May 2026
President's Message
As we move into the spring season, I hope everyone is enjoying the longer days and renewed energy this time of year brings. It’s often a particularly active time in our field, with projects advancing, construction season ramping up, and new ideas taking shape across our region.
One of my key goals for 2026 has been to grow and strengthen our volunteer base, and I’m excited to see meaningful progress already. We’ve had several members step forward to support our efforts, and this growing involvement is helping us build a more resilient and sustainable leadership structure. By expanding participation and creating more redundancy within our teams, we can better support one another, maintain continuity, and continue delivering high-quality programs for our members.
CAPSITE has always been driven by the energy and dedication of its volunteers. Whether you’re helping organize an event, supporting student outreach, or contributing ideas behind the scenes, your involvement makes a real impact. If you’ve been thinking about getting more involved, I encourage you to take that step—there are many ways to contribute, and every effort helps strengthen our community.
Looking ahead, we are continuing to build a strong calendar of events for the year, including the return of our Audi Field technical event, one of our most anticipated and engaging gatherings. These events not only provide valuable technical insights but also create opportunities to connect, collaborate, and strengthen our professional network.
At the same time, our industry continues to evolve, with new tools, technologies, and approaches shaping how we plan, design, and operate transportation systems. Staying connected through organizations like CAPSITE allows us to learn from one another, share experiences, and adapt to these changes together.
As always, I encourage you to stay engaged, attend events, and share your ideas. CAPSITE is strongest when it reflects the voices and participation of its members, and I look forward to continuing this momentum together throughout the year.
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Save the Date: 2026 CAPSITE ADA Immersive Experience - Baltimore Area - May 08, 2026
The purpose of this program is to connect able bodied members of the ITE community with persons with disabilities, offer ITE participants a greater appreciation for the challenges some users face daily, and the importance of ADA-compliant designs which cater to the abilities of everyone. Our hope is that participants in this program will leave the experience with a renewed and sincere sensitivity to the needs of all users as we work to create more inclusive and equitable facilities.
3 PDHs will be offered for this event. Registration is limited to 25 participants.
REGISTER NOW
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Save The Date: MDOT SHA Asset Management Office (AMO) Showcase and Office of Traffic and Safety (OOTS) Systemic Safety Improvement Program Overview - May 11, 2026
The Chesapeake and Potomac Section of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (CAPSITE) is pleased to invite you to the Maryland State Highway Administration Asset Management Office (AMO) Showcase and Office of Traffic and Safety (OOTS) Systemic Safety Improvement Program Overview. This event will feature an introduction to the Asset Management Office (AMO) and technical presentations from OOTS staff related to Systemic Safety Improvement Program. PDH credits are anticipated for all registered attendees and registration will be capped at 80 attendees.
REGISTER NOW
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Save The Date: 2026 CAPSITE Prince William County Technical Meeting - May 12, 2026
The Chesapeake and Potomac Section of ITE (CAPSITE) is pleased to invite you to the 2026 CAPSITE Technical Meeting on May 12, 2026 at Prince William County. This event will feature an overview of the County's transportation priorities and initiatives from DOT leadership, followed by technical presentations from County staff, supported by professionals from Kimley-Horn, Kittelson, and Dewberry.
During the meeting, you will learn how projects are completed in Prince William County - from project identification and screening to project analysis and effective public engagement to conceptual design and early implementation activities. Box lunches will be provided to all registered attendees and sponsors are encouraged to use their discount coupon codes when registering. PDH credits are anticipated for all registered attendees and registration may be capped at 60 attendees. Please join your ITE colleagues for an afternoon of learning, networking and social opportunity.
REGISTER NOW
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ITE Safety Pledge
Through collaborative and collective action to achieve zero road fatalities, ITE is committed to advancing safety as a fundamental professional responsibility.
Transportation professionals shape the systems that people rely on every day. The ITE Safety Pledge invites individuals and organizations to formally commit to making safety a core value of their work—and to take meaningful actions that help prevent fatalities and serious injuries across our transportation network.
This pledge supports ITE’s Safety Roadmap and Action Plan and reinforces the shared belief that safety is not optional—it is essential.
Become an ITE Safety Partner
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District Rising Star Recognition: Ashley Orr
Ashley E. Orr, PE, is a Project Manager at Gorove Slade Associates, Inc. in Washington, DC, with over ten years of experience in transportation engineering and planning. A Penn State University Civil Engineering graduate, Ashley has been a member of ITE since 2021 and has served as Social Media Coordinator for the Chesapeake and Potomac Section (CAPSITE) for nearly three years. Ashley worked to increase member engagement on LinkedIn by increasing posting frequency and developing posting series around national initiatives including Engineer’s Week. She served on the CAPSITE scholarship committee and contributed to the planning committee for CAPSITE's Annual Conference & Business Meeting (2023-2024) and the Mid-Colonial District Traffic Bowl & Annual Meeting (2024 & 2026). Internationally, she has been involved with the ITE STEM Committee (2022-2023) and currently serves on the Transportation Planning Council, where she led the MTIA Case Studies group to publish three case studies in 2024. Ashley was a graduate of the Leadership ITE Class of 2025 and was nominated as a 2025 Young Leader to Follow.
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2026 CAPSITE Annual Conference - Call for Volunteers
We are excited to begin preparations for the 2026 CAPSITE Annual Conference and Business Meeting, tentatively scheduled for late October or November in the DC area.
To make this year’s event a success, we are forming a Planning Committee and are seeking dedicated volunteers to help organize and shape the event. This is a great opportunity to contribute to our professional community, share your ideas, and help deliver a meaningful and engaging experience for attendees.
We are currently looking for volunteers to support the following roles:
- Venue Coordinator | Catering & Social
- Venue Coordinator | AV/Room Set Up
- Technical Content Coordinator
- Swag, Gifts, Awards Coordinator
- Guest Speaker Coordinator
Depending on the number of volunteers, we may assign multiple roles to one person, or assign a role to a small team.
If you're interested in joining the Planning Committee or would like to learn more about the roles, please contact Alvaro Calle via [email protected] by 5/22/2026.
Thank you in advance for your support—we look forward to working together to plan another successful CAPSITE conference!
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Meeting Recap - Career Day at George Cromwell ES in Anne Arundel County - March 19, 2026
Leo Gray from SHA and Adam Greenstein participated in Career Day at George Cromwell ES in Anne Arundel County on March 19. They met with several kindergarten and 1st grade classes, running a version of ITE’s “friction and ramps” activity, teaching students about how different roadway slopes and surfaces can affect how fast vehicles travel. We tied it back to safety in their neighborhoods to better understand how to keep families safe when traveling, especially for the high number of students who walk to school.
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Meeting Recap - CAPSITE Morgan State - March 25, 2026
CAPSITE held successful mock interviews and technical meetings at Morgan State University. There were over 30 students and 15 professionals in attendance. The students had an opportunity to have our ITE community, including local leaders, review resumes and ask sample interview questions. The students thought they were coming for the free food and quickly learned essential skills for their future. The students were gracious and appreciative of the feedback and time ITE provided them. Thanks to Fatemeh Abdous and Dr. Yang from Morgan State University for organizing and hosting this event. Also, thank you to Montgomery County DPWT and State Highway Administration for participating in the interviews.
Two fantastic presentations followed the mock interviews:
· Joseph Moges - Chief, Division of Transportation Engineering, Montgomery County Department of Transportation presented “Implementing Complete Streets in Montgomery County”.
· Neda Dehestanimonfared - Ph.D. Student at Morgan State University – presented Current State of Practice of Virtual Weigh System (VWS) in Maryland.
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The Sectional - CAPSITE Podcast
Come join us on The Sectional, where CAPSITE's co-hosts will talk about local hot topics and today’s biggest issues in Washington, DC, Maryland, Northern Virginia, and beyond.
Search for “CAPSITE” or “The Sectional” on your favorite podcast service or visit the Spreaker hosting site. Please use your podcast service to like and subscribe!
Please contact Producer David Duarte with any comments, questions, and suggestions.
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