January is often about planning, resetting priorities, and looking ahead. But for Roadway Management Technologies (RMT), this January has been about momentum. As agencies across the country prepare for another paving and preservation season, the conversations around data-driven decision-making, proactive maintenance, and smarter use of limited budgets are accelerating. And we are proud to be right in the middle of it.
Here’s a look at what’s already happened this year and why now is the moment to take action.
New Partnership with the City of Lakeland
We kicked off the year by partnering with the City of Lakeland as they adopt RMT’s roadway intelligence platform.Lakeland’s decision reflects a broader shift we’re seeing nationwide: agencies moving away from reactive, subjective processes and toward proactive, data-backed pavement management.
With RMT, Lakeland is able to proactively monitor pavement conditions and address signs of distress as they arise, without adding extra labor or disrupting daily operations. The result? Better prioritization, smarter spending, and longer-lasting roadways. This partnership didn’t just make headlines; it highlighted a growing reality for public works leaders everywhere: the old way of managing roads isn’t sustainable.
National Press Coverage Spotlighting Proactive Road Management
That momentum carried into national conversations.
RMT was recently featured on The Ryan Gorman Show, where the discussion focused on how cities like Lakeland are using AI and roadway data to get ahead of pavement deterioration. The segment highlighted a challenge every agency knows well: infrastructure is aging, budgets are tight, and expectations from the public keep rising.
What stood out most was how technology is being used to support expertise, not replace it. By collecting actionable data during routine operations, agencies can focus their teams’ time where it matters most. It’s a message that’s resonating well beyond one city.
Leadership for the Next Phase of Growth
January also marked a major milestone for RMT with the appointment of Josh Crowe as Chief Executive Officer.
Josh brings more than two decades of experience scaling technology organizations across SaaS, cloud, and AI-driven services. His leadership signals RMT’s next chapter, one focused on expanding our impact, deepening partnerships with agencies, and continuing to innovate alongside the people doing the work in the field.
Founder Candler McCollum continues as Chief Product Officer, ensuring that RMT’s solutions stay grounded in real-world roadway challenges. Together, this leadership team reflects what RMT has always stood for: pairing deep industry understanding with modern technology to solve real problems.
Sharing Insights at the NYSCHSA Winter Conference
Adding to the momentum, Noah Butler presented at the 2026 NYSCHSA Winter Conference in Saratoga Springs, sharing practical applications of AI in pavement management.
Conferences like NYSCHSA are where ideas turn into action, where public works professionals, engineers, and decision-makers come together to share what’s working, what’s not, and what’s next. Noah’s session centered on the practical application of AI in pavement management, showing how agencies can modernize their approach without overhauling workflows or stretching already-thin resources.
The takeaway was clear: agencies don’t need more data; they need the right data, delivered at the right time, to support smarter, more confident decisions.
Why Timing Matters Right Now
All of this points to one thing: the window for planning is open, but it won’t stay open forever.
As we move closer to paving season, priorities shift quickly from strategy to execution. Agencies that already have clear visibility into pavement conditions will be able to move faster, allocate funds more confidently, and respond proactively rather than reactively.
If improving roadway conditions, extending pavement life, and making smarter use of budgets are on your 2026 agenda, now is the time to see what’s possible.
Strike While the Iron Is Hot
January’s momentum isn’t just something to look back on, it’s something to build on.
Whether you’re a public works leader planning the upcoming season, an engineer looking for better data to support decisions, or an executive exploring how technology can drive measurable outcomes, RMT can help you get there.
Schedule a demo today to see how RMT’s AI-powered roadway intelligence can support your agency before paving season ramps up. Because the best time to prepare for what’s ahead is before the first pothole complaint comes in!