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Markets
Transportation
Robert LaGatta
Project Director, Tolls, Charlotte, NC, USA contact form+1 704 665 4447
With 40% of America’s roadway system presently classified as being in poor or mediocre condition, between now and 2040, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) hope to reduce the current backlog of $830 billion in highway repairs by 50%. Consequently, maintenance teams at transportation agencies face an increasingly urgent imperative to modernize technology systems and processes. With infrastructure aging rapidly and innovations advancing exponentially, legacy approaches are no longer sustainable.
Among industry professionals, a common frustration cited is difficulty getting funding and leadership support for modernization initiatives, as organizational inertia hampers change. Outdated data systems built piecemeal over decades make data integration and information sharing difficult, and many new systems are implemented without proper training or change management, leading to underutilization. Legal and regulatory policy also struggles to keep up, slowing adoption.
In addition, the rapid pace of emerging technologies such as automation, sensors and drones leaves little time to upgrade before the next wave hits. This constant change, combined with information overload from multiple communication platforms, hampers technology assimilation. Because of these issues, maintenance staff accustomed to old processes often resist learning new tools. From an organizational perspective, cyber security risks grow exponentially as systems are connected. Therefore, as legacy roles evolve, hiring and reskilling become pressing needs.
A wide array of solutions can address these challenges, including change management consulting to drive initiatives, specialized training programs, curated digital platforms to simplify procurement, system integration services and managed technology support. Other recommendations are envisioning future scenarios, leadership coaching to spur change, building talent pipelines and sharing case studies to accelerate modernization. Whichever solution you choose, the message is clear: the human dimension is as critical as the technical factors.
We should also acknowledge that institutional inertia and culture are the biggest obstacles, not technical complexity. Consider this:
- Integration across teams and systems unlocks value.
- Change management and training enable adoption.
- Adopting proven solutions is more effective than custom builds.
As technology continues to rapidly evolve, planning for trends like automation, innovative infrastructure and new mobility is vital and bringing staff along the journey while addressing their needs and fears is key. Securing executive alignment, priority and funding can enable fundamental transformation.
Modernizing America’s transportation technology impacts infrastructure, economies and public welfare and is necessary for transportation agencies to meet safety and quality goals. Without urgent action, networks and mobility will lag globally. The message for leaders is that successfully integrating new technology requires organizational change—culture, people and process matter as much as tools. To that end, leveraging shared knowledge and collaborating with peers can help accelerate progress.
Prioritizing modernization today ensures maintenance teams have the systems, skills and information to manage transportation infrastructure for the future. The time to act is now.
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