Texas Technology Task Force

Innovative Transportation

The Texas Technology Task Force advances the development of a high-performance transportation system that continues to position Texas as a leader in economic activity and technological innovation. By bringing together diverse stakeholders from government, industry, academia, and emerging technology sectors, the Task Force aligns priorities, fosters collaboration, and leverages shared expertise to shape a safer, more innovative transportation future for Texas.

This video offers a look at how technology and real‑world transportation challenges come together through the work of the Texas Technology Task Force.

Upcoming Task Force meeting

Topic: Intelligent Intersections

Sept. 16, 2026

1:00 PM – 4:30 PM Central Standard Time

Virtual or in-person

TxDOT Stassney Campus - 6230 E. Stassney Ln., Austin, TX 78744 Auditorium

Join the meeting virtually

Register to attend in-person or virtually.

This topic explores how combining sensors, V2X, artificial intelligence, data management, and automation can move Texas from reactive traffic management at intersections to proactive risk prevention, better operations, smarter investment decisions, and ensuring technology as a core part of TxDOT assets.

The Intelligent Intersection Vision: Where Are We Today?
Intelligent Intersections in Action: Deployments, Lessons, and Opportunities
Beyond Smart Signals: The Next Generation of Intelligent Intersections

1:00 PM | Welcome & Meeting Overview

Opening to establish context and decision lens for intelligent intersections under the guiding principles of safety and innovation.

Darran Anderson, TxDOT Senior Director of Strategy and Innovation
Rose Guajardo, TxDOT TTTF Strategic Management Analyst

1:15 PM | The Intelligent Intersection Vision: Where Are We Today?

This presenter will explore how the safety-first approach to intersection design applies to the future of intelligent intersections. She will discuss how technology can serve as a complementary tool where geometric solutions are constrained by right-of-way, cost, operational, or community factors.

Speaker: Amanda Austin, TxDOT Roundabout and Alternative Intersection Design Lead

1:35 PM | Panel 1: Intelligent Intersections in Action: Deployments, Lessons, and Opportunities

This panel will explore real-world applications of intelligent intersection technologies and discuss the opportunities, challenges, and investments needed to accelerate deployment. Panelists will share implementation experiences, early results, and lessons that can help Texas agencies determine which applications are ready for extensive deployment.

Moderator: Amanda Austin, TxDOT Roundabout and Alternative Intersection Design Lead

Panelists:

Bob Brydia, TTI Senior Research Scientist and Technology Innovation Lead
Blaine Leonard, Utah DOT Transportation Technology Engineer (virtual)
Joe Cottrell, Maricopa County Department of Transportation Traffic Technology Branch Manager (virtual)
John Hibbard, Georgia DOT Deputy Chief Engineer (virtual)

2:45 PM | Break

3:00 PM | Panel 2: Beyond Smart Signals: The Next Generation of Intelligent Intersections

This panel will explore how intelligent intersections may evolve as advanced sensing, edge computing, and artificial intelligence become more widely implemented. The panel will also include time for demonstrations that reflect the future of intersection technologies.

Moderator: Srinivasa Sunkari, Texas A&M Transportation Institute

Panelists:

Nick D’Andre, Grid Matrix CEO and Co-Founder
Joshua Auld, Argonne National Laboratory

4:15 PM | Reflections & Closing Remarks

Task Force Members
Darran Anderson, TxDOT Senior Director of Strategy and Innovation

4:30 PM | Adjourn

Microsoft Teams

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Meeting ID: 257 366 271 474 84

Passcode: BM9jr7uK

Meeting location and email contact

Email Texas Technology Task Force

TxDOT Stassney Headquarters
6230 E. Stassney Lane
Austin, TX 78744

Note: Parking is available in front of TxDOT's main building.

About the Texas Technology Task Force

The 83rd Texas Legislature (2013) issued a mandate to TxDOT to establish a technology task force to monitor and advise on emerging transportation technologies. The Texas Technology Task Force was formed following this mandate with a deliberate composition of subject matter experts across industry, research institutions, and public agencies with extensive knowledge in vehicle automation, telecommunications, big data, innovative funding and partnerships, transit, freight, long-range and strategic planning, and additional areas of expertise. Task Force membership is dynamic and undergoes periodic review to ensure that the right mix of expertise is included to capture perspectives on new technologies and innovative processes.

The Task Force has designed its activities to advance the mission of transformational technology discovery, stakeholder engagement, coordination, and planning with other state agencies and developing strategic recommendations for technology advancement. The Task Force activities are planned around its organizing principles of People, Portfolio, Plans, and Process.

The Task Force documents their work by submitting annual white papers on information regarding innovative technologies, policies, or programs. The 2022 Technology Utilization Plan (TUP) identifies opportunities for TxDOT to use advanced technology to reasonably meet existing and anticipated goals in the near and long term. This plan discusses leveraging Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the transportation sector. It also recommends that in the near-term TxDOT should "look for data procurement opportunities to encourage improved collaboration and innovation among public agencies”. The document recommends “leveraging data from connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) and prioritizing cybersecurity to mitigate risks associated with the states data resources". The utilization plan acknowledges that AI can have a positive influence on safety, congestion, sustainability, access, and maintenance. More details about this information can be found on the 2022 Tech Utilization Plan.