About Us
VISION
At the Utah Department of Transportation, our mission is to enhance quality of life through transportation. This means we are constantly striving for excellence, so we can help all people go where they want, when they want, in the way they want – safely. We know that things are always changing, and we need to be adaptable in order to keep moving forward while the ground is moving under our feet. We do this by relying on a culture of curiosity, teamwork, and outcomes-focused performance. Team UDOT values innovation, but not just for innovation’s sake. Everything we do is in support of good health, better mobility, a strong economy, and connected communities. In other words, quality of life.
The Transportation Technology Group is focused on operations technologies that support safety and mobility, particularly with connected vehicles, automated vehicles, and advanced sensors. We are at the forefront of connected vehicle deployment and are preparing our infrastructure to communicate with vehicles equipped with this technology. We are also striving to achieve full situational awareness of roadways throughout Utah so UDOT can respond to conditions and events on the roads. The future is exciting and we are bringing that future to the present.
The Team
Blaine D. Leonard, PE, F.ASCE.
Blaine is the Transportation Technology Engineer at UDOT. In this role, he leads the planning and deployment of CAVs. He currently co-chairs the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Transportation Systems Operations Technology Subcommittee, and previously led the SPaT Challenge Tactical Working Group. He is co-chair of the Connected Transportation Interoperability Committee (CTIC) and the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America) Future of 5.9GHz V2X working group. Prior to joining UDOT in 2001, Blaine spent 20 years in the consulting engineering business. Blaine has also served as the president of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) in 2010. He has received the AASHTO Alfred E. Johnson Achievement Award and the ASCE William H. Wisely American Civil Engineer Award, and he has been named Utah Engineer of the Year. Blaine has a Bachelor’s and Masters of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Utah. He is a licensed engineer in six western states.
Charles P. Felice
Charles (‘Chuck’) is a Project Manager over software development projects and GIS projects at the UDOT Transportation Technology Group. He has been instrumental in UDOT’s connected vehicle technology projects, specifically with software oversight and standardized message development, particularly the development of MAP messages. He is also engaged with Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) committees developing connected vehicle standards. Chuck has more than 35 years of experience working in the software industry in both the private and public sectors. He has also worked in the civil engineering, aerial photography, and mapping industries.
Matthew Smith
Matthew is a Project Manager in our Transportation Technology Group with a focus on several current connected vehicle deployments and planning for future installations. Matt has over 15 years of ITS project management experience and 14 years working in the traffic signal industry. Matt has a BS degree in Economics, a MS in Transportation Engineering, and a certificate in artificial intelligence, all from the University of Utah.
Phillip R. Castro, PE
Phillip is a Project Manager within the Transportation Technology Group. He is involved in various connected vehicle projects and our evaluations of LiDAR technology for use within connected vehicle applications. Prior to joining UDOT, Phillip worked for more than 8 years managing and designing many traffic signal, roadway and ITS projects in the private sector. Phillip has a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Utah State University.