Guckert to Discuss Driverless Cars and Their Impact on Smart Cities

Wes Guckert, PTP, President & CEO of The Traffic Group, Inc. (TTG) – one of the nation’s leading traffic engineering and transportation planning firms – will be a featured speaker at the Intelligent Transportation Society of America’s (ITSA) annual conference, ITS America 2016, taking place in San Jose, California June 12-16.

Guckert will present on the topic of driverless and connected vehicles and the impact on smart cities – and the need to plan now for the future. Specifically, Guckert’s session will explain the implications of self-driving vehicles for land use planning, real estate, and community development.

Guckert predicts there will be 30% fewer cars on the road as a result of driverless vehicles. This also means that there will be a reduced need for parking. His presentation will highlight an example of a 1 million square foot retail center equipped with 5,000 parking spaces. If this particularly center could save 30% of the land used for parking – or 1,500 spaces – it would end up saving 15 acres of land. This scenario will likely occur all across the country once driverless vehicles begin appearing on U.S. roadways.

ITS America 2016 San Jose, a new show representing this transformative moment in intelligent transportation, is built around the theme “Integrated Mobility. Transportation Redefined.” Each day has its own focus, from new advances in technology to funding transportation projects through public-private partnerships, among others.

With more than 40 years industry experience, Guckert is a recognized and well-respected expert in the field of traffic engineering, and transportation planning. Guckert has played a major role in over 7,000 projects spanning both urban and suburban areas throughout the United States, as well as internationally.

In addition to Guckert’s technical expertise, he is often asked to serve as an expert witness, testifying before County and Municipal Boards, District Courts, and Planning Commissions on traffic engineering and transportation planning issues.

Guckert is a frequent speaker on the topic of driverless cars and also currently serves as the Chairman for the Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) Public Development Infrastructure Council (PDIC).

About The Traffic Group, Inc.

Established in 1985, The Traffic Group, Inc. (TTG) is a veteran-owned traffic engineering and transportation planning specialty firm headquartered in Baltimore County, Maryland.

Through use of sophisticated technology and the in-house experience of more than 70 industry professionals, TTG offers services that help determine road improvements, signal and sign location, lighting plans, land usage, public facility and capacity issues, and security measures. With over 3,000 pieces of traffic data collection equipment, The Traffic Group has the largest inventory of such equipment in the U.S. and conducts more than 100,000 counts for clients annually.

For more information about The Traffic Group, visit the company’s website at www.trafficgroup.com or follow them on Twitter @TheTrafficGrp.

About ITSA

The Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America) is the nation’s largest organization dedicated to advancing the research, development and deployment of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) to improve the nation’s surface transportation system. Founded in 1991, ITS America’s membership includes more than 450 public agencies, private sector companies, and academic and research institutions.www.itsa.org