The first of Smart Highways editor Paul Hutton's preview podcasts for the ITS World Congress in Montreal is now online, sponsored by Swarco, and featuring interviews with organisers and exhibitors setting the scene for the event which starts at the end of October.It's your trusted guide to the event and is supported by ITS America, ITS Canada, ITS (UK) and ITS Australia.In this issue, Paul talks to the Chair of ITS Canada, Chris Philp, with an overview of the event and finds out more about the Smart Cities Pavilion with one of the people behind the project, John Barton of Texas A&M University System.   Christopher Flores of exhibitor Sensys Networks discusses the value of taking part while Michael de Santis, who's part of the organising committee, tells us about the technical tours.Listen here:https://soundcloud.com/phinitiatives/countdown-to-congress-montreal-preview-1-sponsored-by-swarcoYou can find out more about the congress at itsworldcongress2017.org/ and Swarco at www.swarco.com/.There'll be another Countdown to Congress in mid September.