Creative solutions, new technologies emerge at ATSSA’s Circle of Innovation

Creative solutions, new technologies emerge at ATSSA’s Circle of Innovation

Industry benefits from annual gathering of public agencies documented in new report

Each year, one of the highlights of ATSSA’s Convention & Traffic Expo is the Circle of Innovation where transportation officials from across the country gather to discuss the latest challenges and solutions they have encountered in addressing roadway safety.

This year, ATSSA’s Innovation & Technical Services Team developed the information gleaned from that meeting into a 30-page report now available online.

“This year’s gathering sparked an extraordinary exchange of ideas among some of the brightest minds in the industry,” said ATSSA Director of Innovation & Technical Services Eric Perry, who moderated the discussion. “The level of innovation and collaborative problem-solving on display was truly inspiring. We recognized that the insights shared during these conversations have the potential to address challenges being faced across the country. That’s why we’re committed to making this knowledge accessible—not only to those who attended, but also to those who couldn’t be there in person.”

Taking advantage of technology, the ITS Team took several real-time polls during the meeting to gauge how many geographic areas were encountering specific challenges. That input came from the 200-plus people who packed the one-hour meeting held in Orlando, Fla., on the final day of this year’s 5-day Convention & Traffic Expo.

ATSSA’s “Circle of Innovation 2025 Summary Report” documents the ideas shared about solutions being utilized by state and local agencies across the country and includes links to resources to gain an even greater understanding of each issue.

The report addresses seven topics:

• Innovative Use of All Way Stop Control
• Red Light Running Challenges and Solutions
• Secondary Closures in Work Zones
• Positive Protection and the Updated FHWA Rule
• Speed Management
• Artificial Intelligence in Transportation
• Portable Traffic Signals and Related Technologies.

The report also includes an appendix that includes the presentation slides used during the meeting.

ATSSA’s Circle of Innovation is a perennial highlight of the Annual Convention & Traffic Expo with both DOTs and roadway safety professionals from the private sector eager to hear new ideas and gain insights about ways they can contribute to keeping workers and travelers safe on the nation’s roads.

ATSSA’s 2026 Convention & Traffic Expo takes place at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Feb. 20-24. The Circle of Innovation will again be held the final day of the 5-day conference.

Registration is now open.

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