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Past Events
The Mineta Consortium for Transportation Mobility 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.
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April 2, 2026 |
Everyday GenAI: Your AI Writing Assistant for Transportation Professionals - Online MTI hosted the next webinar in our Everyday AI series: Your AI Writing Assistant. Participants explored how tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude can support real writing tasks, including brainstorming ideas, organizing thoughts, and drafting and refining content. The session also addressed the limitations and risks of AI and discussed how to use it thoughtfully as a tool to enhance—not replace—professional expertise. Attendees learned practical strategies for prompt engineering, selecting the right tools for their needs, adhering to organizational policies, and streamlining workflows while maintaining clarity, accuracy, and their own voice. Presenters:
Moderator: Dr. Asha Weinstein Agrawal, Education Director, MTI View Recording.View Slide Deck.View PDH Certificate.About the PresentersRamses Madou is the Division Manager of Planning, Policy, and Sustainability for the Department of Transportation in the City of San José. At the City of San José, Ramses leads a team of planners, engineers, policy specialists, data and model experts to plan the Citywide transportation system. He is leading the City’s efforts to find new and innovative transit technologies, delivery methods, and business plans. Before joining the City of San José, Ramses served as the Associate Director of Parking & Transportation Services at Stanford University for 10 years. At Stanford, he played many roles over his time there, including managing program and policy development, planning efforts, retail operations, the University’s Marguerite transit system planning and operations, and regional transportation relationships. Lisa V. Rose has served as the Mineta Transportation Institute’s Communications Specialist since 2020, where she leads the development of clear, compelling, and inclusive communications across the Institute. She also collaborates with K–12 educators to design engaging, evidence-based lessons and classroom-ready resources for MTI’s workforce development programs. Lisa’s background includes more than fifteen years in communication, storytelling, and inclusive education. While earning her MA in English and Comparative Literature at San José State University, she taught undergraduate writing and helped develop and launch Reflection on College Writing, the university’s online prerequisite course for incoming first-year students. Presenters: Ramses Madou & Lisa Rose |
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March 24, 2026 |
Championing Women in Transportation: A Panel Discussion on Leadership and Mentorship in Transportation for Women's History Month - Online The California Transit Association, in partnership with the Mineta Transportation Institute, hosted a discussion celebrating Women’s History Month. Attendees heard from a panel of industry leaders who explored the importance of mentorship and champions for women in transit and transportation. The conversation highlighted how, as female leaders strive to reach the C-suite, the industry can work collectively to empower and inspire women colleagues. Panelists shared their personal career trajectories, along with best practices and advice for advancing women’s leadership in the field. Speakers:
Moderator:
*MTI was a proud co-sponsor of this event. View Recording. |
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March 20, 2026 |
SAVI Talk: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of City Governance - Online, - Martin Luther King Jr. Library, Room 225 This hybrid event brought together leading academic researchers and municipal practitioners to explore how artificial intelligence is shaping the future of city governance. By connecting expertise from higher education with leadership from one of the nation’s most innovative city governments, the session highlighted how AI can be responsibly applied to enhance decision-making, improve mobility systems, and strengthen public services. Featured speakers Dr. Junghwan Kim (Virginia Tech) and Dr. Yongsung Lee (UC Davis) shared research-driven insights on AI’s role in public-sector governance and urban mobility. A panel discussion with Keith Hertzberg of the City of San José provided practical perspectives on implementing AI within municipal operations, including organizational readiness, policy considerations, and community trust. The discussion underscored the importance of cross-sector collaboration and thoughtful technology adoption in building more adaptive and effective cities. |
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March 3, 2026 |
Beyond the Bullet Train: Lessons from Japan’s Shinkansen - Online Japan’s Shinkansen is often described in superlatives: fast, precise, iconic. But what actually makes it work? This webinar peeled 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 examined 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 served as a guided “show-and-tell” of observations, questions, and practical takeaways that oriented attendees to how and why the system functions so reliably. Attendees learned what makes the Japanese system so successful and how those lessons can be applied in other contexts. Speakers:
Moderator: Eric Eidlin, Station Planning Manager, City of San José Department of Transportation; MSTM Instructor This webinar was co-sponsored by the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco, APTA High-Speed & Intercity Passenger Rail Committee, High Speed Rail Alliance, and US High Speed Rail Association.
View Recording.View Slide Deck.View PDH Certificate.Presenters: Masahiro Nakayama, Bryan Wong, and Eric Eidlin |
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February 18, 2026 |
GIS Careers with GIS Professionals - Online A Conversation on GIS Careers brought together professionals from transportation, entertainment, and higher education to explore how GIS skills translate into real-world careers. The webinar panel examined in-demand technical and analytical skills, highlighted emerging career pathways, and shared practical advice on crafting resumes that stand out in the GIS field. Co-sponsored by BayGeo and the Mineta Transportation Institute, the event supported students in navigating the evolving geospatial workforce and preparing for next steps after graduation. Featured Speakers:
View PDH Credit.Presenters: Marshall Wilson Ballard, Dhawal Kataria, and Pariya Pourmohammadi, PhD |
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February 11, 2026 |
Intelligent Speed Assistance: Can Technology Help California Stop Speeding? - Online This MTI Research Snaps webinar was based on the MTI-led California State University Transportation Consortium report, "A Holistic Inquiry of Intelligent Speed-Assist Technology: Safety Impacts, Technology Implementation, and Challenges." Speeding is a leading contributor to U.S. roadway fatalities, and California ranked among the states with the most speed-related crashes. Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) technology offered a solution to address this issue by notifying drivers of speed limits and, in some cases, intervening and lowering the speed to the posted limit. The discussion focused on the potential advantages and challenges of adopting this technology. Research suggested that while ISA systems were well-positioned to reduce speeding and enhance road safety, their success hinged on thoughtful design, user trust, and supportive policy. Attendees joined us for an investigation into ISA systems with a focus on how their risks and benefits might have affected California drivers. Presenters:
Moderator: Hilary Nixon, PhD, Deputy Executive Director, Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) View Recording.View Slide Deck.View PDH Certificate.About the PresentersDr. Sahar Ghanipoor Machiani is an MTI Researcher, Associate Professor in San Diego State University’s (SDSU) Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, and the Co-Director of the SDSU Smart Transportation Analytics Research (STAR) Lab. Before joining SDSU, she worked as a Research Associate at the Center for Infrastructure-Based Safety Systems, Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI). She has expertise in traffic safety, driver behavior modeling, automated vehicles, and infrastructure-based safety systems. Nusheen Baradaran is an MTI Graduate Student Research Assistant and Master of Science candidate in Civil Engineering at SDSU, specializing in transportation systems and intelligent vehicle technologies. Her research explores the implementation and behavioral impacts of Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA), integrating empirical data analysis with human factors insights. Alongside her academic work, she is a full-time civil engineer in the land development sector, focusing on coastal single-family residential projects. Her combined professional and academic experience informs a practical, interdisciplinary approach to transportation safety and emerging vehicle technologies. |
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January 27, 2026 |
Mega Event Safety: Student Voices on Human Trafficking - San José State University, Boccardo Business Center (BBC) 032 Major global events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games were approaching, bringing heightened risks related to public safety, human rights, and ethical business practices, including in the Bay Area and within the San José State University community. SJSU student researchers, supported by award-winning faculty, led this event focused on combating human trafficking at major events through transportation systems and supply chains. Students and Associate Professor Kezban Yagci, PhD, shared their original research, lived experiences, and practical insights on how SJSU students can help keep communities safe during major events and in everyday life. |
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January 11, 2026 to January 15, 2026 |
TRB Presentations 2026 MTI Research Associates and affiliated researchers presented at the 105th annual meeting of the Transportation Research Board. This event attracted thousands of transportation professionals from around the world. The meeting program covered all transportation modes, with sessions and workshops addressing topics of interest to policymakers, administrators, practitioners, researchers, and representatives of government, industry, and academic institutions.
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December 5, 2025 |
Move Bay Area Transportation, Climate, and Health South Bay Summit - San José State University Student Union, Meeting Room 4, Second Floor ✅ Visionary + Successes Panel — Hear from leaders who are delivering real wins in mobility, clean air, and healthier communities across the Bay Area ✅ Full-Room Discussion & Activity — Every voice in the room contributes to shaping our shared regional transportation vision ✅ Keynote Q&A — local transit luminary answers questions big and small ✅ Free event — breakfast and lunch included Invited and Confirmed Speakers Include:
*MTI was a proud co-sponsor of this event. |
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November 13, 2025 |
Everyday GenAI: Research, Writing, and Design Tools for Transportation Professionals - Online Generative AI is a powerful tool already benefitting the industry as a whole—but were you integrating it into your everyday work? In Everyday AI, MTI’s new webinar series, participants learned how to use AI tools to enhance their research, simplify their writing, and elevate their report design. The first session, “Finding Information,” focused on using free GenAI tools to quickly find transportation data and information. SJSU Professor Egbe-Etu Etu, an expert in transportation data analytics, shared strategies for asking the right questions (“prompt engineering,” in AI-speak) and validating results. The session explored how GenAI can empower transportation professionals at every level to work more efficiently and make better data-driven decisions. Presenter: Dr. Egbe-Etu Etu, MTI Research Associate & SJSU Assistant Professor Moderator: Dr. Asha Weinstein Agrawal, Education Director, Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI)
This webinar was co-sponsored by the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) and WTS SF Bay Area Chapter. View Recording.View Slide Deck.View PDH Certificate.About the PresenterDr. Egbe-Etu Etu is an Assistant Professor of Business Analytics at San Jose State University (SJSU). Before joining SJSU, Dr. Etu received his Ph.D. in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Wayne State University in 2021 and his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Covenant University, Nigeria, in 2016. His research interest centers on the development of use-inspired machine learning models to solve challenging business problems in healthcare, manufacturing, and transportation. The main aim of his research is to develop decision-support tools that will help business professionals do their best work, improve resilience and overall system performance while minimizing errors. He is a member of the Industrial Engineering and Operations Management (IEOM), Institute of Industrial & Systems Engineering (IISE), and SAVE International. In 2020, he received the IEOM Annual Conference Best Paper Award in the Healthcare Systems track. |
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