjoyed stopping at the ATSSA Pavilion to pet some adorable pups (is there any other kind?) and then donated to support Foundation programs.

The event’s Monday program kicked off with an industry update, national awards, and a message from Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-WV, who chairs the Senate Environment & Public Works  Committee, and was the 2022 recipient ATSSA’s Roadway Safety Champion Award.

David E. Cowan of PSS Innovations, flanked by ATSSA President & CEO Stacy Tetschner, left, and Board Chair Mike Hare, was recognized with the Industry Achievement Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Association.

Keynote Doc Hendley’s message resonated with the industry as he talked about finding his purpose in helping people around the world get clean water. He said one person with one great idea can make a difference and save lives, noting that the leading cause of death for children under age 5 is illnesses brought about by a lack of clean water.

The next generation of roadway safety professionals had their moment in the limelight on Monday. Winners of this year’s Traffic Control Device (TCD) Student Challenge presented their ideas for “Innovative Traffic Control Device Solutions to Improve Roadway Worker Safety,” the task for this year’s competition.

Hellen Shita of Florida International University (below center) won the contest, receiving first place for the project entitled, “Use of Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) in Improving Worker Safety.” Seth Wilder of North Carolina State University (on right below) placed second with his project entitled, “DrumSense: An Intelligent Platform to Enhance Work Zone Safety and Data Collection.”

Quinn Packer represented a team from the University of Connecticut, which placed third for its project entitled, “Multi-Tiered Traffic Control and Safety System for Construction Zones Using Temporary Asphalt Text, Lidar, and Work Zone Intrusion Monitoring.”

The Convention’s final day on Tuesday included the ever-popular Circle of Innovation where public agency officials and industry members gather to share information to advance roadway safety on specific topics. They shared information on how they tackle problems such as red-light running, work zone speed management and the use of  thermoplastic rumble strips to improve roadway safety.

Start planning now for next year’s event. ATSSA’s 2026 Convention & Traffic Expo takes place in Houston at the George R. Brown Convention Center, Feb. 20-24.