Past Events

The Mineta Transportation Institute Student Association hosted its third annual Scholarship Success Session—a free virtual event designed to help students strengthen their scholarship applications and explore funding opportunities for their education.

Scholarship providers from the following organizations shared their insights:

• Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO)

• California Transportation Foundation (CTF)

• Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS)

They discussed what reviewers look for, introduced scholarship opportunities from their organizations, and provided practical tips participants could use right away.

Attendees came ready with questions and left with valuable advice and resources to support their scholarship journey.

View Recording.

View Slide Deck.

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

In the mid-1960s, as I-280 and CA-87 reshaped San José’s landscape, an entire neighborhood disappeared. Through newly digitized Caltrans photographs and archival materials, Beneath I-280 visualized the vibrant communities that once stood there—inviting reflection on the social and environmental costs of mid-century urban planning.

Developed by researchers and students from San José State University’s Institute for Metropolitan Studies in collaboration with the King Library’s California Room, the project mapped the stories of the people who lost their homes to freeway construction. It invited the community to reimagine a more equitable, people-centered San José.

Visitors could explore the digital exhibit at library.sjsu.edu/exhibits for more information.

This exhibition, which received initial funding from the Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI), was based on the MTI-funded research project Beneath I-280: Excavating a Neighborhood Lost to San José Freeways.

On October 29, 2025, the South Bay Coalition to End Human Trafficking, Santa Clara County’s Valley Transit Authority, and Santa Clara County’s Human Trafficking Taskforce hosted Safety in Motion: Combating Human Trafficking, Exploitation, and Violence.

This one-day conference focused on identifying and responding to different forms of violence, with a specific emphasis on human trafficking. With the Bay Area preparing to host major sporting events in 2026—including the NFL Super Bowl, NBA March Madness, and FIFA World Cup—participants explored both the opportunities and heightened risks these gatherings present, particularly for trafficking, exploitation, and violence.

The event brought together professionals from the hospitality and transit industries, law enforcement partners, and advocates supporting survivors. 

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

This MTI Research Snaps webinar was based on the MTI report, "Best Practices in Marketing and Creative Outreach for New Transportation Technologies."

Emerging transportation technologies are transforming the ways we move, but public understanding and trust often lag behind innovation. In this Research Snaps webinar, participants explored how to effectively address concerns, communicate advantages, and foster trust across communities as electric vehicles, micromobility solutions, autonomous vehicles, hyperloop systems, and mobility-as-a-service platforms gain traction.

Drawing on insights from academic research, industry best practices, and real-world campaigns, the project’s author showcased innovative outreach strategies that go beyond traditional messaging. The session highlighted the power of creative digital content and storytelling to resonate with diverse audiences.

Presenter: William (Billy) Riggs, PhD, MTI Research Associate; Director, Autonomous Vehicles and the City Initiative, USF

Moderator: Hilary Nixon, PhD, Deputy Executive Director, Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI)

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View PDH Certificate.

About the Presenter

Join transportation professionals and researchers for the 2nd Annual Southern Colorado Transportation Conference (SCTC) to explore this year’s theme: Extreme Events Management for Railroad Infrastructure. We will gather for a full-day conference and poster session on Monday, October 6, 2025 at Colorado State University Pueblo’s Ochiatto Student Center (OSC) Ballroom. 

To learn more about this Conference, visit the event website. 

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

MTI hosted an inside look at lessons learned from a recent San José State University study trip to Spain and France—home to some of the most celebrated high-speed rail systems and stations in the world. Through first-hand student experiences and expert perspectives, the event explored how great stations seamlessly connect intercity rail services with safe spaces for walking and biking and anchor vibrant urban neighborhoods that power regional economies.

The session examined what makes these stations thrive: the governance structures that keep them running smoothly, innovative strategies to futureproof them against tomorrow’s challenges, and the art of building public trust through strategic engagement. Attendees gained valuable insights and actionable inspiration to help transform mobility in their own communities.

Featured Guests:

• Dakota Gross, Senior Planner, LSA Associates, Inc.; SJSU MS in Transportation Management (MSTM) Student
• Alex Kenefick, Chief, Integration and Network Planning Branch, Caltrans; MSTM Alum ('17)
• Inmaculada Mohino, PhD, Associate Professor, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
• Fabrice Morenon, PhD, Managing Director, SNCF Hubs & Connexions

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

This webinar was co-sponsored by APTA High-Speed & Intercity Passenger Rail Committee, CRISI: Promoting Railroading Careers and Developing the Current Rail Industry Workforce, High Speed Rail Alliance, SJSU Institute for Metropolitan Studies, and US High Speed Rail Association.

*1 PDH credit available

View Recording.

View Slide Deck.

View PDH Certificate.

About the Featured Speakers

Dakota Gross is a transportation planning consultant based in Los Angeles. She is also a current graduate student in the Master of Science in Transportation Management (MSTM) program at the Mineta Transportation Institute, part of the Lucas Graduate School of Business at San José State University. Dakota has worked on large-scale transportation infrastructure projects, including preparing transportation and environmental planning documentation for the California High-Speed Rail project.

Alex Kenefick is the Branch Chief of the Integration and Network Planning Branch at the Caltrans Division of Rail. The branch is responsible for the release and update of the California State Rail Plan. Alex has had past careers in service, tourism, and watershed planning and management. Alex has a BS in Planning and Development from USC and a MS in Transportation Management from San Jose State University.

Inmaculada Mohino, PhD is Associate Professor at the Polytechnical University of Madrid, where her research focuses on urban design, regional planning, and the spatial impacts of large transportation infrastructure, with a particular focus on high-speed networks. She holds masters degrees in civil engineering and urban design, and a PhD in Territory, Infrastructure, and Environment from the University of Castilla La Mancha (UCLM). She previously taught at both UCLM and Universidad Complutense de Madrid and was a visiting scholar at Oxford Brookes University, UCLA, and the University of Amsterdam. Her work has been published in high-impact scientific journals, including the Journal of Transport Geography. 

Fabrice Morenon, PhD is the Managing Director of SNCF Hubs & Connexions, the arm of the French Railways that oversees the development of rail stations internationally. With a PhD in Economics and degrees from La Sorbonne and Sciences Po, his expertise spans station financing, development, and operations. Morenon is a Chevalier (Knight) of the French National Order of Merit, has been appointed French foreign trade advisor by the French Prime Minister, and was named Chairman of the sector “Station Managers Global group” at the International Union of Railways (UIC).

To ensure the efficient movement of people and products, we must prepare the next generation of skilled transportation professionals who can lead a thriving, forward-thinking transportation industry for a more connected world. To that end, MTI held its 33rd Annual Banquet and Convocation Celebration at San José State University on June 21, 2025. Joined by our distinguished Board of Trustees, we celebrated our 2024 MSTM graduates, alumni of the year, the winners of the Garrett Morgan Sustainable Transportation Competition, and much more. 

This exciting MSTM celebration included individualized recognition of each graduate and award presentations.

Students from the Master of Science in Transportation Management program at San José State University presented their final capstone research projects. This interactive event provided opportunities to meet with the students and learn about their research on critical transportation management challenges.

This MTI Research Snaps webinar was co-sponsored by ITS California.

Right turn on red (RTOR) has been employed as an energy-saving measure around the country since the 1970s, but recent research puts the practice into question. MTI Research Associates Dr. Bruce Appleyard and Dr. Anurag Pande digged into the data and demonstrate why RTOR movements are actually unsafe—for pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers—while only marginally useful in lowering emissions. 

Presenters: 

• Bruce Appleyard, PhD, MTI Research Associate; Professor, San Diego State University
• Anurag Pande, PhD, MTI Research Associate; Professor, Cal Poly

Moderator: Hilary Nixon, PhD, Deputy Executive Director, Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI)

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About the Presenters

Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater and MTI's Executive Director Dr. Karen Philbrick hosted the exciting announcement of the winners of the 2025 Garrett Morgan Sustainable Transportation Competition.

Each year, MTI honors inventor and trailblazer Garrett Augustus Morgan (1877-1963) through the Garrett Morgan Sustainable Transportation Competition, first instituted at the U.S. Department of Transportation by this year’s special guest Rodney Slater. 

This year we have teams competing from Silicon Valley Monterey Bay Council - Scouting America, Cupertino Middle School, Troop 492 - Cupertino Rotary Club, Elkhorn Elementary School, Graham Middle School/St. Simon Mountain View, Greensboro Middle School,  Jane L. Stanford Middle School, Juan Cabrillo Middle School, Hyde Middle School, KAI Associates Transportation Club, Major STEM Academy, The Hamlin School, and William Hopkins Middle School. 

This webinar was co-sponsored by WTS SF Bay Area Chapter and Lucas College and Graduate School of Business.

An estimated 49.6 million individuals are currently trapped by human trafficking, with women and girls making up about 71% of trafficking victims worldwide. Transportation hubs are key locations where trafficking takes place, and it is critical for the transportation industry to understand how traffickers take advantage of weaknesses in networks and who they target in order to stop trafficking and help survivors. Featured speakers shared insights into how traffickers take advantage of transportation networks and discuss potential points for tailored interventions. In this webinar, attendees learned how to support survivors and implement anti-trafficking strategies that will make transportation safer for everyone. 

Featured Speakers: 

• Evelyn Chumbow, Director of Advocacy & Survivor Leadership, Human Trafficking Legal Center (HTLC)
• Christi Wigle, Co-Founder & CEO, United Against Slavery
• Dr. Kezban Yagci Sokat, Research Associate, Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI)

Moderator: Hilary Nixon, PhD, Deputy Executive Director, Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI)

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View PDH Certificate

About the Featured Speakers

• Evelyn Chumbow, Director of Advocacy & Survivor Leadership, Human Trafficking Legal Center (HTLC)

Evelyn Chumbow is a survivor of child labor trafficking turned anti-trafficking activist and public speaker. Chumbow has been invited to brief several government agencies about human trafficking from a survivor’s perspective, including the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, the State Department, and the Department of Justice. She was appointed by President Obama to serve on the U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking. She has been invited as a speaker to international events and has been awarded many honors for her work. Chumbow serves as an advisor to human trafficking NGOs and on the Board of Directors for Free the Slaves. Chumbow hopes to leverage her unique position as a former child slave to end human trafficking in her hometown and globally.

• Christi Wigle, Co-Founder & CEO, United Against Slavery

Christi Wigle is the CEO and Co-founder of United Against Slavery. She has worked on the frontlines of anti-human trafficking work for thirteen years, serving in leadership and survivor advocacy for sex and labor trafficking survivors. Drawing upon two decades of business and product development experience, she created an innovative methodology to perform comprehensive frontline research and data collection, creating a Collaborative Research Model. Christi co-founded United Against Slavery in 2014 as a research organization to identify and document the challenges faced by more than 20 stakeholder groups here in the United States and around the globe.

• Dr. Kezban Yagci Sokat, Research Associate, Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI)

Dr. Yagci Sokat is an Assistant Professor of Business Analytics at San José State University and a Research Associate at the Mineta Transportation Institute with a passion for using analytics to alleviate human suffering in the areas of public health, humanitarian logistics, and human trafficking. Supported by the United States Department of Transportation, IBM, Valley Transportation Authority and San José State University, she has led various multi-disciplinary anti-trafficking projects and has served on several local anti-trafficking committees. She received her PhD in Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences from Northwestern University and holds master’s degrees from Georgia Institute of Technology with a Fulbright scholarship.

The Fresno State Transportation Institute designed the Railroad Model Competition to be an accessible and enjoyable educational experience, helping students and teachers to build a better future in transportation sciences.

This competition was divided into 3 grade levels; Upper Elementary, Middle, and High schools. Each grade level had 10 teams per grade and teams of up to 10 students and at least one faculty member or club advisor. This competition showcased the creativity of the teams in designing their own railroad track models in a way that is fuel and cost-efficient and minimum time traveled. 

*MTI was a proud co-sponsor of this competition.

Major challenges leave agencies and transit bus manufacturers facing uncertainty as the U.S. public transportation sector charges ahead into a zero-emission future. Leah Foecke and Zachary Karson of global infrastructure advisory firm Rebel Group and authors of a recent MTI publication explored obstacles and insights in the US transit bus market. The discussion focused on key industry dynamics, financial challenges with zero-emission bus (ZEB) acquisition, technological barriers in deployment, and regulatory issues. 

Presenters: 

• Leah Foecke, MS, MTI Researcher & Manager, Rebel Group
• Zachary Karson, MS, MTI Researcher & Manager, Rebel Group

Moderator: Karen Philbrick, PhD, Executive Director, Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI)

View Recording.

View PDH Credit.

View Presentation Slides.

About the Presenters

Leah is a Manager at Rebel with over seven years of experience as an economic consultant and policy advisor. She brings experience advising clients at the national, state, and local level, with particular expertise in transit and transportation, zero-emission transition, and public-private infrastructure delivery. Prior to Rebel, Leah provided economic analysis, strategic advisory services, and monitoring and evaluation support to public and private sector clients as an economic consultant and held fellowships focused on climate and infrastructure with the City of Boston and the State of Massachusetts. She holds a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Public Policy and a bachelor’s degree in economics and biology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Zachary is a Manager at Rebel with experience advising both public and private clients on infrastructure projects and transactions in various sectors, including mass transit and mobility, renewable energy, broadband, water, and wastewater. Zachary focuses on financial analysis, risk analysis, procurement support, and assisting clients with key commercial and financial decisions. Zachary is also a registered Series 50 municipal financial advisor. Before working at Rebel, Zachary worked for various public and private organizations in the renewable energy sector. He holds a master’s degree in public administration and a master’s degree in business administration from New York University, and a bachelor’s degree in political science and Spanish from Kenyon College.

On the Right Track: The Transformative Potential of Rail

Discover the secrets behind over 50 years of global high-speed rail innovation in MTI’s newest webinar series! Explore station planning, station design development best practices, and groundbreaking projects from France, Germany, and Spain, featuring actionable insights from expert speakers. Join us as we explore how international high-speed rail success can guide U.S. professionals to shape the future of transit in our communities.

This webinar series is co-sponsored by APTA High-Speed & Intercity Passenger Rail Committee, California High-Speed Rail Authority, High Speed Rail Alliance, and US High Speed Rail Association.

Webinars include:

• Webinar #1 | December 11, 2024 | The French Case: Stations as City Boosters
• Webinar #2 | January 15, 2025 | The Spanish Case: Transformacion Rápida
• Webinar #3 | February 12, 2025 | The German Case: Rail Stations to Connect the World
• Webinar #4 | March 5, 2025 | Berlin, Beijing, Bakersfield: Station Design Insights for U.S. Rail

Webinar #4 - Berlin, Beijing, Bakersfield: Station Design Insights for U.S. Rail

Join us for the final installment of our webinar series On the Right Track: The Transformative Potential of Rail! This session features expert insights from Heidi Sokolowsky (Urban Field Studio), Kristopher Takács (AECOM), and Eric Eidlin (City of San José). All three have decades of experience in station planning, both in the U.S. and globally. In this session, the three panelists will summarize key takeaways from the past three webinars in the series and reflect upon how global insights from world-class station design and project delivery can influence the future of multimodal transit in California, the U.S., and beyond. They will also consider how recent federal policy shifts could influence the trajectory of high-speed rail projects in the U.S. Don’t miss this opportunity to join the conversation shaping the future of rail!

Featured Guests:

• Eric Eidlin, Station Planning Manager, City of San José Department of Transportation
• Heidi Sokolowsky, Founding Partner, Urban Field Studio
• Kristopher Takács, Global Head of Stations and TOD, AECOM

View Recording.

View PDH Credit.

View Presentation Slides.

About the Speakers

Eric Eidlin is Station Planning Manager with the City of San Jose. In this role, he plays a leading role in the City’s efforts to transform Diridon Station into a world-class multimodal hub.

Eric brings a wealth of experience in high-speed rail (HSR) and intermodal facility planning to the City, including from his travels to France and Germany, where he has studied best practices in HSR system and station development. Eric previously worked as Sustainability Manager for the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Region 9 office in San Francisco, where he coordinated major federal interagency initiatives relating to sustainable transportation and development. Eric holds a master’s degree in urban design from the University of Toronto and a master’s degree in city planning from UCLA.

Heidi Sokolowsky is a founding partner at Urban Field Studio, an urban design firm based in San Francisco. Heidi has received her master’s degree in Architecture and Urban Design from the Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany, and has worked on urban development and transit-centered projects for over 30 years, including station areas for HSR, BART, Caltrain, and L.A. Metro Stations. Heidi is currently a consultant to the California High-Speed Rail Authority focusing on station area planning, early site activation, and community engagement. She enjoys and collaborates on the design of urban places that are walkable, livable, and sustainable – and can evolve over time. She is also a regular user of trains and bikes. She has taught urban design at San José State University and at the Bauhaus University in Weimar.

Architect and urbanist Kristopher Takács leads AECOM’s global practice for Stations and Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), a multi-disciplinary team of designers, transportation experts, and land planning strategists recognized for creative, technical expertise that connects people, buildings and places. Kristopher has been instrumental in the creation of award-winning multi-modal passenger facilities and mixed-use urban development around the world, including Denver Union Station and Brightline Florida. He is a skilled leader of complex urban design and transportation infrastructure projects that deeply engage public and private stakeholders—projects that lead with vision and result in consensus-driven value creation.

Founded by the National Society of Professional Engineers in 1951, Engineers Week is dedicated to ensuring a diverse and well-educated future engineering workforce by increasing understanding of and interest in engineering and technology careers. Engineers Week aims to inspire future generations of engineers and provide opportunities for K-12 students to learn about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through professional panels, discussions, and hands-on engineering activities. As a part of Engineers Week celebration, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) San Jose - Young Members Forum hosted 75 local high school students to participate in High School Day at Valley Water District Office.

*This event was presented by the Mineta Transportation Institute.

On the Right Track: The Transformative Potential of Rail

Discover the secrets behind over 50 years of global high-speed rail innovation in MTI’s newest webinar series! Explore station planning, station design development best practices, and groundbreaking projects from France, Germany, and Spain, featuring actionable insights from expert speakers. Join us as we explore how international high-speed rail success can guide U.S. professionals to shape the future of transit in our communities.

This webinar series is co-sponsored by APTA High-Speed & Intercity Passenger Rail Committee, California High-Speed Rail Authority, High Speed Rail Alliance, and US High Speed Rail Association.

Webinars include:

• Webinar #1 | December 11, 2024 | The French Case: Stations as City Boosters
• Webinar #2 | January 15, 2025 | The Spanish Case: Transformacion Rápida
• Webinar #3 | February 12, 2025 | The German Case: Rail Stations to Connect the World
• Webinar #4 | March 5, 2025 | Berlin, Beijing, Bakersfield: Station Design Insights for U.S. Rail

Webinar #3 - The German Case: Rail Stations to Connect the World

Get ready for the latest installment of our On the Right Track series featuring Tobias Keyl from the globally acclaimed architecture firm Gerkan, Marg & Partners (gmp). Explore how world-class multimodal transportation hubs enable seamless global mobility, while also serving as destinations in and of themselves. Renowned for their designs of rail stations, airports, and sports complexes across Europe and Asia, gmp has redefined large-scale infrastructure. Mr. Keyl will highlight Berlin Main Station as an example of how national infrastructure investments helped unify a long-divided country. He will also discuss gmp’s work in China, and advancements that can inspire the future of intermodal travel in the U.S. Join us to help shape the future of mobility!

Featured Guest: Tobias Keyl, Associate Partner, gmp

Moderator: Eric Eidlin, Station Planning Manager, City of San José Department of Transportation

*1 PDH credit available

View Recording.

View PDH Credit.

About Tobias Keyl

Tobias Keyl is an Associate Partner in gmp’s Berlin office. After studying architecture at the Technical University in Braunschweig and becoming a registered architect, he started at gmp in Berlin in 2004. In 2009, Tobias transferred to gmp’s Beijing office, before returning to Berlin seven years later. A true global citizen, he has successfully managed several large-scale projects from conception to delivery and is currently overseeing efforts across Europe, Asia, and Africa. This reach enables Tobias to swiftly grasp the complexity of his clients’ cultures and challenges, empowering innovative solution strategies that adhere to the highest design standards.

Tobias’s work focuses on interdisciplinary collaboration towards sustainable projects: In 2020 he was part of the industry Advisor Group at Harvard University Graduate School of Design on the topic “Future of Air Travel.” Since 2021 Tobias has been a part of gmp's global sustainable design steering group.

Tobias Keyl from renowned Hamburg-founded international architecture firm Gerkan, Marg & Partners (gmp) joined MTI in an exciting in-person discussion of transformative transportation projects from Germany, China, and around the world. Attendees had the opportunity to explore gmp’s impressive portfolio of work and hear about how they design transit stations and airports as revolutionary hubs of community and connection that advance safety, sustainability, and economic impact.

Welcome remarks:

• Dr. Karen Philbrick, Executive Director, MTI

• Hon. Rod Diridon, Sr., Retired Founding Executive Director, MTI

Moderator: Eric Eidlin, Station Planning Manager, City of San José Department of Transportation

Featured Guest: Tobias Keyl, Associate Partner, gmp

What is Youth of the Year?
Youth of the Year is a four-month long leadership development program that celebrates the remarkable lives of Boys & Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley members who have distinguished themselves by rising above challenging circumstances. Throughout the program, Youth of the Year candidates will practice public speaking, essay writing, team building, and more. At the Youth of the Year Gala, each finalist will share their story with the entire Boys & Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley community, and one youth will be awarded the Citywide Youth of the Year title.

The judging process includes evaluating the nominees’ academic performance, personal statements, two references, assessing public speaking skills, and one-on-one interviews with candidates. The Citywide Youth of the Year receives a college scholarship and the opportunity to advance to Boys & Girls Clubs’ Northern California Youth of the Year competition.

To learn more about this program, visit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley's website. 

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

On the Right Track: The Transformative Potential of Rail

Discover the secrets behind over 50 years of global high-speed rail innovation in MTI’s newest webinar series! Explore station planning, station design development best practices, and groundbreaking projects from France, Germany, and Spain, featuring actionable insights from expert speakers. Join us as we explore how international high-speed rail success can guide U.S. professionals to shape the future of transit in our communities.

This webinar series was co-sponsored by APTA High-Speed & Intercity Passenger Rail Committee, California High-Speed Rail Authority, High Speed Rail Alliance, and US High Speed Rail Association.

Webinars include:

• Webinar #1 | December 11, 2024 | The French Case: Stations as City Boosters
• Webinar #2 | January 15, 2025 | The Spanish Case: Transformacion Rápida
• Webinar #3 | February 12, 2025 | The German Case: Rail Stations to Connect the World
• Webinar #4 | March 5, 2025 | Berlin, Beijing, Bakersfield: Station Design Insights for U.S. Rail

Webinar #2 - The Spanish Case: Transformacion Rápida

In the second installment of “On the Right Track: The Transformative Potential of Rail” series, explore how high-speed rail has transformed Spanish society and its economy from international rail expert Eduardo Romo. Despite starting later in high-speed rail than some countries, Spain now has the greatest amount of track mileage in Europe and the second most in the world. Learn what factors led to this rapid adoption and the opportunities and challenges high-speed rail presents to cities of all sizes. Don’t miss out on these insights and more, including what Spanish high-speed rail can show professionals in the U.S.! 

Featured Guest: Eduardo Romo, Principal, Technology for Railways and Engineering Solutions (TRES, LLC); President, Fundación Caminos de Hierro

Moderator: Eric Eidlin, Station Planning Manager, City of San José Department of Transportation

View Recording.

View PDH Credit.

About Eduardo Romo

Eduardo Romo is an international expert in railway systems with over 35 years of experience carrying out more than 100 railway projects. As a senior rail engineer he has led the planning and design of a number of sections and components of more than a dozen high-speed rail lines in Spain, other European countries, and the United States. Now based in Oakland, he is Principal at Technology for Railways and Engineering Solutions (TRES, LLC), President of non-profit Railways Expertise Centre Fundación Caminos de Hierro, Vice Chairman of UIC Intercity and High-Speed Committee, and Coordinator of Organizing Committee for International Conference on Engineering for HSR.

Bike East Bay hosted an interactive, hands-on workshop where participants reviewed the basic process of fixing a flat and inner tube patching, as well as strategies to avoid flats. 

*MTI was a proud co-sponsor of this workshop.

The 21st Annual Scholarship & Industry Awards Gala, hosted by COMTO Northern California, brought together leaders, professionals, and champions in celebration of transportation.

This gala was more than an awards ceremony. It celebrated the power of education, mentorship, and community as we honor the outstanding contributions of industry leaders and rising stars.

COMTO Northern California is dedicated to breaking barriers and ensuring that the transportation industry reflects the diversity of our communities. This gala supported their mission to provide scholarships that empower students from underrepresented backgrounds to pursue their academic and career goals in transportation.

*MTI was a proud Norman Mineta Scholarship sponsor.

Riding comfortably in the rain can be easy and fun by planning ahead and using a bit of additional gear. At this free, in-person workshop Bike East Bay talked about:

• Seeing and being seen in the rain and low light conditions
• Equipment to consider
• Clothing and accessories options
• Keeping yourself and your bike clean
• How to improve bike handling and avoid crashes on wet streets

*MTI was a proud co-sponsor of this workshop.

WTS-SF Bay Area and the Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) of San Jose State hosted this free virtual event "Connect for Your Career: An Introduction to Professional Associations in Transportation" that introduced university students and emerging professionals to transportation organizations that offer networking, professional development opportunities, and/or scholarship opportunities. 

Participating organizations include:

• American Planning Association (APA) 
• American Public Transportation Association (APTA)
• American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
• Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT)
• Association of Environmental Professionals (AEP)
• Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO)
• Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE)
• Latinos in Transit (LiT)
• National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO)
• Transportation Research Board (TRB)
• US High Speed Rail Association (USHSR)
• Women's Transportation Seminar (WTS)
• Young Professionals in Transportation (YPT)

View Recording.

View Slides.

MTI Student Association hosted a free virtual event to learn tips for perfecting students' scholarship applications for a better chance at funding their education. Speakers joined from transportation associations such as the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO), California Transportation Foundation (CTF), and Women's Transportation Seminar (WTS). Attendees learned about each association's scholarship programs.

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

View Recording.

View Slide Deck.

Step into the future of transportation at this Bay Area in-person summit to consider how abundant, affordable, accessible, and safe transportation transforms the ways we move and live. Connect and collaborate with industry leaders, elected officials, disability & environmental justice advocates, and more in a discussion moderated by Mineta Transportation Institute’s Executive Director Dr. Karen Philbrick. Don’t miss this opportunity to be at the forefront of change and discover how we can thrive as a region!

Keynote: Carl Guardino, Chair, California Transportation Commission

Moderator: Dr. Karen Philbrick, Executive Director of the Mineta Transportation Institute

Speakers:

● Mountain View City Councilmember Margaret Abe Koga

● Nathaniel J. Arnold III, Vice President of ATU 192

● Supervisor Cindy Chavez, Santa Clara County

● Dylan Fabris, San Francisco Transit Riders, Voices for Public Transportation

● Christine Fitzgerald, Silicon Valley Independent Living Center, Voices for Public Transportation

● Ren Fitzgerald, Chair of the Berkeley Transportation and Infrastructure Commission, UC Berkeley Student

● Political Director, Rudy Gonzalez, San Francisco Building Trades

● Lateefah Simon, Bay Area Rapid Transit Board Director

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

The 2024 “Research to Practice” Transit Symposium took placeOctober 22-24, 2024. The symposium was hosted online and streamed on YouTube. As the transit industry is poised to take advantage of the largest transit and rail investment in our lifetimes, the symposium provided a platform where transit experts share insights on how evidence-based research is being or can be, used to make the most of these opportunities in a changing environment. This year’s symposium focused on the following topics:

• Transit leaders’ perspectives on the future of transit
• Practical applications of transit data
• Transit fare policy
• Transit equity
• Women in transit
• Transit infrastructure costs
• Transit research implementation

The Symposium was convened by a partnership between APTA, California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), University of Florida Transportation Institute, the T-SCORE University Transportation Center, and the Mineta Transportation Institute. 

View Day 1 Recording

View Day 2 Recording

View Day 3 Recording

MTI was joined by eager middle school students, dedicated parents, and passionate educators at the Garrett Morgan Sustainable Transportation Competition Information Night. This event served as a gateway to an extraordinary national STEAM competition crafted to educate and engage students by solving our nation’s critical transportation issues. Participants learned how they can participate in the competition, and win prizes as we revealed this year’s Get Going, Go Green competition prompt. 

Learn more about the competition: https://transweb.sjsu.edu/workforce-development/garrett-morgan-program

View the Recording.

View the 2025 Competition Prompt.

Viva CalleSJ (pronounced Vee-Va Ka-Ye SJ) is a free recreational program that closes miles of scenic San José streets. 

Viva CalleSJ’s route takes participants through some of San José’s most eclectic and historic neighborhoods. The open street events bring people and communities together to walk, bike, skate, play and explore the explore the city like never before! It is not a race, so you can start anywhere and have as much fun as you want, in either direction.

MTI was a proud co-sponsor of this event.

SVBC's 14th Annual Silicon Valley Bike Summit is the region's leading gathering for active transportation leaders and advocates. New this year was the Youth Leaders in Active Transportation Award, recognizing the contributions of young advocates. This event provided an opportunity for like-minded individuals to connect, gain insights, and help shape the future of cycling in Silicon Valley and beyond. 

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