Stars to shine at Traffic Expo 2002

Scheduled for Feb. 8-12, 2002, in Dallas, the 32nd Annual Convention and Traffic Expo of the American Traffic Safety Services Association collates elite traffic safety experts with manufacturers of traffic safety-based products centered around a program filled with educational opportunities exploring a wide variety of topics regarding the traffic safety industry.

Nearly 3,000 attendees from around the globe are expected to converge on Dallas while approximately 200 exhibitors occupying more than 500 booth spaces also are slated.

Highlights of Traffic Expo 2002 include the first SGC/ATSSA Humanitarian Award, the Opening General Session, educational opportunities and the new product showcase.

SGC/ATSSA Award

Concurrent with the ATSSA industry awards, the first SGC/ATSSA Member Humanitarian Award will be awarded during the ATSSA Gala Event held Monday, Feb. 11, between 7-11 p.m. Scranton Gillette Communications, publishers of Roads & Bridges and Transportation Management + Engineering magazines, in conjunction with ATSSA will present a Humanitarian Award to an ATSSA member who has been nominated by industry peers because of his/her volunteer efforts in their community.

"Many ATSSA members offer their own free time to help others who are less fortunate, or those who simply need a helping hand," said Ken Hughes, group publisher, infrastructure group, Scranton Gillette Communications. "This award recognizes the efforts of that individual."

Opening General Session

On Sunday, Feb. 10, the Opening General Session is scheduled between 10.30 a.m. - 12 p.m. As of press time, Norm Mineta, U.S. transportation secretary, is scheduled to speak to attendees, according to ATSSA.

Following the opening address, outgoing ATSSA President Dennis "Chip" Sterndahl will address the audience and pass the gavel to the association’s new president, Kathi Holst, where upon she will begin her term as president.

Concluding the morning’s activities, a new video stressing the importance of ATSSA member involvement in legislative visits to elected officials on Capitol Hill will be shown.

Mega Sessions, workshops, forum

From 9-10 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 11, a Mega Session entitled "Deep Pocket Defendant" will include a panel of ATSSA members sharing first-hand experience of how they prepared for multi-million dollar lawsuits relating to traffic control design and installation. Insurance experts and attorneys also will share their perspectives as they discuss actual cases and verdicts in a variety of industry-related liability lawsuits.

"Attendees can learn the goal of liability law and how it protects you," Jim Baron, director of communications for ATSSA, told Roads & Bridges. "Also, attendees can discover the new developing court concepts and their impact in addition to affirmative action steps attendees can immediately implement to limit exposure to liability."

For more information on this and other workshops, please consult the ATSSA Traffic Expo 2002 Convention Program and Exhibit Guide or visit the association’s website (www.atssa.com).

Finally, a new feature for this year’s show is the Public Officials Forum to be held all day on Tuesday, Feb 12.

"For just the cost of the advanced registration fee, public officials can participate in education sessions and roundtables featuring the issues they are concerned about most," said Baron. "They also are entitled to a continental breakfast, admission to the exhibition hall and a free lunch."

New product showcase

One of the highlights of Traffic Expo is the New Product Showcase, scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 12, between 10 and 11.30 a.m., wherein exhibitors are allowed a pre-determined amount of time to display and discuss their new product to all in attendance.

"All vendors who have a new product will be featured in the New Product Showcase and are eligible to participate in the New Products Press Conference," Baron told Roads & Bridges. "The New Product Showcase participants will be featured, with a description of their product, in a special section of the Convention Program and Exhibit Guide. They also will have special signage in their booth indicating that they have a new product."

A full review of all of the products featured in the New Products Showcase will be featured in an upcoming issue of Roads & Bridges and on our website (www.roadsbridges.com) in the days following Traffic Expo 2002.