WASHINGTON, DC, November 3, 2008 - ITS America is proud to introduce an Author's Corner at the 15th World Congress on Intelligent Transportation Systems. Each day, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the lunch area of the exhibition hall, attendees will have the unique opportunity to hear from one of four authors as they discuss topics that impact transportation technology, policy and the legislative process. Following each discussion, the authors will be available to sign books. Here is a sneak peek at what you can expect to hear:

Dr. Sam Staley

"Mobility First: A New Vision for Transportation in a Globally Competitive Twenty-First Century"

Traffic congestion is a growing problem in urban areas throughout the world, and unless immediate action is taken, will rise to unacceptable levels by 2030. Sam Staley's "Mobility First: A New Vision for Transportation in a Globally Competitive Twenty-First Century" considers transportation policy through the intersection of four crucial and timely elements: global, economic, and cultural competitiveness; urban development; demographic trends; and transportation technology, engineering and design. Join Dr. Staley as he offers recommendations that will mitigate the troubling consequences of falling mobility, spiraling road costs, bad roads, and political inertia, and explains why ITS technologies will be central to solving these complex problems.

Dr. Joshua Schank

"All Roads Lead to Congress: The $300 Billion Fight Over Highway Funding"

Next year, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) will come up for reauthorization. During his time on Capitol Hill, Joshua Schank was able to follow the path of this legislation from inception to law, observing firsthand the twists and turns of its journey. His book, "All Roads Lead to Congress: The $300 Billion Fight Over Highway Funding," reveals the various rules that structured this legislation, the leadership styles and strategies at play, and the tensions among levels of government. If you are interested in transportation policy, you don't want to miss this!

Dr. Joseph Sussman

"Perspectives on Intelligent Transportation Systems"

Professor Sussman is a long-time active participant in the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) world, beginning with his work on the core writing team in the original "IVHS" (presently ITS America) Strategic Plan in 1991-92, and continuing on to the present day. He currently serves as the chairman of the ITS Program Advisory Committee (mandated by SAFETEA LU) for the USDOT. Building on its rich history, "Perspectives on Intelligent Transportation Systems," his book covers various aspects of ITS including perspectives on the future of the field; organizational issues related to ITS - in particular, regionalism and the transportation/information infrastructure; and ITS' implications for the transportation profession at large and for transportation education. Everyone is sure to learn something from this fascinating book!

Tom Vanderbilt

"Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do"

If you have a passion for driving, you don't want to miss this discussion! Tom Vanderbilt's "Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do," explains why traffic jams form, outlines the unintended consequences of our attempts to engineer safety and even identifies the most common mistakes drivers make in parking lots. Based on exhaustive research and interviews with driving experts and traffic officials around the globe, Traffic gets under the hood of driving to uncover the surprisingly complex web of physical, psychological and technical factors that explain how traffic works.

We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to engage in these fascinating perspectives!