Kevin Johnson, president of Traffic Planning and Design, Inc., has been tapped to chair newly elected Gov. Tom Wolf’s Transportation Transition Team and bring him up to speed on current transportation issues, KeystoneEdge reports.

Pennsylvania has historically been cautious in its approach to new ideas, according to Johnson, founder of the transportation design firm, with an office in West Chester.  Johnson is also a member of the SEPTA Board of Directors.

One local innovation that should improve transit issues, according to Johnson, is the SEPTA Key, the smart card system which is replacing the region’s outdated tokens, paper tickets and passes. As the key will collect data on ridership, SEPTA can use it to provide a more dynamic transportation service.

Johnson says funding for new technology is a challenge, and a federal funding increase is needed before the state can completely update and modernize its transportation system.

Read Amanda Waltz’s story about transportation challenges and improvements in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and other parts of the state here.