ITE—A Community of Transportation Professionals (ITE) works to improve mobility and safety for all transportation system users, helping to build smart and livable communities.

Founded in 1930, ITE is a volunteer-driven association of more than 18,000 engineers, planners, consultants, educators, researchers, technologists, and students working in more than 78 countries.

ITE Southern District (SDITE) provides opportunities for professional development and community building at a regional level through conferences, training, publications, and involvement in projects and products advancing knowledge in the industry. We also support Sections and Student Chapters that offer learning and networking opportunities to members at a local level.

Currently, SDITE is one of eleven ITE districts and includes transportation professionals in the states of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

SDITE History

The idea of a regional organization for southern traffic engineers was formulated at the 1952 Annual Meeting of ITE in Chicago. Paul Ristroph (New Orleans), Earl Reeder (Miami), Karl Bevins (Atlanta) and John Hanna (Richmond) met to formulate a plan for the new organization and they agreed to name it the Southern Section of ITE (SSITE). Karl Bevins served as host for SSITE’s 1st Annual Meeting at the Atlanta Biltmore Hotel on March 1-3, 1953.

A petition was drafted requesting that ITE issue a Charter to the Southern Section. The Founding Members of the Southern Section that signed the petition were:

  • Karl A. Bevins (Georgia)
  • John T. Hanna (Virginia)
  • Kenneth M. King (Louisiana)
  • Robert A. Burch (North Carolina)
  • Marble J. Hensley (Georgia)
  • William H. Mann (Tennessee)
  • William S. Derrick (Georgia)
  • Herman J. Hoose (North Carolina)
  • Paul L. Ristroph (Louisiana)
  • John F. Exnicios (Louisiana)
  • Fenton G. Jordan (Virginia)
  • Arthur M. White (Mississippi)

On October 1, 1953, the Southern Section was officially chartered by ITE. On June 1, 1988, the Southern Section gained District status and became ITE Southern District (SDITE).