Texas Innovation Alliance
Innovative Transportation
The Texas Innovation Alliance brings together transportation stakeholders from across the state—including TxDOT, regional, and local public agencies—to foster a collaborative culture that accelerates the deployment of innovations and technologies. These efforts aim to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable mobility across the Texas highway system.
Upcoming quarterly in-person meeting
The TIA quarterly meeting will highlight transportation innovation efforts happening across Texas while exploring national priorities shaping the future of the industry, including the implementation of artificial intelligence across the state. Through project updates from local, regional, and state spotlights, attendees will learn how agencies are advancing innovative transportation solutions, sharing lessons learned, and strengthening collaboration across jurisdictions. There will also be a featured discussion on Every Day Counts (EDC)-8 innovation - Advancing Nighttime work zone safety, showcasing practical strategies and innovative approaches to improve transportation planning, project delivery, and system performance.
All times are Central Standard Time.
1:00 PM | Welcome and Introductions
- Speaker: Benjamin King, TxDOT and Andrea Gold, University of Texas at Austin
1:10 PM - 1:30 PM | STIC Incentive Project Update
- 1:10 PM - 1:20 PM | Michele Hagemann, Midland Introduction
- 1:20 PM - 1:30 PM | Mayra Chavez, El Paso Update
1:30 PM | Local Spotlight: Joel Meyer, City of Austin
The City of Austin is piloting multi-sensor solutions to evaluate intelligent intersection technologies that capture and analyze critical traffic safety metrics using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in real time. Through industry partnerships, the initiative brings together multiple vendors for a systematic evaluation of competing smart infrastructure solutions under real-world conditions.
1:50 PM | Regional Spotlight: Chris Klaus, North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG)
This talk will offer a practical perspective on how a transportation agency assesses AI tools to determine if they deliver genuine organizational value. It will consider determining AI tool maturity and whether it is ready for a pilot program or full-scale adoption. Additionally, it will explore strategies for proactively addressing workforce concerns, ensuring team alignment and trust as new tools are integrated into daily operations.
2:10 PM | State Spotlight: Chris Bardash, TxDOT Transportation Planning and Programming (TPP) Division
This talk will explore how the State Department of Transportations (DOTs) and their work with Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) can leverage artificial intelligence to automate and expand scenario planning for complex transportation networks. Additionally, it will explore opportunities such as advanced geospatial analysis, multivariable simulation, complex trade-off analysis, and more.
2:30 PM | Break
2:45 PM | Every Day Counts (EDC)-8 Panel: Advancing Nighttime Work Zone Safety
Moderator: Rafael Riojas
Panelists:
- Melissa Finley, Texas Transportation Institute
- Steven Albright, Association of General Contractors
- Jacob Chau, TxDOT Waco District
3:45 PM | Closing Remarks & Next Steps
- Speaker: Andrea Gold, University of Texas at Austin
4:00 PM | Adjourn
Vision and mission
Vision
Advancing Texas transportation safety, efficiency, mobility, and reliability through collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovation partnerships.
Mission
Connecting Texans with the future of transportation through innovation.
Topics
A key focus for the Texas Innovation Alliance is grant readiness. TIA provides planning and application development assistance to public agencies interested in federal grants.
Through its events and monthly newsletter, TIA also facilitates regular, timely information sharing about upcoming application deadlines and available Grants and Funding resources.
Infrastructure that improves connectivity and digital mobility information.
Analytics and artificial intelligence for smart transportation systems.
Improving the resilience of Texas supply chains with new technologies.
Incident responder strategies and best practices to improve safety.
Connecting all Texans with transportation options.
Leading the way in unmanned aerial systems and advanced air mobility.