WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 - The Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America) announced today that Sam Palmisano, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of IBM, will deliver the keynote address at the closing plenary at the 20th Annual Meeting & Exposition, on May 5 in Houston, Texas. ITS America's 20th Annual Meeting & Exposition, "Connecting Communities through Smart Transportation Solutions," will bring together more than 2,000 transportation and business professionals to focus on the latest technologies and cost-effective solutions for reducing traffic congestion, CO2 emissions, and traffic crashes, financing infrastructure projects, collecting real-time performance data, and improving system management.

"We are honored to have Mr. Palmisano share his vision for creating a smarter transportation network through technology innovations that help communities address their transportation problems with fewer traffic fatalities, less congestion, more efficient and reliable movement of goods, and greater financial and environmental sustainability for future generations," said Scott F. Belcher, president and CEO, ITS America.

In 2009, IBM launched "SmarterCities," an integrated multi-year program that is part of IBM's Smarter Planet agenda. The program was created to bolster economic vitality and the quality of life in cities and metropolitan areas by sparking new thinking and meaningful action across the city ecosystem -- from mayors to citizens.

ITS America's 20th Annual Meeting & Exposition is expected to attract 2,000 attendees from private industry, public agency, and research institutions involved in the development and deployment of Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) technologies. The conference will feature more than 50 sessions focused on core ITS issues such as federal transportation legislation, climate change policy, technology deployments that are producing real returns for transportation investment, key metrics for technology and transportation performance, and leveraging local ITS deployments for greater integration and interoperability.

In addition, the exhibition will cover 150,000 square feet and host more than 100 companies and government agencies with the products and services that address transportation, technology, and security challenges.

Registration for ITS America's 20th Annual Meeting & Exposition will open December 15, 2009. For more information on the conference including program, sponsorship, and exhibition opportunities, visit http://www.itsa.org/annualmeeting.html.

The Intelligent Transportation Society of America represents more than 400 member organizations including public agencies, private corporations, and academic institutions involved in the research, development, and deployment of technologies that improve safety, increase mobility, and sustain the environment. http://www.itsa.org

###