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MTI organizes or participates in several transportation-related events each year. These include national summits, regional forums, industry conferences, or special events and broadcasts. You can find leading transportation experts at all of these events, making them an excellent resource not only for professional and research insights, but also for networking. You can review our past events.

The Mineta Transportation Institute is deeply involved with many surface transportation issues. Our experts are available to speak with the news media about many topics, including autonomous vehicles, bicycle and pedestrian safety, congestion, high-speed rail, intermodal connectivity, public transit, transportation planning and policy, transportation security, and workforce issues.

For media requests, please contact:

Alverina Weinardy
Director of Operations
alverina.weinardy@sjsu.edu
408-924-7566

Hilary Nixon
Deputy Executive Director
hilary.nixon@sjsu.edu
408-924-7564

Dates Events
March 3, 2026 Beyond the Bullet Train: Lessons from Japan’s Shinkansen  -  Online

2:00-3:00p.m. (PT) | Link to register

Japan’s Shinkansen is often described in superlatives: fast, precise, iconic. But what actually makes it work?

This webinar peels back the myth to explore the real decisions, principles, and design thinking behind Japan’s high-speed rail success—and what they mean for North American practitioners. Drawing on first-hand experience and professional practice in Japan, speakers will examine the Shinkansen as an integrated system operating across multiple scales: train design and operations, station planning and passenger flow, and city-building and tourism strategy.
Rather than a technical deep dive, the conversation is a guided “show‑and‑tell” of observations, questions, and practical takeaways that orient attendees to how and why the system functions so reliably. Come learn what makes the Japanese system so successful and how you can build on that success! 

Speakers:

Moderator: Eric EidlinStation Planning Manager, City of San José Department of Transportation; MSTM Instructor

This webinar is co-sponsored by the Consulate General of Japan in San FranciscoAPTA High-Speed & Intercity Passenger Rail Committee, High Speed Rail Alliance, and US High Speed Rail Association.

*1 PDH credit available

Add to Calendar.

Presenters: Masahiro Nakayama, Bryan Wong, and Eric Eidlin
March 20, 2026 SAVI Talk: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of City Governance  -  Online,   -  Martin Luther King Jr. Library, Room 225

3:00-5:00p.m. (PT) | Link to register

Artificial intelligence is rapidly moving from theory to practice inside city governments—but what does that actually look like, and what comes next?

Join us for a dynamic, in-person conversation bringing together leading researchers and city practitioners to explore how AI is reshaping urban governance, mobility, and public services. This event bridges cutting-edge academic insight with real-world municipal experience, offering a rare opportunity to hear how cities are experimenting with AI today—and how they can do so responsibly tomorrow.

This hybrid program will feature short presentations from Dr. Junghwan Kim (Virginia Tech) and Dr. Yongsung Lee (UC Davis), who will examine how AI is influencing public-sector decision-making, transportation systems, and long-term urban planning. Their talks will set the stage for a moderated panel discussion with Keith Hertzberg of the City of San José, who will share firsthand perspectives on the opportunities, constraints, and lessons learned from applying AI within city operations.

Together, the panel will address critical questions such as:

  • Where can AI meaningfully improve city services today?

  • What organizational, ethical, and governance challenges must cities navigate?

  • How can research and practice work together to support equitable and trustworthy AI adoption?

Whether you are a student, researcher, city professional, or community member interested in the future of cities, this event offers a grounded, forward-looking look at how AI is shaping the next generation of urban governance.

*MTI is a proud co-sponsor of this event.

*1 PDH credit available

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Contact Us

San José State University  One Washington Square, San Jose, CA 95192    Phone: 408-924-7560   Email: mineta-institute@sjsu.edu