2026 Friends of Aurora Registration | Institute for Transportation

Event Details

LOCATION

Colorado Springs, Colorado

VENUE

Colorado Springs Marriott
5580 Tech Center Dr.
Colorado Springs, CO 80919
Phone: 719-260-1800
Map

Hotel Reservation Page
Note: There are rooms available at a discounted rate.

DATES

September 22, 2026

Event Contact

Judy Thomas

InTrans, MTC

515-294-1866
jathomas@iastate.edu

About the Event

Please join us for a Friends of Aurora Day on Tuesday, September 22, 2026.

Friends of Aurora Day brings together participating companies, the Aurora Board, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), public agencies, researchers, and other road weather professionals for a full day of information exchange and discussion. The program is intended to encourage candid dialogue about emerging technologies, agency needs, research priorities, operational challenges, innovations, and changes affecting the road weather community.

Each participating company will have an opportunity to briefly introduce its organization and highlight its areas of expertise, products and services, markets served, and current areas of interest. Companies attending in person may also reserve an exhibit booth for individual conversations and product or service demonstrations during scheduled breaks, lunch, and the end-of-day reception.

Registration is $250 per participating company and includes up to two attendees and, if requested and available, one exhibit booth. A maximum of 25 booths will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration for a third attendee is $125.

The Aurora Board values the perspectives and expertise that Friends of Aurora bring to these discussions. Your participation helps strengthen collaboration among agencies, industry, researchers, and other organizations working to improve roadway safety and operations.

Information for Exhibitors

Exhibitors should plan to participate in the full Friends of Aurora Day program on Tuesday, September 22, 2026.

Each exhibit booth will include the following:

One 6-foot skirted table
2 chairs
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Access to electricity upon request
Setup and tear down

Booth setup is anticipated to begin after 5:00 p.m. on Monday, September 21. Earlier access may be possible depending on hotel availability. Final setup instructions will be provided closer to the event.

Materials may be shipped to the following address:

Colorado Springs Marriott
5580 Tech Center Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80919
Attn: Friends of Aurora Group or Conference Services Manager

Please label all shipments with the company name and Friends of Aurora Day. Materials should arrive no more than two days before the event. Booths may be dismantled following the end-of-day reception on Tuesday, September 22.

Tentative Agenda

Time	Event Details
7:00 a.m.	Breakfast anytime on your own
8:00 a.m.	Welcome and Meeting Purpose Welcome from Aurora Leadership Introductions: Aurora Board, FHWA, invited guests, and Friends of Aurora Purpose of Friends of Aurora (FOA) Day: exchange, learning, candid discussions, future opportunities, and research needs
8:30 a.m.	Setting the Stage: National, State, and Research Perspectives FHWA Road Weather Management Team briefing TRB and national road weather research updates Brief Aurora member perspectives: current issues, opportunities, and questions for industry
9:30 a.m.	Friends of Aurora Technology and Capability Exchange – Part 1 Brief FOA updates, 5 minutes each Suggested format: Who we are, what is new, what problem it solves, what has been learned from deployment, and what agencies should understand before adopting it? Moderated full-group questions after each set of presentations
10:00 a.m.	Break
10:30 a.m.	Friends of Aurora Technology and Capability Exchange – Part 2 Continued FOA updates, 5 minutes each and full-group questions after each set of presentations
12:00 p.m.	Lunch together@ hotel
1:30 p.m.	Agency and Industry Panel(s): From Deployment to Daily Operations: What Works, What Breaks, and What We Still Need Moderated full-group panel discussion with Aurora members and FOA Potential topics: RWIS infrastructure and life cycle, sensor reliability, forecasting and decision support, maintenance and operations, data quality, data timeliness, communications, power, traveler information, procurement, workforce capacity, and future collaboration
3:00 p.m.	Break
3:30 p.m.	"What We Need From Each Other” Discussion Aurora Board members: What would help agencies better evaluate, procure, deploy, maintain, and use road weather technologies? FOA: What would help industry better understand agency needs, constraints, and research priorities? Full-group discussion to identify opportunities for better communication, shared testing, pooled research, data integration, and future collaboration
4:30 p.m.	Innovation Exchange and Follow-Up Time Informal full-room interaction with exhibitors, manufacturers, Aurora members, and guests Opportunity to visit displays, ask follow-up questions, compare field experiences, and identify potential research ideas
4:55 p.m.	Friends of Aurora Wrap-Up Summary of key themes and insights, follow-up engagement and conversations
5:00 p.m.	Friends of Aurora Reception
6:30 p.m.	Dinner on your own

Registration

REGISTRATION DEADLINE

September 15, 2026 6:00 PM

Registration Fees and Policies

Registration is $250 per participating company and includes up to two attendees. Registration for a third attendee is $125. Companies attending in person may reserve one exhibit booth at no additional charge, subject to availability.

A maximum of 25 exhibit booths will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Booths may be requested during registration while space remains available.

Exhibit booths will be located in the pre-function area adjacent to the meeting room. Booth assignments will be made in the order completed registrations are received.

Cancellation Policy

No refunds will be issued after September 15, 2026. Registrations may be transferred to a substitute attendee at no additional cost.