2026 Southeast Wisconsin Transportation Symposium

Co-hosts:

UWM Institute for Physical Infrastructure and Transportation

Wisconsin Department of Transportation

Friday, October 16, 2026 – 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

UWM Student Union – Ballroom
2200 E. Kenwood Blvd.

PARKING: Parking garage on east side of building offers hourly parking for a fee.

Join us for a dynamic day of exchange and collaboration at the 2026 Southeast Wisconsin Transportation Symposium, themed “Advancing Multi-Modal Integration in Wisconsin.”

This event brings together academics, students, and practitioners to network and share knowledge on topics of interest to transportation professionals in southeastern Wisconsin and beyond. The symposium showcases practical applications of academic research, highlights innovative practices from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, and fosters conversations that advance the future of safer, smarter transportation systems.

Register early for this event. $30 registration fee includes lunch ($10 for students). WisDOT employees are not charged at the time of registration.

* Note: The PDH registration link is also available at the bottom of the event registration page.

Professional Development Hours (PDHs) are available for $30 through UW-Milwaukee’s School of Continuing Education. 0.5 CEUs / 5PDHs are awarded for attending from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. You may register before or after the symposium. PDHs will be issued after your attendance is confirmed.

If you would like to request PDHs for attending the IPIT Symposium (or if you missed the PDH registration at the bottom of the event registration page), please use this link here: 👉 Click here to access the PDHs registration.

WisDOT employees: Please contact Carter Angelo at carter.angelo@dot.wi.gov for details.
Employees of symposium sponsors: PDHs are complimentary. Please indicate that you are requesting PDHs when you check in on the day of the symposium.
All other attendees: Please use the link above to submit payment.

Schedule

7:30 – 8:00 a.m.	Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:00 – 8:15 a.m.	Co-Hosts Welcome Scott Lawry, Deputy Secretary, WisDOT Xiao Qin, Director, UW-Milwaukee, IPIT
8:15 – 9:00 a.m.	Keynote Speaker Jay Otto
9:00 – 9:15 a.m.	Break and Networking
9:15 – 10:30 a.m.	Breakout Sessions 1-2 Innovative Projects & Best Practices Research
10:30 – 10:45 a.m.	Break and Networking
10:45 – 12:00 p.m.	Breakout Sessions 3-4 Safety Mobility and Sustainability
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.	Box Lunch with Speaker Kristina Boardman, Secretary WisDOT
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.	Poster Competition

For More Information

Xiao Qin
qinx@uwm.edu
414-251-8866

Thanks to our Sponsors:

Supporting Sponsors:

Speakers

Andrew is an Urban and Regional Planning Supervisor at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Division of Transportation System Development in the Southeast Region. He oversees the region’s efforts to include bicyclist and pedestrian needs, freight needs, and data analysis throughout the project development process. Prior to working at WisDOT, he received his Master of Urban Planning from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a Bachelor of Science in Geography from University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. Prior to WisDOT, Andrew worked for 7 years as a Regional Planner and Sustainability Coordinator for the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission in East Central Illinois. In his free time, Andrew enjoys outdoor adventures, traveling, cooking, and live music.

Brad Basten is the strategic initiatives officer for CAV in WisDOT’s Division of Budget and Strategic Initiatives. He led the 2018 Governor’s Steering Committee on Connected and Autonomous Vehicles and has managed the Wisconsin Automated Vehicle External Advisory Committee since its inception in 2020. His background is in electrical and mechanical engineering, having 25 years of experience in manufacturing engineering, process improvement and business consulting in various industries.

Graduating from University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Civil Engineering Jackie has over 14 years of transportation data analytics experience. Starting in the private sector out of collage Jackie worked with pavement condition data, mobile lidar, and GPS to solve engineering issues for over 8 state DOTs. In the fall of 2023, they accepted a job at WisDOT as the Statewide Asset Integration Engineer. Since starting at, Jackie has been responsible for maintaining asset performance systems such as the bicycle and pedestrian analysis support system (BiPASS) used by WisDOT to prioritize funding for bike and pedestrian facilities.

Jay Otto, a former researcher and Co-Director at a research center, brings a unique blend of engineering expertise and a keen interest in human behavior to his work. With degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Jay has spent years exploring how mindsets and systems shape our actions, and how we can foster healthier, safer communities.

From roadways to substance misuse and violence prevention, Jay’s research has delved into a wide range of societal challenges. His passion for understanding the intricacies of human behavior has led him to develop innovative strategies for improving safety culture within organizations and communities.

When he’s not immersed in his research, you can find Jay in the rural countryside of Vermont, slowly honing his woodworking skills. This hands-on approach to creativity reflects his dedication to crafting solutions that are both practical and effective.

Johanna Schmidt is a Policy Advisor with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, where she has researched and made recommendations around pedestrian safety, micromobility pilots, and nondriver needs. She earned her Master of Public Affairs from UW-Madison’s La Follette School of Public Affairs in 2024, where she worked on projects related to license suspension for failure to pay forfeitures and shared-ride taxi regionalization. She holds a B.A. in Spanish Studies and a B.S. in sociology from the University of Minnesota, as well as a Graduate Certificate in Leadership and Public Management from the University of Connecticut. Prior to her work at WisDOT, she served as a Govern for America fellow working for the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, a Project Assistant for the Center for Financial Security at UW-Madison, and as a Foreign Language and Area Studies fellow at UW-Madison studying Polish language and culture.

Dr. Kate Hyun is an Associate Professor of Civil Engineering at The University of Texas at Arlington. Her research focuses on transportation safety, emerging mobility technologies, community health, and data-driven transportation systems, with particular expertise in behavioral modeling and community-engaged research. She has led and collaborated on more than 30 multidisciplinary projects involving older adults, neurodivergent drivers, and low-income communities.

In September 2024, Governor Tony Evers appointed Kristina Boardman to serve as Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT). WisDOT is one of the largest state agencies, with more than 3,200 employees and a biennial budget of more than $8 billion.

The department supports all modes of transportation, including state highways, local roads, railroads, public transit systems, airports, and harbors. In addition, the department includes the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), which serves about 50,000 customers each week, and the Division of State Patrol that enforces laws and assists motorists throughout the state.

Kristina’s public service career began with the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1995. She transitioned to WisDOT in 2005 and held previous positions including Deputy Secretary, DMV Administrator, DMV Deputy Administrator, and the Director of DMV Field Services.

Kristina enjoys both policy and operations work, and especially appreciates the rewarding work of serving the public through the implementation of new programs.

Kristina plays an active role at the regional and national levels and served as Chair of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) International Board of Directors for the 2022-23 federal fiscal year.

Kristina has a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois.

Kris Sommers has been the WisDOT Supervisor of Railroad Engineering and Safety since December 2018. In this position, he works with highway and safety projects to help implement safety improvements at grade crossings. He earned a B.S. degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 1996 and became a Wisconsin-registered Professional Engineer in 2001. Kris has been a member of the National Committee for the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Design (MUTCD) since 2022.

Maryne Taute is a Strategic Initiatives Policy Advisor at WisDOT. Maryne currently leads the WisDOT Safety First Initiative and Safety First Workgroup. Her professional experience includes working within Higher Education and Student Affairs and she earned a master’s degree in Post-Secondary Education from University Northern Iowa.

Mike is the City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works’ Transportation Planning Manager, where he oversees transportation planning, policy, and street design initiatives that help achieve the City’s goals around eliminating reckless driving and creating safe and enjoyable places for people to walk, bike, take transit, and drive. Mike previously worked as the Assistant Director of Transportation Planning for the City of Chicago Department of Transportation. He earned a Master of Urban Planning from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a Bachelor of Science in Geography from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Scott Lawry was appointed Deputy Secretary at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation in October 2024. In this role, Scott oversees the department’s operations, which includes 3,200 employees, dozens of field offices and a biennial budget of more than $8 billion. Scott has spent his entire professional career with WisDOT, beginning as an intern at the Division of Transportation System Development (DTSD) Southwest Region La Crosse office in 1987. Upon graduating from UW-Madison in Civil Engineering, Scott joined WisDOT full time in May 1991 in the La Crosse office where he worked as a staff engineer, project manager and supervisor in the technical services and project development sections. He then served as the Proposal Management Section Chief for five years, the Director of the Bureau of Technical Services for four years and Deputy Administrator of DTSD for about three years.

Dr. Shiran Zadka-Peer is a researcher specializing in road safety, driver behavior, behavioral decision-making, and smart transportation. She is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Haifa and the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, working under the supervision of Professor Gil Luria and Professor Bryan Porter.

Her current research examines how real-time behavioral interventions can reduce distracted driving and support safer decision-making in naturalistic driving environments. This work is supported by an Excellence Scholarship from Israel’s Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology.

Dr. Zadka-Peer earned her Ph.D. in Management from Bar-Ilan University under the supervision of Professor Tova Rosenbloom. Her research has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including Accident Analysis & Prevention. She also teaches statistics, research methods, and behavioral decision-making at the university level.

Dr. Xiao Qin is the Richard and Joanne Grigg Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) and the Director of UWM Institute for Physical Infrastructure & Transportation (IPIT). Dr. Qin has over 25 years of research and teaching experience in the transportation field. He is the author/co-author of over 150 articles and technical reports, and a recipient of several best paper awards. Qin’s research improves the safety and efficiency of the transportation system across all modes through data analytics and technologies. He is a committee member of the Transportation Research Board, an editor of several transportation journals such as Transportation Research Record, Journal of Transportation Safety & Security, Urban Lifeline, and a co-author of the textbook “Highway Safety Analytics and Modeling” published by Elsevier. Dr. Qin received his Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut.

Dr. Xiaowei (Tom) Shi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and is also affiliated with the Institute for Physical Infrastructure and Transportation at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee (UWM). He is the director of the Automated, Connected & Electric Mobility Systems Lab at UWM. He is also a co-chair of the IEEE Emerging Transportation Technology Testing Technical Committee. Dr. Shi’s research focuses on evaluating existing emerging mobility technologies, such as automated, connected, and electric vehicles, and developing novel technologies through the utilization of field experiments and hardware-in-the-loop methodologies. He has led/participated in over $10 million federal/state-level intelligent transportation system-related projects. His works have been published in top transportation journals, e.g., Transportation Science, Transportation Research Parts B & C. He also serves as a reviewer for many top-tier journals in the transportation field, including Transportation Science, TR Parts A-E, IEEE T-ITS, etc. He received his Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of South Florida in 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Yang Tao, Ph.D, PE, PTP is the Director of the City of Madison’s Traffic Engineering Division, which has over 150 employees and is responsible for the City’s pedestrian, bicycle and motor vehicle transportation systems, as well as the City’s radio communication system and maintenance of its backbone fiber system. Yang has also been overseeing Madison’s Vision Zero and Smart City Initiatives, and has been working with various City agencies, universities, and a consortium of other public and private entities in envisioning and building a next-generation people and data centered, safe, efficient, equitable and climate-friendly transportation system for Madison. He obtained his Ph.D. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a minor degree in Business. Yang is a Professional Engineer as well as a Professional Transportation Planner. Yang has also played leadership roles in the transportation profession both locally and nationally, and chaired or served on many national committees on Bicycle Transportation, Intelligent Transportation Systems, Transportation Systems Management and Operations, Smart Communities and Automated Transportation. Yang was named the 2018 Transportation Professional of the Year by the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Midwestern District and received the Distinguished Service Award in Transportation from ITE Wisconsin in 2022.

Keynote, Breakout Session, and Poster Competition Details

Topics	Presenter(s)
TBD	Jay Otto

Topics	Presenter(s)
*Evaluating Multimodal Transportation with the I-794 Lake Interchange Project* The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is conducting the I-794 Lake Interchange Study in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and coordinating closely with the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County. Four Build alternatives – Replace in Kind, Freeway Improvement with Left-hand Ramps at Jackson/Van Buren, Freeway Improvement with Right-hand Ramps at Jackson/Van Buren and Freeway Removal – were advanced from the Study’s concept development phase for additional refinement and evaluation in the alternative definition phase of the Study. This session will present the methodology and results of the multimodal evaluation process focusing on bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. Participants will learn how this project integrated multimodal transportation through a review of existing conditions, aligning planning goals and priority networks, and proposing system improvements for each Build Alternative. WisDOT was then able to estimate how many people are likely to bike or walk on specific streets trails and corridors using their Bicycle and Pedestrian Analysis Support System (BiPASS) and will share these results.	Andrew Levy, Jackie Pellman, WisDOT; TBD, HNTB; Mike Amsden, City of Milwaukee

Topics

Presenter(s)

Evaluating Multimodal Transportation with the I-794 Lake Interchange Project
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is conducting the I-794 Lake Interchange Study in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and coordinating closely with the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County. Four Build alternatives – Replace in Kind, Freeway Improvement with Left-hand Ramps at Jackson/Van Buren, Freeway Improvement with Right-hand Ramps at Jackson/Van Buren and Freeway Removal – were advanced from the Study’s concept development phase for additional refinement and evaluation in the alternative definition phase of the Study. This session will present the methodology and results of the multimodal evaluation process focusing on bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. Participants will learn how this project integrated multimodal transportation through a review of existing conditions, aligning planning goals and priority networks, and proposing system improvements for each Build Alternative. WisDOT was then able to estimate how many people are likely to bike or walk on specific streets trails and corridors using their Bicycle and Pedestrian Analysis Support System (BiPASS) and will share these results.

Andrew Levy, Jackie Pellman, WisDOT;
TBD, HNTB;
Mike Amsden, City of Milwaukee

Topics	Presenter(s)
*Enhanced Illuminated Lighting at Pedestrian Crosswalks* Pedestrian fatalities account for nearly 20% of all traffic deaths in Wisconsin, and more than 60% occur under low-light conditions. This study evaluated the effectiveness of enhanced crosswalk illumination in improving nighttime pedestrian visibility, driver recognition, and pedestrian detection distance. Field tests were conducted at two study sites in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, representing different roadway geometries and lighting conditions. The experiments compared baseline conditions with multiple enhanced lighting configurations. During each test, an instrumented probe vehicle was driven toward the crosswalk while an electric skateboard-mounted mannequin was used to simulate pedestrian crossing events in a controlled and repeatable manner. The probe vehicle was equipped with a high-resolution GPS system, forward- and rear-facing cameras, and brake pedal logging devices to capture vehicle trajectory, driver response, and braking behavior. Additional lighting data were collected via illuminance measurements, and an eye-tracking-based recognition method was used to determine when the driver first recognized the simulated pedestrian and to estimate the corresponding detection distance. The results indicate that enhanced crosswalk illumination improved driver visual recognition and increased pedestrian detection distance at both sites. At the Madison site, the enhanced lighting system reduced driver reaction time from 0.71 s to 0.67 s and increased detection distance from 212 ft to 275 ft. At the Milwaukee site, driver reaction time decreased from 0.92 s to 0.69 s, while detection distance increased from 242 ft to 261 ft. Overall, blue-light-based enhanced crosswalk lighting increased the average distance at which drivers detected pedestrians by approximately 40 ft relative to the existing baseline condition (no enhanced crosswalk lighting), and by approximately 26 ft relative to conventionally recommended 4000 K white lighting. These findings demonstrate the potential of enhanced crosswalk illumination to improve nighttime pedestrian safety and provide practical guidance for local agencies in selecting lighting spectrum, mounting height, lateral placement, and roadway-specific design configurations.	Tom Shi, UW-Milwaukee; Brad Basten, WisDOT
Reducing Distracted Driving Through Real-Time Behavioral Nudges: Evidence from a Naturalistic Driving Study Mobile phone use while driving remains a persistent road-safety risk despite widespread awareness of its dangers. This presentation reports findings from a six-week randomized naturalistic field experiment examining whether real-time behavioral nudges delivered through a mobile monitoring application can reduce phone interaction during everyday driving. A total of 123 licensed drivers completed a two-week baseline phase followed by a four-week intervention phase. Participants received a reminder, negative social norm, negative reinforcement, or no nudge. Phone-touch behavior was measured objectively throughout the study. All three interventions reduced phone-touch behavior relative to the control condition, with effects strengthening over time. The interventions also followed different temporal patterns, suggesting that they may influence behavior through distinct mechanisms. These findings demonstrate the potential of digitally delivered behavioral nudges to complement traditional education and enforcement strategies and to support the development of smarter, behaviorally informed vehicle-safety systems.	Shiran Zadka Peer, UW-Milwaukee/University of Haifa
*Madison ATTAIN (Advanced Transportation Technology and Innovation) Federal Grant Project* The City of Madison, along with its partners Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is implementing a technology and innovation project through the federal ATTAIN Grant Program, to advance safety and emergency operations through a regional Connected Vehicle Corridor project. The project leverages existing Smart City investments made along the Smart Park Street Corridor by the City and its partners since 2016, which were spurred by the 2015 USDOT Smart City Challenge Grant Application, and synergizes with other Bipartisan Infrastructure Law grants that Madison has received and is pursuing. The project deploys next generation emergency vehicle traffic signal preemption and pilots snowplow traffic signal priority in association with red-light running collision warning systems, through signalized intersections in Madison along US 151, a critical roadway in the region serving and connecting many communities. The deployment of advanced transportation technologies along the project corridor will strengthen the region’s transport system, contribute to economic growth, reduce vulnerable roadway user injuries and save lives and most importantly, provide a model of city-State collaboration for cities in Wisconsin and across the United States. The project is primarily funded by a $5 million federal grant and a $1 million State grant.	Yang Tao, City of Madison

Additional session details will be posted as they become available.

Topics	Presenter(s)
Non-Driver Interactive Mapping Tool Transportation is an essential need that affects every aspect of our lives, but non-drivers often face challenges getting where they need to go. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is committed to improving mobility, safety, and access for non-drivers in Wisconsin, which is why it developed the Non-Driver Interactive Mapping tool. This tool reveals that non-drivers comprise a significant percentage of Wisconsin’s population and are present in all areas of our state. This session will explore the tool’s roots in the Wisconsin Non-Driver Advisory Committee (WiNDAC), its methodology, a demonstration of its capabilities, and an overview of the 2026 enhancement project. Understanding the makeup of non-drivers in Wisconsin helps to inform planning, safety, education, and advocacy for this population.	Johanna Schmidt, WisDOT
*Driver to Non-Driver Transitions: Related Health, Mobility and Safety Outcomes* The transition from driving to non-driving can substantially affect older adults’ health and mobility, particularly when cessation occurs abruptly. Using longitudinal, travel-behavior, interview, and policy analyses, this study found that driving cessation was strongly associated with older age, poor health, cognitive decline, depression, and reduced physical activity. Rural residents faced especially long travel distances for essential needs, while transportation professionals identified persistent service, funding, coordination, and information gaps across Wisconsin. These findings suggest that decision-makers could improve support for non-drivers through stronger regional coordination, more stable funding, continued support for volunteer-driver programs, improved oversight of non-emergency medical transportation, and clearer information about available mobility services.	Kate Hyun, University of Texas at Arlington; Maryne Taute, WisDOT
*Railroad Crossing Data Inventory/Safety Analysis Project* Highway-rail grade crossings are critical interfaces between Wisconsin’s roadway and rail transportation systems. As of May 2026, Wisconsin has 3,723 open public at-grade railroad crossings, and federal regulations require states to update their railroad crossing inventories at least once every three years. Effective management of the risks to people and property depends on accurate, current, and comprehensive railroad crossing inventory data. Incomplete inventories, delayed updates, and limited integration with other transportation data systems can reduce WisDOT’s ability to support our data-driven safety programs. For a one-year period ending August 2026, North Carolina State’s Institute for Transportation Research and Education partnered with Wisconsin DOT to evaluate WisDOT’s railroad crossing data collection practices. This study provided review of federal requirements and state practices, a nationwide practitioner survey, a cost analysis of alternative implementation strategies, evaluation of emerging inventory technologies, and an integrated safety analysis combining FRA incident data with Wisconsin motor vehicle crash records. The objective of the research was to develop a comprehensive, efficient, and sustainable approach for collecting and managing safety-critical data at public at-grade railroad crossings throughout Wisconsin.	Kris Sommers, WisDOT

Join us for the afternoon poster competition showcasing emerging transportation research related to multi-modal integration in Wisconsin. Participants will deliver a brief 3-minute pitch followed by a traditional poster session with judges and attendees.

Format

style pitch + traditional poster

Participation Criteria

The competition is open to full-time and part-time students enrolled in any college or university program who are conducting transportation-related research or applied research.

Eligible posters should:

Align with the symposium theme: “Advancing Multi-Modal Integration in Wisconsin.”
Focus on research questions, methods, findings, lessons learned, or evidence-based recommendations.
Relate to topics such as multimodal safety, transit, pedestrian and bicycle mobility, freight, accessibility, equity, emerging mobility, data/technology, planning, or operations.
Be presented by a student or young professional who will participate in both the 3-minute pitch and poster session.

Posters should not be used primarily to promote a specific project, product, company, software platform, service, or agency program. Case studies or implementation examples are welcome, but the presentation should focus on broader research value and transferable lessons.

Registration Requirement

Participants interested in the poster competition should indicate this during registration and submit a poster title and brief abstract/project summary.

Judging Criteria

Research Content (up to 10 points)	Communication and 3MT-Style Pitch (up to 5 points)	Poster Appearance and Presentation (up to 5 points)
Originality, innovation, and contribution to transportation research	Clear explanation of the problem, approach, and key findings or takeaways	Logical organization and easy-to-follow layout
Practical relevance to current transportation needs, especially multimodal integration	Appropriate pace, volume, organization, and confidence during the 3-minute pitch	Effective use of figures, tables, graphics, maps, or images

Awards will be based on the combined evaluation of the 3-minute pitch, poster quality, research content, and discussion with judges.

*Students who indicate interest will receive a separate email closer to the symposium to confirm participation and provide instructions for submitting the presentation/poster title, a one-page pitch slide, and the final poster.