AirSage Magazine

Franz Loewenherz is the Mobility Planning and Solutions Manager for the City of Bellevue, Washington. In this role he leads a team responsible for strategic and innovative transportation policy and program development, including Vision Zero road safety, pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure implementation, municipal transit collaborations (including arterial HOV and alternative service delivery projects), integration of emerging mobility technologies that support a strong public transportation network, and data collection and analysis systems.

In this magazine edition of AirSage, Loewenherz delves into what Vision Zero is, and how safe system solutions can impact all of us. To achieve zero roadway fatalities and serious injuries a transportation system needs to be safe for all users. An important area of focus for our Vision Zero initiative is the disproportionate, adverse safety impacts that affect certain groups on our roadways.

"Analytic Techniques that leverage cloud computing, AI, and video intelligence offer predictive insight to when, where, and why crashes are most likely to occur at specific locations. The City of Bellevue is an early adopter and accelerator of these proactive safety techniques.”
Franz Loewenherz, Mobility Planning and Solutions Manager for the City of Bellevue.

Executive VP of Planning and Development at Capital Metro and the creator of the CapMetro app, Sharmila Mukherjee, shares her insights on mobility solutions in transportation planning and how a combination of Big Data and traditional data sources act as a catalyst for innovative and transformative change. In this discussion, Mark Forster and Mukherjee highlight why planning for efficiency directly correlates to high-capacity transit projects and how efficiency “is all about finding the right size solution in public transit to match the constantly growing urban population.”

Regional travel demand forecasting is essential to ridership forecasting Mukherjee shares, and how it is a highly complicated process that heavily relies on big data, IoT, and AI. Forster and Mukherjee explore mobility solutions and how focusing on climate resilience, and energy-efficient mobility plan is vital for future public transportation projects. Forster and Mukherjee also highlight how a combined approach of complementary datasets (Big Data, IoT, and traditional data sources) is the ultimate way to maximize the effectiveness of future public transit systems and routes.

On April 1, 2022, AirSage kicked off its new weekly talk show, Brewing Data, to increase innovation awareness in the transportation industry – #RebuildingAmericaTogether. AirSage is proud to host Guy Rousseau as its guest on the inaugural episode of Brewing Data, discussing the potential of Data-Driven Transit in the U.S. Guy is Surveys & Transportation Modelling Manager at Atlanta Regional Commission, TEx-MPO modeler in Dayton, OH, Tulsa, OK, and Jefferson Parish, LA. The event is streamed live via YouTube and LinkedIn and can be viewed on-demand.

Robert Kohler, CRO of AirSage, moderated the event. Robert has been in the transportation and mobility industry already for two decades. He was primarily focused on tech and big data applications, traffic operations, impact analyses, and site selection. His field of expertise is concentrated on the latest technology and location intelligence innovations to advise clients on solutions for the projects they are working on.


"Micro-transit partially helps to solve the problem of the first/last-mile problem. Also, it can reduce the carbon footprint. Finally, and most importantly, it increases the efficiency of transit networks and connectivity. Thus, the micro-transit arrangement is the future." - states Guy Rousseau, Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC).

For many, 2020 changed their perception of technology: we now embrace and recognize that data matters to save lives and improve quality of life. Today, opportunities emerge everywhere. There has never been a better time to rebuild neglected neighborhoods embrace equity, improve transportation systems, develop industries and grow businesses. This edition provides deep insights into data, technologies and markets to #RebuildAmericaTogether.

“With the detailed insights into population movement patterns, planners and urban designers can guide cities to make necessary and inclusive improvements that foster an environment that brings people together." This allows for "social distancing, supporting transportation, mobility enhancements, and identifying opportunities in the market for new development.”
– Cynthia Albright, Senior Principal, Data Analytics Lead & Urban Design at Stantec.

The US transportation industry is entering the age of cloud computing, big data, connected vehicles, and smart cities. The opportunities are many. James “J.J.” Eden, Executive Director of NCTA, shared his article that provides a fresh perspective and wake-up call to the industry. Now is the time to leverage smart data and work closely together in private and public partnerships to provide new, intelligent transportation for the next generations.

“There is a tremendous opportunity to become the leaders in finding sustainable solutions to funding ongoing infrastructure needs, both at the federal and state levels.”
-James "J.J." Eden, Executive Director of NCTA

In AirSage's first magazine edition, we feature an exclusive interview with Shailen P. Bhatt, President and CEO of ITS America. Shailen shares his opinion on the sustainability in the transportation systems, trends, challenges and the importance of private-public cooperation toward shared goals. In addition, we talk about the “new road tax” and best mobility practices established worldwide.

“A sustainable transportation system is the one that provides the most freedom of choice to access jobs and health care to the most people.”
- Shailen P. Bhatt, President and CEO of ITS America