Former US DoT boss says job was sometimes like ‘sitting over trapdoor’

The political pressure on transit organisations was starkly highlighted by the distinguished former boss of Michigan Department of Transportation at a UK conference this week. Kirk Steudle, who joined Econolite recently after a career in the public sector, said he often felt as though there was “a trapdoor under your seat” while he was in charge of state transportation. Talking about the development of ITS solutions at regional authority level, he said: “The ability to move forward is largely dependen
November 30, 2018 Read time: 2 mins

The political pressure on transit organisations was starkly highlighted by the distinguished former boss of Michigan Department of Transportation at a UK conference this week.

Kirk Steudle, who joined %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external Econolite false http://http//www.itsinternational.com/categories/utc/news/econolite-hires-ex-michigan-dot-boss-kirk-steudle/ false false%> recently after a career in the public sector, said he often felt as though there was “a trapdoor under your seat” while he was in charge of state transportation.

Talking about the development of ITS solutions at regional authority level, he said: “The ability to move forward is largely dependent on the political structure in which you work.”

Having leaders who are receptive to the ideas that ITS brings means that some authorities will allow you to fail and learn from your efforts – but, he added: “Others will just kill you if you fail.”

Feeling as though you were sitting over a trapdoor was an uncomfortable experience, he says: “Some days it feels like ‘one mistake and you’re gone’. Some days [the trapdoor] felt like it was held together with toothpicks.”

But at other times, if politicians understood the challenges of introducing ITS, the ‘trapdoor’ felt as though it was supported by “steel rods”.

Speaking at the ITS (UK) 2018 summit in Bristol, Steudle praised current Michigan governor Rick Snyder’s support for ITS projects, saying: “Under Governor Snyder, it felt like it was welded shut.”

Urban Traffic Control

Related Content

  • Multi-SESAMES Award-winner Michel Leduc wants simpler, safer future
    November 5, 2014
    Michel Leduc is a remarkable man. He has won four different SESAMES Awards with three different companies over the past 18 years, and he has not stopped yet. We caught up with him as he visited CARTES SECURE CONNEXIONS 2014 this week to talk about the host of clever ideas he has put into place in the past, and what he thinks are the big issues facing the industry today.
    Read More
  • EVgo utilises Autocharge technology in North America
    April 23, 2019
    EVgo has deployed Autocharge technology in North America in a bid to allow customers to charge electric vehicles (EVs) without using apps or credit cards. Autocharge instantly recognises the EV and begins charging automatically, the company says. It is being launched on EVgo’s dedicated Maven Gig network – which offers rental cars for drivers who need a car to work for ride-share and delivery services. The technology will be rolled out across the US by the end of 2019 to all EVgo account holders with a
    Read More
  • Vision Show and Conference 2016
    March 9, 2016
    The Vision Show, North America’s largest vision and imaging trade show and conference, will be held in Boston, Massachusetts at the Hynes Convention Center, 3-5 May 2016. Founded by AIA in 1996, The Vision Show provides vision users, system integrators, machine builders and OEMs with access to the latest vision and imaging technologies and applications from nearly over 100 leading manufacturers, distributors and suppliers from around the world. The accompanying conference features in-depth tutorials
    Read More
  • The Vision Show and Conference to be held in Boston, May 3-5, 2016
    March 8, 2016
    The Vision Show, North America’s largest vision and imaging trade show and conference, will be held in Boston, Massachusetts at the Hynes Convention Center, 3-5 May 2016. Founded by AIA in 1996, The Vision Show provides vision users, system integrators, machine builders and OEMs with access to the latest vision and imaging technologies and applications from nearly over 100 leading manufacturers, distributors and suppliers from around the world.
    Read More

Highlighted Content