Innovations for a Better Tomorrow: How States and U.S. DOT Collaborate to Accelerate and Embrace Change
The United States is at a challenging juncture for transportation infrastructure investment. Kirk T. Steudle, director of the Michigan Department of Transportation and 2011-2012 president of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, presented how states and the U.S. DOT collaborate to accelerate and embrace change and analysis on February 17, 2012.
About the Speaker
Kirk Steudle was appointed as director of the Michigan Department of Transportation by Governor Rick Snyder on January 1, 2011. He also served as the state transportation director from 2006 to 2010. As state transportation director, Steudle oversaw MDOT's more than three-billion-dollar budget and was responsible for the construction, maintenance, and operation of nearly 10,000 miles of state highways and more than 4,000 state highway bridges at a department with 2,500 employees. He also oversaw administration of a variety of multimodal transportation programs and projects that range from aviation to the Zilwaukee bridge.
Steudle was the 2011-12 president of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and serves on the AASHTO Executive Committee. In addition, he chairs the second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP2) oversight committee and the implementation report to the U.S. Congress. Steudle is a national expert in connected vehicle technologies, a high-tech highway operations technology that enables vehicles to communicate with roads and each other to improve safety and mobility. Steudle is on the board of directors of the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITSA) and the Engineering Society of Detroit, the largest engineering society in the country.
Born and raised in Adrian, Michigan, Steudle graduated from Lawrence Technological University with a bachelor of science degree in construction engineering. He is a registered professional engineer. He joined MDOT in 1987 as an engineer trainee and has served the department in various positions across the state throughout his career.
In 2010, he was recognized nationally for his continuous outstanding service and exceptional contribution to highway engineering when he received the prestigious Thomas H. MacDonald Award from AASHTO. In 2011, he was awarded the P.D. McLean Award from the Road Gang for excellence in highway transportation.
Read the news story and view the video from this event.