Past Events
Pre-APTA Rail
June 1, 2013 • Philadelphia
MTI presented a Mineta National Policy Summit on Transportation Finance: Catching Up with the Rest of the World. This afternoon workshop featured a keynote by Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff. Panel moderator was San Francisco Bay Area Metropolitan Transportation Commission Director Steve Heminger, with a panel composed of COMTO CEO Julie Cunningham; APTA CEO Michael Melaniphy; Administrator Rogoff; and AASHTO CEO Bud Wright. MTI’s National Transportation Finance Center Director Dr. Asha Weinstein Agrawal presented the results of a national transportation funding survey, along with four years of trends.
Garrett Morgan Sustainable Transportation Competition
April 9, 2013 • Nationwide
The annual Garrett Morgan Competition brought together middle-school students to present their ideas for sustainable transportation. This live streaming teleconference featured a talk by the US Secretary of Transportation, the director of the California Department of Transportation, and other industry leaders. The winning team was from Juan Crespi Middle School in El Sobrante CA.
Let’s Get Moving Silicon Valley
February 23, 2013 • San Jose CA
Let's Get Moving Silicon Valley was a day-long gathering of community residents, leaders, and activists interested in creating better-connected, affordable, and healthy communities in Santa Clara County and beyond. The Summit featured interactive workshops on creating better transportation options and more accessible communities.
High-Speed Rail Summit
February 11-13, 2013 • Washington DC
The US High Speed Rail Association (USHSR) sponsored this summit at the Alion Conference Center, 1100 New Jersey Avenue SE, adjacent to the US Department of Transportation. More than 200 attendees were present, including rail manufacturers and suppliers, infrastructure design and construction firms, federal and state DOT officials, investment specialists, real estate developers, consultants, advisors, and industry executives. MNTRC/MTI executive director Rod Diridon is chair of the US HSR board.
Transportation Research Board, High-Speed Rail Workshop
January 13, 2013 • Washington DC
MNTRC and MTI presented a high-speed rail (HSR) workshop at the request of the Transportation Research Board (TRB). The full-day session, with a keynote by US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and comments by FRA Administrator Joseph Szabo, featured six expert panels discussing many important facets of HSR in the US and internationally. An estimated 350 people attended throughout the day, including many high-ranking transportation officials.
Council of University Transportation Centers Meeting and Banquet
January 12, 2013 • Washington DC
This annual event honors CUTC members’ students of the year, as well as those who have won awards for their research papers. MNTRC Student of the Year was Martin Barna, who received a certificate and a $1000 cash award. MNTRC Trustee and retiring AASHTO CEO John Horsley received a Lifetime Achievement Award.
MNTRC Board of Trustees Meeting
January 12, 2013 • Washington DC
The Mineta National Transit Research Consortium, led by the Mineta Transportation Institute, held its winter board meeting at the offices of the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Chair Steve Heminger, Executive Director of the San Francisco Bay area’s Metropolitan Transportation Commission, presided.
High Speed Rail 2012
December 3-5, 2012 • Los Angeles
Business and political leaders joined the world's top experts to bring high-speed rail (HSR) to America, starting in California. Discussion included the state’s new HSR project, expected procurement process, phasing, financing, and rollout. Attendees learned about HSR systems in other countries, how they operate, how they are financed, how they change business operations, how China has built HSR in only a few years, and more. MTI was a co-sponsor.
California’s High-Speed Rail: Lessons from Asia
November 8, 2012 • San Francisco CA
Co-sponsored by the Asia Society and MTI, this program reviewed models in Asia, such as Japan’s Shinkansen and those in Korea and China, to understand how high-speed rail systems have impacted travel, business, and livability. Will such an undertaking in California bring about similar changes? Or is it simply a waste of public funding? Featured speakers included John Eddy of Arup; Tian Feng of Bay Area Rapid Transit; and Rod Diridon of the Mineta Transportation Institute.
Workshop on Transit Oriented Development, Urban Freight Movement, and Energy Reductions in APEC Urban Settings
October 25, 2012 • San Jose CA
This workshop presented the analysis results from several urban case studies examining the energy savings and reductions in GHG emissions of transit-oriented development (TOD) and urban freight movements. Those studies were conducted for the Intermodal and Intelligent Transportation Experts group of the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation transportation Working Group. A presentation on the study results addressed both TOD and changes in freight transportation on congestion and energy use in the urban setting. Several experts from North American and Asia presented their own findings.
Transit Communications 2012
October 23-26, 2012 • Dallas TX
The Mineta Transportation Institute co-sponsored this event and presented a speaker. This was the only dedicated event to date designed specifically to define the future of transit wireless communications. It placed special focus on using advancing technology and enhancing the passenger experience to advance networks and increase ridership.
ThinkBike San Jose Workshop
October 22-23, 2012 • San Jose, CA
The ThinkBike program brings to San Jose the Dutch engineering expertise that has generated bicycling rates exceeding 40% in several Dutch cities. The opening session will provide an overview of cycling in The Netherlands and describe the San Jose locations to be studied. The day continues with discussion of design solutions. At the closing session, those proposed solutions will be shared.
Podcar City Berlin
September 19-20, 2012 • Berlin, Germany
MTI and MNTRC Executive Director Rod Diridon was invited to deliver opening remarks at this international conference on Personal Rapid Transit (PRT), also known as “podcars.” He discussed interconnectivity between this automated transit and high-speed rail systems. The event, held at Technische Universität Berlin, was part of the InnoTrans Fair.
National Women's Bicycling Summit
September 13, 2012 • Long Beach, CA
MTI Research Associate Cathy DeLuca, PhD, participated on a panel discussing “Making Our Communities Work For Us; Women and the Political Process.” Dr. DeLuca included the results of her research on women’s participation on bike and pedestrian committees.
California High-Speed Rail and Why It’s Important for the Nation
RITA Transportation Innovation Series (national podcast)
August 15, 2012 , 1-2 pm Eastern / 10-11 am Pacific • Washington DC
Rod Diridon, MNTRC and MTI executive director, will discuss the status of California’s $68 billion high-speed rail project, including the recent approval by the state legislature to sell HSR bonds and its approval of the revised business plan. Mr Diridon will present a PowerPoint that includes the contract schedule for the first $6 billion.
MTI Awards Banquet and Commencement Exercises
June 23, 2012 • San Jose, CA
Graduates of MTI´s Master of Science in Transportation Management received their hoods at a banquet attended by families, friends and transportation leaders. Awards were given to the winning middle school team in the Garrett Morgan Sustainable Transportation Competition.
MTI Board of Trustees Meeting
June 23, 2012 • San Jose CA
Our twice-yearly Board of Trustees meeting was held in an all-day session. The agenda included updates from national and regional legislators and transportation leaders, legislative discussions, presentations from the MTI-led Mineta National Transit Research Consortium directors, and more.
Norman Y. Mineta Transportation Policy Summit
June 22, 2012 • San Francisco CA
This annual summit was hosted again at the Commonwealth Club of California.
APTA Rail Conference
June 3-6, 2012 • Dallas TX
MTI will participated again in the annual APTA Rail Conference. At this premiere event, workshops and technical sessions covered timely issues of broad interest in operations, technology, safety, security, planning, finance, capital projects, and the technical aspects of providing all modes of rail service, including urban, commuter, high-speed, and intercity. The event included a products and services showcase with advances in railroad and rail transit markets.
Continuity of Operations/Continuity of Government Workshop
May 31, 2012 • Cambridge, MA
Emergency management leaders from FEMA Region I gathered at the Volpe Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts for a day-long workshop on developing continuity of operations/continuity of government (COOP/COG) plans and training. The morning focused on developing organizational level plans using MTI’s Generic Plan format, MTI Project 1080. The afternoon focused on the delivery of emergency relocation group training using Mineta Transportation Institute’s COOP/COG report.
National Transportation Workforce Development Conference
April 24-26, 2012 • Washington DC
During the past two years, regional conferences on transportation workforce development have been sponsored by the US Department of Transportation and the Council of University Transportation Centers. The findings of those regional conferences were amalgamated at this national gathering. Education through community colleges, trade unions, professional academies, internships, and on-the-job training were of particular interest. MTI discussed Master of Science in Transportation Management program and findings from its recent study about workforce development for high-speed rail.
White House Roundtable Discussion with Community Leaders
April 12, 2012 • San Jose CA
The White House, The Federal Transit Administration, and MTI hosted FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff at an informal policy discussion with 25 hand-picked community leaders from Silicon Valley, who gathered at the MTI offices. Transportation Secretary (ret) Norman Mineta was special guest. Administrator Rogoff carried the participants’ comments and concerns back to President Obama.
Garrett Morgan Sustainable Transportation Competition
March 27, 2012 • National
Middle-school students competed in a national videoconference to demonstrate their sustainable transportation projects. Speakers included Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood; retired Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta; APTA President Michael Melaniphy; Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty; OCTA CEO Will Kempton; and others. The winning team, Morada Middle School, earned $1000 cash for their classroom.
Transportation Research Board, Rail Security Panel
January 22, 2012 • Washington DC
The Mineta Transportation Institute presented a rail security workshop at the request of the Transportation Research Board. The half-day discussion, led by MTI security expert Brian Michael Jenkins, was offered on a timely, relevant, and critical topic, given the revelations that Osama bin Laden and al Qaida may have been planning rail attacks in the United States. While these plans were not well developed, it did underscore that terrorists do plan to expand their attacks beyond Europe and Asia.
Council of University Transportation Centers Meeting and Banquet
January 21, 2012 • Washington DC
This annual event honors CUTC members’ students of the year, as well as those who have won awards for their research papers. MTI’s Robin O’Hara, a Master of Science in Transportation Management student, was awarded. MSTM graduate Mike Litschi won the Parker Award for outstanding research paper. The banquet also honored retiring APTA president Bill Millar with a lifetime achievement award.
MTI/MNTRC Board of Trustees Winter Meeting
January 21, 2012 • Washington DC
The Mineta Transportation Institute hosted the board meeting, where the Mineta National Transportation Research Consortium was formally introduced, following the US DOT grant award. The meeting, held at Amtrak headquarters at Union Station, also introduced the directors of each partner university, who presented overviews of their respective programs.
Chinese-American Disaster Assistance Working Group
January 4-8, 2012 • San Jose, CA
Chinese and American transportation leaders gathered at San Jose State University for four days of discussion about disaster mitigation and recovery as it relates to transportation infrastructure. The event opened with two days of presentations before the group embarked on two days of field trips to Caltrans, the Oakland Bay Bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge, and several other sites to learn about disaster management challenges and solutions.
MTI Awards Banquet and Commencement Exercises
June 25, 2011 • San Jose, CA
Save the date! Graduates of MTI´s Master of Science in Transportation Management will receive their hoods at a banquet attended by families, friends and transportation leaders. Awards also will be given to the winning middle school team in the Garrett Morgan Sustainable Transportation Competition.
Norman Y. Mineta Regional Summit on Transportation Finance
June 24, 2011 • San Francisco, CA
MTI held Part Three of its discussion about transportation finance. Moderator: Morton Downey, former Deputy Secretary of Transportation. Panelists included Assistant Secretary of Transportation Polly Trottenberg, who also delivered the keynote; AASHTO Director John Horsley, Dr. Asha Weinstein Agrawal, APTA President Bill Millar, and Metropolitan Transportation Commission CEO Steve Heminger. It was held at the Commonwealth Club of California and broadcast later on NPR Radio.
APTA Rail Conference Centers
June 12-15, 2011 • Boston, MA
This conference provides a comprehensive learning and networking experience with a complete slate of technical sessions relevant to the operation, management, and maintenance of rail and fixed guideway systems. MTI will present a panel on high-speed rail security planning. More information to come.
International Practicum on Implementing High-Speed Rail in the United States
May 3-5, 2011 • Baltimore, MD
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and The International Union of Railways (UIC) will present an in-depth workshop with critical information to implement high- and higher-speed rail in the United States. It will cover key elements on infrastructure, rolling stock, operations, finances and management, markets and customers and federal and state programs. Join MTI at this important event.
Railway Terminal World Design and Technology Conference
March 30-31, 2011 • Copenhagen, Denmark
MTI Executive Director Rod Diridon will present at this international conference, discussing the terminal and route designs for California high-speed rail. He also will chair a group meeting. The conference will bring together station and terminal managers, designers, purchasers and specifiers from operators around the world to look at the latest developments, projects, technologies and solutions for tomorrow's rail hubs.
Garrett Morgan Sustainable Transportation Competition
March 2011 • National Broadcast
This competition was created to interest middle-school students in transportation careers and to think about sustainable travel modes. Each year, teams create a project and compete for a $1000 prize for their classroom. The Secretary of Transportation and other industry leaders also participate in the coast-to-coast videoconference broadcast. The exact date is pending the Secretary's schedule.
Transportation Research Board 90th Annual Meeting
January 23-27, 2011 • Washington DC
Several of MTI’s leading researchers presented at the annual TRB meeting. More than 85 sessions and workshops addressed “Transportation, Livability, and Economic Development in a Changing World.” The program covered all transportation modes, with more than 3,000 presentations in nearly 600 sessions and workshops.
Council of University Transportation Centers
January 22-23, 2011 • Washington DC
MTI convened with other University Transportation Centers for the annual CUTC awards banquet and conference. The MTI Student of the Year was honored, along with those from the other Centers.
MTI Board of Trustees Meeting
January 22, 2011 • Washington DC
Each six months, the MTI Trustees meet to discuss Institute business and to receive progress updates from each of the Directors. MTI has been far exceeding its required performance metrics, and all indicators show that this will continue.
Podcar City: San Jose
Oct. 27–29, 2010 • San Jose, CA
MTI co-presented an international conference focused on developing podcars, a new type of automated transit technology also known as Personal Rapid Transit, or PRT. Podcar City: San Jose, Innovating Sustainable Communities was held at San Jose City Hall, 200 E. Santa Clara St. This third annual event is co-presented by the International Institute of Sustainable Transportation and the City of San Jose. Speakers and exhibitors came from California, other parts of the US, and Europe.
The UCLA Lake Arrowhead Symposium: The Transportation, Land Use, and Environment Connection
October 17–19, 2010 • Lake Arrowhead, CA
MTI executive director Rod Diridon spoke on Laying the Tracks: An Overview and Status Report about High-Speed Rail Development in California and the U.S. His presentation was part of the annual UCLA symposium, an invitation-only retreat attended by approximately 125 policy makers and senior policy analysts from around the country.
University Transportation Center Visiting Scholar Seminar
Oct. 1, 2010 • New York City
MTI Executive Director Rod Diridon presented at a SUNY Global Center seminar that examined sustainability and demonstrated how high-speed rail can help meet those goals. He highlighted and discussed premier international high-speed rail systems, and presented the progress of California’s high-speed rail efforts and accomplishments. He also discussed what must be done to ensure success.
Encouraging Sustainable Travel
Sept. 15, Oct. 13, Nov. 17, 2010 • Online Webinars
This free research webinar series for transportation professionals featured three speakers on Efficient Management of Road Construction & Operations. Topics included Encouraging Sustainable Travel, Part II and Equity Considerations in Transportation. The webinars were organized by Caltrans and the California University Transportation Centers, of which MTI is a member.
MTI Board of Trustees Meeting
June 26, 2010 • San Jose CA
MTI Trustees held their summer board meeting the last Saturday of June. Following the day-long meeting, they attended the Graduation and Awards Banquet (see below).
MTI Awards Banquet and Commencement Exercises
June 26, 2010 • San Jose CA
Graduates of MTI´s Master of Science in Transportation Management received their hoods at a banquet attended by families, friends and transportation leaders. Awards also were given to Kemps Landing Magnet School, Virginia Beach VA, which won the Garrett Morgan Sustainable Transportation Competition.
Norman Y. Mineta Regional Summit on Transportation Finance
June 25, 2010 • San Francisco, CA
MTI held Part Two of its discussion about transportation finance. The first session last October presented the challenges facing California as its increasing population threatens to make mobility more difficult. This session presented some possible solutions. Moderator: Norman Y. Mineta, Secretary of Transportation (ret.). Panelists included AASHTO Director John Horsley, Dr. Asha Weinstein Agrawal, State Senator Joe Simitian (invited), and finance expert David Crane (invited). It was held at the Commonwealth Club of California and broadcast later on NPR Radio.
APTA Rail Conference
June 6-9, 2010 • Vancouver, British Columbia
MTI participated on two panels. Executive Director Rod Diridon addressed high-speed rail. MTI´s Director of Transportation Security, Brian Michael Jenkins, moderated a panel on protecting our rail infrastructure. Hyatt Regency Hotel´s Regency F Room on Wednesday, June 9, from 8-9:30am.
NCIT 2010 Workforce Development Conference
April 29-30, 2010 • Denver
MTI´s Director of Research Dr. Karen Philbrick and Director of Communications Donna Maurillo participated in the National Center for Intermodal Transportation´s Workforce Development Conference at the Phipps Mansion in Denver. Information collected at the conference will be included in the national workforce development conference in Washington DC, set for later this year.
NTSCOE Stakeholders´ Meeting
March 31, 2010 • San Jose, California
The Mineta Transportation Institute and Rutgers University, both members of the National Transportation Security Centers of Excellence (NTSCOE), conducted a stakeholder´s meeting. This was a forum in which invited participants discuss, prioritize and present to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) a list of training and education needs.
Garrett Morgan Competition
March 23, 2010 • National Videoconference
Middle-school teams compete to see who can develop the best idea for sustainable transportation in this national videoconference. The Secretary of Transportation addressed the teams. This competition was named for Garrett Morgan, inventor of the modern traffic signal. The winning team is honored was June at a banquet at San Jose State University in San Jose, California.
High Cost of Free Parking
February 24, 2010 • San Jose, California
UCLA Professor Donald Shoup, author of “The High Cost of Free Parking,” discussed how parking reforms can reduce vehicle travel, traffic congestion, air pollution, energy waste, and greenhouse gas emissions while increasing the supply of housing and improved public services. The free event was Wednesday, February 24, 6:30 - 9:00pm at San Jose City Hall, 200 E. Santa Clara Street, San Jose; Council Wing Rooms 118-120. Download an event flyer Co-sponsored by the Mineta Transportation Institute, Great Communities Collaborative, Greenbelt Alliance, Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition, Transform, City of San Jose, and San Jose State University's Urban and Regional Planning Department and Urban Planning Coalition. Contact Justin Meek 831-430-6796 or justin.meek@gmail.com.
International Practicum on Implementing High–Speed Rail in the US
February 8–13, 2010 • Washington, Chicago, LA
With the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), MTI co-sponsored these regional seminars on providing US decision makers with information on implementing high-speed rail. The focus was on best practices and lessons from European and Asian systems.
Workforce Development Summit
February 1–2, 2010 • Long Beach, California
MTI and METRANS Transportation Center co-sponsored a statewide conference to address strategies for recruiting, training, and retaining career-path candidates for transportation careers. The two-day program, which is appropriate for anyone who faces these issues in educating or hiring candidates, was held at the Hyatt Regency Long Beach. Topics included assessing skills gaps, necessary training, career planning, outreach and recruitment, working with community colleges, best practices, and more. www.workforcesummit.org
MTI Board of Trustees´ Meeting
January 9, 2010 • Washington, DC
Every six months, MTI Trustees meet to discuss Institute business. The January meetings are traditionally held in Washington to coincide with conference of the Council of University Transportation Centers (CUTC) and the annual meeting of the Transportation Research Board (TRB).
Transportation Finance Forum
October 29, 2009 • San Francisco, California
An expert panel addressed the financial challenges facing California´s transportation infrastructure as the state anticipates exponential population growth in the next 50 years. Speakers included Therese McMillan, Deputy Director of US DOT´s Federal Transit Administration, Randell Iwasaki, Director of Caltrans, and Steve Heminger, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. Dr. Asha Weinstein Agrawal moderated. The meeting took place at the Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco and was recorded for later broadcast over NPR Radio.
Distinguished Lecturer Series
October 20, 2009 • Fayetteville, Arkansas
Rod Diridon, Sr. discussed the challenges of creating and improving a light rail service. He presented as a Distinguished Lecturer at the University of Arkansas College of Engineering in Fayetteville.
AASHTO Annual Meeting
October 22-26, 2009 • Palm Desert, California
This year´s topic is “Transportation into the Future, Green Transportation.” MTI research associates – including Dr. Caroline Rodier, Dr. Susan Shaheen, and Dr. Asha Weinstein Agrawal – presented their research projects at this gathering of state highway transportation officials. Their topics included "Car Sharing and Public Parking Policies," "Public Support for Environmental Transportation Taxes and Fees,"and more.
The Transportation⁄Land Use⁄Environment Connection
October 18-20, 2009 • Lake Arrowhead, California
This UCLA meeting addressed the challenges of operating in a restricted financial environment while working toward improvements in transportation, land use and the environment. MTI research associatesl presented their papers, including Dr. Jennifer Dill, who discussed the results of a survey on green taxes for automobiles.
APTA Annual Meeting
October 4-7, 2009 • Orlando, Florida
As part of the APTA Annual Meeting, MTI hosted “Launching High Speed Rail in the U.S. – A Report on Project & Planning Awards to Corridors.” A morning and an afternoon session took place on Thursday, October 6, featuring representatives from each of the planned high–speed rail corridors.
Annual Transportation and Infrastructure Summit
August 11-14, 2009 • Irving TX
The Mineta Transportation Institute, the Association of Public Transportation Agencies (APTA) and other organizations co–sponsored this event. Its contributions will help develop responses to meet the challenges and opportunities for the future of transportation in the United States and across the globe. MTI presented a panel.
CUTC Summer Conference
June 30-July 2, 2009 • Amherst MA
The Council of University Transportation Centers held its summer meeting in Amherst, MA. Past-President and MTI Executive Director Rod Diridon spoke, along with several other transportation leaders.
MTI Board of Trustees Meeting
June 27, 2009 • San Jose CA
The MTI Board of Trustees held its twice-yearly meeting.
MTI Awards Banquet and Commencement Exercises
June 27, 2009 • San Jose CA
Graduates of MTI’s Master of Science in Transportation Management received their hoods at a banquet attended by families, friends and transportation leaders.
International Transport Economics Conference
June 15-16, 2009 • Minneapolis
Dr. Asha Weinstein Agrawal, Director of MTI’s Transportation Finance Center, discussed her recent research on green taxes and people’s attitudes about levying them on automobiles. When it was published last year, her research received a great deal of media coverage.
APTA’s National Rail Conference
June 14-18, 2009 • Chicago
Brian Michael Jenkins, Director of MTI’s Transportation Security Center of Excellence, led a panel addressing the most recent information on selective screening of rail passengers. Results of pilot test studies also were presented.
