ITE councils-gateways to knowledge and advancement

Institute of Transportation Engineers. ITE Journal, Nov 1999

Members belonging to one or more of the ITE Councils saw their services and programs continue to expand during 1999. As a result, membership in ITE Councils has continued to grow. Approximately 3,750 Institute members and some 220 companies have joined at least one ITE Council.

Council members have found that keeping up-to-date on issues and activities within their major disciplines is one of the major benefits of belonging to an ITE Council. Council newsletters, Internet listservs and special mailings to members provide them with news, announcements, answers to questions, proposed legislation and regulations, opportunities to provide input, announcements of Council projects and opportunities to become involved in those activities. To enhance these communication activities, the Councils are actively gathering e-mail addresses so they can quickly convey critical and time-sensitive information. If ITE does not have your e-mail address, please send it via e-mail to Shawn Harbaugh at sharbaugh@ite.org. Please remember to include your full mailing address in the email to ensure that the database is updated correctly.

The more than 150 activities currently underway by the Councils include the development of standards and recommended practices for the profession, informational reports, handbooks, sessions for meetings and conferences, seminars, issue briefings, awards, tours, etc. These activities are coordinated through the ITE Coordinating Council, led by 1999 Chair John R. Freeman, 2000 Chair Thomas E Larwin and 2000 Vice Chair Wayne K. Tanda. The Coordinating Council also manages joint Council activities, such as the development of the ITE International Conference and Annual Meeting programs.

In 2000, ITE Councils will be addressing "hot issues," such as safety, transportation operations, smart growth, leadership and management education, and pedestrians and bicycles, along with a wide variety of other issues of importance to ITE members. Some of the 1999 highlights from each Council are summarized below.

Membership in ITE Councils is open to any ITE member. If you are an ITE member, you may join as many Counsils as you have an interest in. Simply indicate the Council(s) you wish to join on your 2000 ITE dues form and mail it along with the Council dues payment(s) to ITE Headquarters.

If you would like to become involved in one or more Council activities, contact ITE Headquarters ( 1202/554-8050, fox: 1202/863-5486), the Council chair, or the leader of the specific project in which you are interested (see the Council section of the 1999/2000 ITE Directory CD-ROM). If you have an activity of your own in mind, feel free to suggest it.