School buses travel roughly 24 million miles each day, reaching neighborhoods and communities across the country. Yet despite the vast networks cities already operate, including traffic signals, public transit systems, and municipal fleets, much of the information generated by those assets remains disconnected and underutilized.
As communities face growing demands and tighter budgets, an important question is emerging: how can cities do more with less by making better use of the infrastructure they already have?
That question was at the center of a discussion at the 2026 ITS America Conference & Expo, where leaders from government, transportation, and technology explored how connected technologies, AI, and public-private partnerships can help communities improve safety, strengthen operations, and build smarter, more responsive cities.
Moderated by our Vice President of Government Operations & Safety Rick Birt, the conversation focused on a simple idea: some of the most powerful tools for building smarter communities are already moving through neighborhoods every day, starting with the yellow school bus.
Meet the Panelists
- Karoon Monfared: CEO, BusPatrol
- Zaineb Hussein: Chief of Staff, City of Dearborn
- Brock Aun: Vice President of Product, HAAS Alert
- Sarah Abel: Vice President, Innovative Mobility, ITS America
- Rick Birt: Vice President of Government Operations & Safety, BusPatrol
Throughout the conversation, panelists returned to a broader idea: communities already have many of the building blocks needed to become safer and more connected. The opportunity lies in bringing those systems together, giving agencies greater insight, and helping leaders make more informed decisions.
The school bus served as a powerful example throughout the conversation, but the implications extend well beyond student transportation. As communities look for new ways to improve safety, strengthen operations, and maximize limited resources, connected infrastructure offers a practical path forward, one that starts not with building something new, but with unlocking more value from what’s already in place.