InTrans / Dec 01, 2025
30th annual Iowa DOT Traffic Safety Forum held
The theme of this year’s Traffic and Safety Forum, Transportation Safety: Empowering Local Action, emphasized that real progress in safety begins with decisions made at the local level. The event drew a record attendance of more than 200 participants from cities, counties, businesses, universities, and the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT). Attendees gathered to share innovations and practices aimed at improving roadway safety throughout Iowa.
Iowa DOT Director Scott Marler opened the event by reaffirming that “Safety First” is a core value of the department. Kevin Hensley, President of the American Public Works Association Iowa Chapter, stressed that safety challenges are, at their core, local challenges that require coordinated action from every level of government. Iowa County Engineers Association President Andrew McGuire, in his welcome remarks, celebrated the completion earlier this year of creating safety action plans for 97 of Iowa’s 99 counties.
Together, the Forum’s speakers reinforced a unified commitment to advancing safety and pursuing the goal of zero roadway fatalities. It’s a message that the event has now been spreading for 30 years, even if many of the messengers have changed since the first forum was held.
“We are once again grateful to the Iowa DOT for holding this annual forum highlighting important traffic and safety research topics,” Institute for Transportation (InTrans) Associate Director Neal Hawkins said. “It’s remarkable that the event has been held for 30 years to keep safety at the forefront in the minds of our state’s safety and engineering professionals.”
Chattanooga, Tennessee Mayor Tim Kelly, the event’s keynote speaker, highlighted how his administration has improved safety by balancing the needs of drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians. After inheriting declining pavement conditions, he doubled the paving budget while advancing redesigns like Frazier Avenue, where protected bike lanes and traffic-calming measures now support safer travel. Kelly emphasized technology as a key enabler, including lidar-based traffic management, artificial intelligence (AI)-driven optimization, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) pilot programs, and new school-zone safety cameras. He also strengthened public transit through new leadership, shuttle services, and free youth fares. Kelly closed by underscoring that balanced, data-driven investments are essential to safety, economic vitality, and quality of life.
A local agency panel offered unique glimpses into current transportation challenges faced and provided the audience a chance to interact. The afternoon sessions built on the day’s momentum by encouraging attendees to think differently about how safety solutions take shape within their own communities. Speakers highlighted practical examples of local problem solving, from small operational adjustments to broader system-wide initiatives, and emphasized how these efforts create measurable improvements when paired with strong local leadership and an awareness of funding opportunities.
The Traffic and Safety Forum continues to play an important role in bringing Iowa’s transportation community together to learn, reflect, and refocus each year. This collaborative energy remains one of the Forum’s greatest strengths, ensuring that Iowa’s safety efforts move forward with both consistency and innovation.
