WASHINGTON, DC, May 28, 2009 - U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell, the nation's first Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Senior Policy Counsel Robert Sussman, Research and Innovative Technology Administrator Peter Appel, House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee Chairman James Oberstar, Ranking Member John Mica, and other Congressional leaders will join more than 1,000 public sector, private industry and academic leaders at the ITS America 2009 Annual Meeting & Exposition, where they will explore ways in which intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and "smart" technologies can help solve our nation's transportation, economic and environmental challenges.

Secretary LaHood and other officials will participate in a "City Streets" vehicle and infrastructure technology demonstration that will showcase 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 foot exhibit hall 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. Additional technologies will be on display during a Congressional reception and technology showcase in the Capitol Visitor Center Atrium on Wednesday, June 3.

On Monday, June 1 at 12:30 pm, ITS America, IBM, Spencer Trask, and other partners will hold a news conference to announce the launch of the first ITS Innovation Challenge, a global competition to identify the best and most creative ideas to reduce congestion and its impacts on the economy, environment, and quality of life. Details will be announced at Pavilion 317 of the Exhibit Hall starting at 12:30 p.m. A floor plan is available at: http://events.ntpshow.com/itsa09/public/floorplan.aspx.

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. Key sessions will focus on the future of mileage-based user fees, the latest automotive and commercial vehicle safety technologies, a DOT Modal Administration Update, and panels titled Paying for a 21st Century Transportation System and Smart Roads, Livable Communities: ITS Solutions for a Sustainable Transportation Future.

The Gaylord National Hotel & Convention Center, on the Potomac just minutes from downtown Washington, D.C. For directions, visit http://www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylord-national.

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