Leo Lee is the visionary Founder and Chairman of ADVANTEC Consulting Engineers and a nationally recognized leader in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and traffic engineering. With over 45 years of pioneering work, he has been instrumental in advancing the integration of ITS into transportation and traffic operations across the U.S., driving innovation in mobility, safety, and sustainability. 

A founding member of ITS America (originally IVHS America) in 1989, Leo helped shape the national development of ITS deployment. His leadership as Project Manager for the Portland IVHS Early Deployment (1990)—the nation’s first ITS master plan—established the blueprint for the Federal Highway Administration’s policy on regional ITS strategic planning, ultimately shaping over 200 regional plans nationwide. His expertise has guided transformative projects in Hartford CT, Las Vegas NV, Indianapolis IN, Oregon and Nevada statewide, among others. 

Leo is renowned for his deep technical mastery in planning, designing, and integrating ITS solutions, including: 

• Adaptive Traffic signal systems & synchronization 

• Freeway management & incident response systems

• Traveler information systems

• Bus Priority Systems and on-board system instrumentation 

A trailblazer in his field, Leo was among the first consultants to implement traffic signal synchronization while optimizing timing parameters in the field through real-time observation of traffic patterns. Since 1998, he has spearheaded over 40 Traffic Signal Synchronization (TSS) projects, including large-scale initiatives for Los Angeles County, OCTA, SBCTA, and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (Bay Area)—significantly improving urban mobility and air quality. 

He holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Hong Kong and a Bachelor of Engineering (Honors) in Civil Engineering from the University of Western Ontario in Canada. He is affiliated with several professional organizations, including the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America), the Institution of Civil Engineers (U.K.), and the Hong Kong Institute of Engineers.

Leo’s legacy lies in bridging engineering excellence with real-world impact, hence creating smarter, more efficient and sustainable transportation networks for future generations.