Intelligent Mobility, Transforming the Future of Transportation

The theme of the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials’ (COMTO) 2019 National Meeting and Training Conference, “Intelligent Mobility, Transforming the Future of Transportation,” couldn’t resonate more with the curious and innovating minds at Jacobs.

We’re excited and energized to solve our world’s connectivity challenges: there are tunnels to dig, tracks to lay, roads and bridges to build, airports and seaports to modernize and collaboration technologies to conceptualize. What does it take to transform the future of transportation? It begins by asking “what if” to surface new possibilities and harness technical experience to bring bold solutions to fruition.

Technology is evolving rapidly, and the world's transportation infrastructure needs must now factor in the ability to support a myriad of disrupters from driverless vehicles and intelligent traffic systems to automated container terminals and airport drones and solar-powered freeway lanes and electric vehicle charging stations. These emerging technologies produce massive amounts of data to be harnessed and managed – data that must be translated into organizational knowledge and filtered through operational processes and testing to deliver the next level of customer experience.

Testing for safety in the sunshine state

We’re already making great strides in that arena with the safe testing and deployment of autonomous vehicles on public roads in conjunction with the Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise (FTE) to design a test facility called SunTrax with a more-controlled environment to drive the technology forward.

The facility includes a 2.25-mile oval on a 475-acres site to provide a high-speed track to test existing and emerging technology related to toll collections; the high-speed construction was recently completed, and toll testing operations could begin in late Summer 2019. As the master planner, we developed the layout of the 200 +/- acre infield area created by the high-speed oval that includes integrated services, complex road network design and architecture from concepts through construction documents. The infield test facility will be used to challenge and test self-driving vehicles in a controlled and safe environment and includes simulated situations such as rain, fog, and smoke. Construction on the SunTrax Autonomous Vehicle Test Facility will begin in Fall 2019.

A company as unique and diverse as COMTO

At Jacobs, we’re creating a company like no other. We’re putting the spotlight on making sure that we’re an employer of choice in every way – in inclusion and diversity, in recruiting and developing the best talent and in fostering leadership and innovation.

We share in COMTO’s mission and vision to engage minority individuals, businesses and communities of color through advocacy, knowledge sharing, learning, education, and professional development. That’s why we’re proud to partner with COMTO, supporting three scholarships which will be presented at the conference and serving as an Industry Partner sponsor of this year’s meeting.

Our very own Freddie Fuller, Jacobs vice president, also serves as COMTO’s National Chair. Speaking on the importance of awarding scholarships to deserving candidates, Freddie said, “It’s the right thing to do and is part of our efforts to be a good corporate citizen. We are committed to supporting diverse communities and developing a more inclusive and diversified workforce. In addition, it supports recruitment efforts; one of our past COMTO scholarship recipients is currently working on her Ph.D. and interning in our Chicago office this summer.”

There’ll be so much more to explore at the 2019 National Meeting and Training Conference in Tampa, where we’ll be leading a panel entitled, “What if We Showed You? Innovation, Connectivity, and Equity in Regional Transportation Service.” The discussion, featuring Aisha Eccleston (Jacksonville Port Authority), Chris Tomlinson (State Road and Tollway Authority), Barbara Davis (Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise) and moderator Daveitta Jenkins Knight (Jacobs), will focus on best practices and emerging trends in transportation innovation, connectivity and equity. Please attend to contribute to a dynamic conversation on the innovation movement in transportation service.

You can also hear Gabrielle Mack of Jacobs, recently honored by COMTO with a Woman Who Moves the Nation award and a top transportation innovator who exemplifies COMTO’s mission of inclusiveness and parity in all modes of the transportation industry. Gabrielle will be a panelist for Creating Sustainable Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Program Participation, discussing best practices in sustainable HUB participation from a range of organizations.

And if you’re interested in learning more about how Jacobs transforms intangible ideas into intelligent solutions, such as SunTrax, for a more connected, sustainable world, visit www.jacobs.com/what-if.