WASHINGTON, June 1, 2009 - Aneesh Chopra, U.S. Chief Technology Officer; Peter Appel, Administrator, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation; and Robert Sussman, Senior Policy Counsel, Environmental Protection Agency joined more than 1,000 public sector, private industry and academic leaders at the Intelligent Transportation Society of America's (ITS America) 2009 Annual Meeting & Exposition at the Gaylord National Hotel & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. With the theme of "Moving America Forward," the conference's sessions explore ways in which intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and "smart" technologies can help solve our nation's transportation, economic and environmental challenges.

Attracting top corporate executives and government officials from around the U.S., ITS America's Annual Meeting & Exposition is designed to showcase ITS technologies that are designed to provide the public with the most effective management of roads and bridges, protect public investment in public transportation infrastructure, and enhance and expand mobility options. The event brings together some of the nation's leading transportation, technology and policy experts who will participate in nearly 100 educational, technical and policy sessions including Congressional fact finding sessions moderated by House and Senate committee staff on key topics of importance to the surface transportation authorization and climate change debates.

The Annual Meeting & Exposition's first day was also marked by the opening of the "City Streets" vehicle and infrastructure technology demonstration that showcases the latest advances in vehicle and intersection safety, electronic tolling, vehicle mile charging, freight security, infrastructure management, and real-time traffic, transit and parking information.

The exposition also features a 150,000 square feet of exhibits of cutting-edge ITS technologies that are improving highway and vehicle safety, reducing traffic congestion and CO2 emissions, and creating a more energy efficient, sustainable and performance-based transportation system.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell, and Congressmen John Mica (R-FL), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Mike Rogers (R-MI), and Russ Carnahan (D-MO) are just a few of the transportation, technology, and energy leaders who are schedule to address conference attendees over the next two days.

ITS America's Annual Meeting & Exposition runs through Wednesday, June 3. For more information, go to http://www.itsa.org/annualmeeting.html.

###