Western States Rural Transportation Technology Implementers Forum (WSRTTIF)

What does it take to make Rural ITS work? It takes technical excellence across a variety of skill areas. It takes creativity. It also helps to learn from the experiences of others. The challenges in making Rural ITS work are significant. Therefore, it’s important for ITS technology practitioners to be able to meet in order to share what they’ve learned and help advance the state-of-the-practice.

Starting in 2006, the Western States Rural Transportation Technology Implementers Forum has provided ITS implementers and engineers from the western states region with valuable opportunities for detailed dialogue about some innovative engineering and communications projects designed to support the rural transportation system. The Forum is valuable, not only for the detailed and knowledgeable presentations and demonstrations, but also for the times outside of sessions where participants can network with their peers from other districts and states.

The Western States Forum is unique. Speakers are given an extended amount of time to really delve into the nuts and bolts of how a project works, whether it relates to equations, source code, component-level discussion, or lessons learned. Questions and discussion are encouraged throughout and not just at the end of a presentation or demonstration. High quality technical content, discussion, transparency and trust are the main goals of the Forum.

WSF participants look at system components during a technical presentation. WSF speaker Matt Neeley holds a vehicle detection system component during discussion at the Forum.

Recent Updates:

Postcard, 21st Annual Western States Forum, Save the Date, thumbnail, link Postcard, 20th Annual Western States Forum, Save the Date, thumbnail, link An audience of approximately 35 people seated at rectangular tables classroom style, link 19th Annual Forum logo, link A seated audience watching a presentation, thumbnail, link 19th Annual logo snow covered mountain winding road, thumbnail, link
Mark your calendar for the next Forum – June 16-18, 2026!
December 4th, 2025
SAVE THE DATE for the 20th Annual Forum in June 2025!
January 16th, 2025
19th Annual Forum Highlights
December 31st, 2024
It's time to register for the 2024 Forum!
March 27th, 2024
2023 Western States Forum Review
February 2nd, 2024
Now’s the time to submit an abstract for the 2024 Forum!
December 22nd, 2023

Check back soon for more Western States Forum updates.


UPDATE: Thursday, December 4th, 2025

Mark your calendar for the next Forum – June 16-18, 2026!

Save the Date!

Postcard, 21st Annual Western States Forum, Save the Date; link to PDF postcard

The 21st Annual Western States Rural Transportation Technology Implementers Forum will be
June 16-18, 2026, in Yreka, California!

To make Rural ITS work, it takes technical excellence and creativity, and it helps to learn from the experiences of others.

The Forum is a venue for frank, detailed discussions and demonstrations about Rural ITS projects, right down to the nuts and bolts of how things work or don’t work. Forum attendees are those involved with ITS technology at a field level in ITS design and engineering, communications system development, systems integration, or field maintenance.

Mark your calendar now to join us at the next Forum – June 16-18, 2026 – to share your experiences and learn from others.

The Call for Abstracts will be released soon. Please check back!


Project Contacts:

Steering Committee Member:

Leann A.F. Koon
Research Associate
Western Transportation Institute
Montana State University - Bozeman
PO Box 174250
Bozeman, MT 59717-4250
(406) 994-7643
(406) 994-1697 (fax)
leann.koon "at" montana.edu
www.westerntransportationinstitute.org

Steering Committee Member:

Jeremiah Pearce, P.E.
Chief, Office of ITS Engineering and Support
Caltrans District 2
1657 Riverside Drive, MS-14
Redding, CA 96001
(530) 225-3320
(530) 225-3255 (fax)
jeremiah.pearce "at" dot.ca.gov
https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-2

Steering Committee Member:

Douglas Galarus
Assistant Professor
Department of Computer Science
Montana Tech
Museum 202
1300 West Park Street
Butte, MT 59701
(406) 496-4858
dgalarus "at" mtech.edu
https://cs.mtech.edu/

Steering Committee Member:

Andres Chavez, P.E.
Chief, ITS Special Projects Branch
Caltrans, Division of Research, Innovation,
and System Information
PO Box 942873
Sacramento, CA 94273-0001
(530) 780-6877
andres.chavez "at" dot.ca.gov
https://dot.ca.gov/programs/research-innovation-system-information