Past Events

The Mineta Consortium for Transportation Mobility organizes or participates in numerous transportation-related events each year. Details about past events, including links to presentations and other relevant resources, when available, are listed below.

Dates Events
January 7, 2024 to January 12, 2024  TRB Presentations 2024

MTI Research Associates and affiliated researchers presented at the 103rd 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. 

Listed below is a summary of many of the presentations, workshops, and poster sessions where MTI researchers showcased their research. 

Sunday, January 7

Title / Session ID / Presenters (MTI affiliates in bold) Time

Innovative Microtransit 2.0

Workshop Session 1071 and Session 1031 - Accelerating Mobility Innovation: Overcoming Challenges and Re-envisioning Opportunities

Adam Cohen

9:00 AM - 4:30 PM

 

Learning about Street Harassment on Transit

Workshop Session 1010 - Standardizing Transit Survey Data

Asha Weinstein Agrawal

*Funded by MTI.

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

 

Misconduct on Public Transit: An Exploratory Analysis Using the Comments Formerly Known as Tweets

Workshop Session 1033 - How Transit Agencies Navigate Within Our Communities in Crisis

Asha Weinstein Agrawal, Dr. Egbe-Etu Etu

*Funded by MTI.

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

 

Unsolicited Advice: How to Rethink Procurement and Enable Innovation

Workshop Session 1012 - Open Innovation: Public Sector Engagement with the Private Sector to Advance Innovation

Joshua Schank, Bart Treece, Eric Raamot

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

 

History, training, and future of pavement preservation and pavement maintenance

Workshop Session 1064 - How Pavement Preservation and Maintenance Relate and the Tools and Techniques for Each

DingXin Cheng

1:30 PM - 4:30 PM

 

Establishing Multi-institutional Collaborations

Workshop Session 1039 - Early Academic Successful Careers: Resources and Advice

Karen Philbrick

1:30 PM - 4:30 PM

 

Effective Scientific Communication and Outreach

Workshop Session 1039 - Early Academic Successful Careers: Resources and Advice

Susan Shaheen

1:30 PM - 4:30 PM

 

Monday, January 8

Transportation Data Utilization in Local Governments’ Sustainable Land Use Decisions

Lectern Session 2026 - The Land Use–Transportation Feedback Loop: New Data and Insights

So-Ra Baek, Dohyung Kim

*Funded by MTI.

8:00 AM - 9:45 AM

 

Can Electric Vehicle Carsharing Bridge the Green Divide? A Study of BlueLA's Environmental Impacts Among Underserved Communities and the Broader Population

Lectern Session 2025 - Standing Committee on Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Mitigation

Susan Shaheen, Ziad Yassine and Elliot Martin

8:00 AM - 9:45 AM

 

Modeling of Multi-hazard Warning Dissemination Time Distributions: An Agent-based Approach

Poster Session 2052 - Advances in Critical Transportation Infrastructure Resilience

Mohammad Rayeedul Kalam Siam, Michael Lindell, Haizhong Wang

8:00 AM - 9:45 AM

 

Exploring Seamless Integration and Policy Implications for Enhanced Interoperability in Mobility on Demand

Lectern Session 2064 - Innovations in Mobility Services: Enhancing Integration, User Choices, and Policy Implications

Jodi Godfrey​, Vishal C. Kummetha, Sisinnio Concas, Lisa Staes

10:15 AM - 12:00 PM

 

Pedestrian Performance of New Alternative Intersections with Three-Phase Traffic Signals

Lectern Session 2072 - Safely Designing and Operating Intersections for All Pedestrian Abilities

Anurag Pande​​, Zhiliang Luo, Amirarsalan Mehrara Molan, Joseph Hummer, Stephen Osafo-Gyamfi

10:15 AM - 12:00 PM

 

Driver’s License for Undocumented Immigrants and Bus Ridership in Orange County, Ca

Poster Session 2112 - Public Transportation Market Research and Pricing Policies: Results and Implications for Practice

Jean-Daniel Saphores, Dr. Farzana Khatun

10:15 AM - 12:00 PM

 

How Will California's Electric Vehicle Policy Impact State-Generated Transportation Revenues?

Poster Session 2218 - Emerging Topics in Economics and Finance

Asha Weinstein Agrawal, Humberto Tasaico, Hannah King

*Funded by MTI.

3:45 PM - 5:30 PM

 

What Do Americans Think About Mileage Fees and Gas Taxes? Results from Year 14 of a National Survey

Poster Session 2217 - Current Research in Economics and Finance

Hilary Nixon, Asha Agrawal, Adam Azevedo

*Funded by MTI.

3:45 PM - 5:30 PM

 

Mileage Fees as a Gas Tax Replacement: An Assessment of Public Support and Mileage Fee Rate Preference from a
National Tax Survey

Poster Session 2217 - Current Research in Economics and Finance

Hilary Nixon, Clare Nelson, Asha Agrawal, Gregory Rowangould

*Funded by MTI.

3:45 PM - 5:30 PM

 

Using Blockchain and Digital Currencies to Building and Finance the Future of Transportation Infrastructure

Poster Session 2216 - Current Research Topics in Public–Private Partnerships

William (Billy) Riggs, Vipul Vyas

*Funded by MTI.

3:45 PM - 5:30 PM

 

Analysis of Severity Outcomes for School Zone Crashes with an Equity Lens: A Random Parameters Modeling Approach

Poster Session 2236 - School Transportation and Planning Research

Anurag Pande, Ahmed Farid, Emily Lin

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

 

Tuesday, January 9

Infill Housing and Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT): A Framework to Support Decision-making for Affordable Housing Development

Lectern Session 3008 - At the Intersection of Development and Transport: Affordability, Vehicle Miles Traveled, and Mode Shifts

Hilary Nixon, Peyton Ratto, Nick Sauciur Shams Tanvir, Anurag Pande, Shishir Mathur

*Funded by MTI.

8:00 AM - 9:45 AM

 

Infill Housing and Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT): A Framework to Support Decision-making for Affordable Housing Development

Lectern Session 3008 - At the Intersection of Development and Transport: Affordability, Vehicle Miles Traveled, and Mode Shifts

Anurag Pande, Peyton Ratto, Nick Sauciur, Shams Tanvir, Shishir Mathur, Hilary Nixon 

*Funded by MTI.

8:00 AM - 9:45 AM

 

End of the Road: Reimagining the Street as the Heart of the City

Lectern Session 3018 - Reimagining the Roadside: Form, Function, and So Much More

William (Billy) Riggs

8:00 AM - 9:45 AM

 

Sustainability Measures of ESCS Backfills for Buried Structures

Lectern Session 3013 - Backfill Considerations, Fire Resistance, and Construction of Culverts and Buried Bridges

Fariborz Tehrani

8:00 AM - 9:45 AM

 

Anti Human Trafficking Strategies for Transportation Agencies

Lectern Session 3078 - Anti Human Trafficking Strategies for Public Transit Agencies

Jodi Godfrey, Lisa Staes

10:15 AM - 12:00 PM

 

Anti Human Trafficking Strategies for Public Transit Agencies

Poster Session 3119 - Responding to Natural and Humanmade Disasters of Different Scales: Our Society and Our Efforts

Jodi Godfrey, Lisa Staes

10:15 AM - 12:00 PM

 

Blockchain and Distributed Autonomous Community Ecosystems: Opportunities to Democratize Finance and Delivery of Transport, Housing, Urban Greening and Community Infrastructure

Lectern Session 3084 - Roadway Context and the Community: Serving Everyone’s Needs

William (Billy) Riggs, Vipul Vyas

*Funded by MTI.

10:15 AM - 12:00 PM

 

Examining the Externalities of Highway Capacity Expansions in California: An Analysis of Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) Using Remote Sensing Technology

Lectern Session 3198 - Tools and Technology for Managing and Examining Roadside Landscape Assets

Serena Alexander

*Funded by MTI.

3:45 PM - 5:30 PM

 

Best-Value Weighted Criteria Award Algorithm: Does the Number of Non-Cost Criteria in the Equation Matter?

Poster Session 3219 - AKC 20 (Project Delivery Methods) Poster Session

Maria Calahorra-Jimenez, Gustavo Garcia-Melero

3:45 PM - 5:30 PM

 

Towards a Siting Criteria for Edge Lane Roads and Shared Streets

Poster Session 3214 - Bicycle Safety, Planning, and Design: Research to Support Better Bicycling Conditions

Anurag Pande, Michael Williams, Ashok Parasa, Marcial Lamera, Aleksandar Bauranov, Carole Voulgaris 

*Funded by MTI.

3:45 PM - 5:30 PM

 

Linking LCA and EPD for Jointed Reinforced Internally Cured Concrete Pavements

Poster Session 3222 - Advancement in Pavement Preservation

Fariborz Tehrani

3:45 PM - 5:30 PM

 

A Random Intercept Latent Transition Analysis (RI-LTA) of Consumer Spending Across Online and In-Person Channels
Through the Pandemic

Poster Session 3216 - The Effects of Information and Communication Technologies on Transportation Choices

Susan Shaheen, Hani Mahmassani, Divyakant Tahlyan, Amanda Stathopoulos, Maher Said, Joan Walker

3:45 PM - 5:30 PM

 

Electrification and Justice for All? A Review of Transportation Literature Through the Lens of Equity and Justice

Poster Session 3224 - New Research in Transportation Equity

Susan Shaheen, Aqshems Nichols, Joan Walker

3:45 PM - 5:30 PM

 

Poster Session

Poster Session 3229 - Vehicle-Highway Automation Posters, Part 2

William (Billy) Riggs

*Funded by MTI.

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

 

Wednesday, January 10

TWO RODE, BUT NOT TOGETHER: Gender Commuting Trade-Offs in Two-Worker Households

Lectern Session 4017 - Family Structure and Needs: Impact on Gendered Travel Patterns

Jean-Daniel Saphores, Dr. Rabiul Islam

8:00 AM - 9:45 AM

 

Shared Micromobility Fees: Current Patterns, Impacts, and Best Practices

Poster Session 4027 - Omnibus Session on Bicycle Modeling and Shared Micromobility Research

Kevin Fang

8:00 AM - 9:45 AM

 

Recruitment and Retention of Transportation Construction Inspectors

Lectern Session 4011 - Gaining Perspective in Construction Management

Manideep Tummalapudi, Christofer Harper

8:00 AM - 9:45 PM

 

Integrated Advanced Air Mobility with Landside First- and Last-Mile Connections

Lectern Session 4067 - Integrated Advanced Air Mobility with Landside First- and Last-Mile Connections

Adam Cohen

*Funded by MTI.

10:15 AM - 12:00 PM

Success of Incentives to Stimulate Sustainable Commuting Mode Choices of Tech Industry Office Professionals

Poster Session 4073 - Transportation Demand Management, Tolling, and Congestion Pricing Poster Session

Mike Pogodzinski, John Niles

*Funded by MTI.

10:15 AM - 12:00 PM

 

Restaurant Food Consumption in the Time of the Pandemic - A California case study

Lectern Session 4017 - Current Trends in Agriculture and Food Transportation

Jean-Daniel Saphores, Dr.Bumsub Park

10:15 AM - 12:00 PM
November 8, 2023  Connect for Your Career: An Introduction to Professional Associations in Transportation  -  Online

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 Northern California transportation organizations that offer networking, professional development opportunities, and/or scholarship opportunities. 

Participating organizations include:

  • American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC)
  • American Planning Association (APA
  • 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)
  • Intelligent Transportation Society of California (ITS California)
  • Latinos in Transit (LiT)
  • Women's Transportation Seminar (WTS)
  • Young Professionals in Transportation (YPT)

View Slides.

View Recording.

October 24, 2023 to October 26, 2023  2023 “Research to Practice” Transit Symposium  -  Online

As the transit industry is poised to take advantage of the largest transit and rail investment in our lifetimes, the symposium provides 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:

  • Practical applications of transit data
  • Transit fare policy
  • Transit equity
  • Transit marketing and outreach strategies
  • Transit-centered multimodal integration (e.g., MaaS)
  • Transit apps and digital payments
  • Microtransit and automated shuttles
  • Bus fleet electrification
  • Post-COVID ridership recovery strategies
  • Opportunities and challenges to 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. 

September 21, 2023  Best Practices in Disaster Public Communications

When disaster strikes and an emergency notification is issued, people are often unsure how to act. They may spend time “milling,” checking in with friends and neighbors, scrolling through sources and social media—trying to decide whether the alert applies to them. Research has shown this can be life threatening. Looking at how community members responded to alerts during the SCU and CZU complex wildland fires in 2020, experts Dr. Frances L. Edwards and Dan Goodrich examine disaster public communications best practices. How can public agencies collaborate with social media organizations to get the right messaging out? How do we ensure messaging engenders immediate, life-saving action? The researchers have also proposed an app that could assist in eliminating time spent milling by speeding up social media investigation by sorting messages via GIS coordinates, time, and more to ensure community members are reading the messages most relevant to them. This webinar, presented during National Preparedness Month, helped viewers gain valuable insights and explore innovative solutions in disaster communication.

View Recording.

View Slide Deck.

View & Download PDH Certificate.


About the Panelist

Frances L. Edwards, PhD
Deputy Director, National Transportation Security Center

Frances L. Edwards, MUP, PhD, CEM, is professor emeritus of political science at San José State University, following 17 years as the Director of the Master of Public Administration program. She is the Deputy Director of the National Transportation Security Center at the Mineta Transportation Institute. A Certified Emergency Manager with over 20 years’ professional experience in California, she has served as acting assistant fire chief for the San José Fire Department, as Budget Analyst for the Irvine, California Police Department, and as Assistant to the City Manager in Florham Park, New Jersey. 

 

Dan Goodrich
Senior Transportation Security Scientist

Daniel C. Goodrich, MPA, CEM, MEP is a Senior Transportation Security Scientist with the Mineta Transportation Institute at SJSU, and the instructor for “Security Issues for Transportation Professionals” in the Master of Science in Transportation Management program. He is a Certified Emergency Manager, a Master Exercise Practitioner, a Professional Continuity Practitioner and a Certified Security Specialist. He provides emergency management planning and training support to Caltrans and Santa Clara Valley Transit Authority. 

Presenters: Frances L. Edwards, PhD and Dan Goodrich
September 20, 2023  Garrett Morgan Sustainable Transportation Competition: Information Night

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 #VisionZero2030 competition prompt. 

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

View the Recording.

View the Slide Deck.

View the 2024 Competition Prompt.

July 10, 2023 to July 28, 2023  Mineta Summer Transportation Institute (MSTI) 2023  -  San José State University

MTI's 2023 MSTI was held weekdays, July 10-28, 2023, M-F 9am-3pm at San José State University. While engaging in stimulating hands-on STEM activities and venturing on exciting local field trips, students learned about transportation innovation and earned 3 transferable college credits in Environmental Studies from San José State University. This program was completely free and open to high school students. 

This program was delivered in partnership with Caltrans and is a crucial step toward building the transportation workforce pipeline. 

View the Program Page

View 2023 Calendar of Activities

June 28, 2023  Light Rail to Lunch

Light Rail to Lunch encouraged local San José youths to get familiar with VTA’s public transit system. At this event, Catalyze SV, Mr. Barricade, and VTA led participants on a tour around the newly developed area in North San José to highlight features that support the community. The event also included a career panel with VTA.

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

June 25, 2023 to June 29, 2023  2023 WTS Capital Summit  -  College Park, MD

The WTS Capital Summit, a signature program of Transportation YOU, offers students an opportunity to meet transportation industry thought leaders, government and administration officials, and college students beginning their own career journeys in the industry. Historically, the Summit brings high school-aged mentees and transportation professional mentors to the Washington, D.C. area for a 4-day summer program of tours, lectures, and interactive experiences showcasing careers in transportation. Students register to attend the Summit through WTS Chapters.

The Summit provides participants experience in engineering challenges, professional development and leadership skills development, networking events, local tours, and opportunities to learn about core transportation development components, such as accessibility, livable communities, and urban planning. Tours may include the U.S. Department of Transportation; the U.S. Capitol and U.S. Congress, local airports, highway research facilities, the Washington Area Metropolitan Transit Authority (Metro), live engineering projects, port operations, and other transportation hubs. The Summit also encourages student attendees to consider a wide variety of future undergraduate and advanced degree opportunities... STEM, engineering, and beyond.

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

June 24, 2023  31st Annual Awards Banquet and Convocation Celebration  -  San José, CA

To ensure the efficient movement of people and products, we must prepare a new cohort of transportation professionals who are ready to lead a diverse, inclusive, and equitable transportation industry. To that end, MTI held its 31st Annual Banquet and Convocation Celebration at San José State University on June 24, 2023. Joined by our distinguished Board of Trustees, we celebrated our 2023 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.

June 2, 2023  Getting to Zero Deaths on Our Roadways: Is the IIJA up to the Challenge?  -  Online

14th Annual Mineta National Transportation Policy Summit

The United States faces a public health crisis on its roads. In 2021 alone, almost 43,000 people died in traffic crashes and millions more suffered serious injuries. Secretary Pete Buttigieg calls the situation a preventable crisis—one for which we must take responsibility by recognizing that human lives are not a price to pay for modernity. New funding available through the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) provides a significant opportunity to reduce crashes through infrastructure redesign. The Mineta Transportation Institute and a panel of national experts discussed the role of infrastructure redesign in achieving a national goal of zero traffic fatalities.

See here for more information and recordings from past events in the series.

View Program

View Recording

View & Download PDH Credit

CM Credit

   
Featured Speaker Fireside Chat Moderator
Robin Hutcheson Karen Philbrick

Robin Hutcheson

Administrator
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Karen Philbrick, PhD

Executive Director
Mineta Transportation Institute
   
   
Keynote Speaker Keynote Speaker Q&A Moderator
Jennifer Homendy Paula Hammond

Jennifer Homendy

15th Chair
National Transportation Safety Board

Paula Hammond

Multimodal National Market Leader, WSP
Chair, American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) Board of Directors
   
     
MTI Safety Survey Presenter Panelist Panelist
Asha Weinstein Agrawal Mayor Ravi Bhalla Beth Osborne

Asha Weinstein Agrawal, PhD

Director
MTI National Transportation Finance Center

Ravinder S. Bhalla

Mayor
City of Hoboken

Beth Osborne

Vice President for Transportation and Thriving Communities
Smart Growth America
     
     
Panelist Panelist Panel Moderator
Emily Schweninger Tony Tavares Beth Osborne

Emily Schweninger

Senior Policy Advisor, Transportation Health and Safety
U.S. Department of Transportation

Tony Tavares

Director
California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)

Selika Talbott

MTI Research Associate;
Founder and CEO
Autonomous Vehicle Consulting
 
     
May 25, 2023  Cycling Past 50  -  Online

Most people learn to ride a bike as a child, but when do they stop cycling? May is National Bike Month, and MTI is investigating the habits of older adults who cycle with the nationwide 50+ Cycling Survey. Carol Kachadoorian, an MTI Research Associate and founder of dblTilde CRE, Inc., initiated the survey in 2018, and it has since examined the cycling habits and preferences of thousands of adults ages 50 to 85-plus. Year 5 of the 50+ Cycling Survey will begin soon, and you can be a part of it. How can our growing understanding of older cyclists affect policy, programs, design, and practice? Join us to discuss health and mobility and to dig into ways this information can be used by engineers, planners, advocates, and more.

*0.5 PDH credit available

View & Download PDH Certificate

View Recording

View Slide Deck


About the Panelist

Carol Kachadoorian
MTI Research Associate; Executive Director, dblTilde CORE, Inc.

Carol has a breadth of knowledge of and expertise in transportation planning and operations, working at both the city and regional levels, including school- and community-based active transportation plans and older adult mobility. She recognizes the importance of both big data and personal experience to determine feasible changes that make travel by all modes safe, accessible, and comfortable for all ages and abilities.

Carol has spoken nationally and regionally on the need to revise long-standing perceptions of older adults through words and images. She developed a typology of older adults’ physical activity levels that can help encourage mobility and wellness. The Mineta Transportation Institute published her pioneering work, Cycling past 50: A Closer Look into the World of Older Cyclists, and hosted the 50+ Cycling Survey Year 4. Results from the survey will be available in the Fall 2023.

Presenters: Carol Kachadoorian
May 18, 2023  2023 MSTM Capstone Showcase  -  Online

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 and key issues in the field of transportation.

May 16, 2023 to May 17, 2023  US High Speed Rail Conference 2023  -  Washington, D.C.

Members of Congress, government and elected officials, business leaders, and investors came together with the world's top experts to bring state-of-the-art high speed rail to America. The conference included discussions on critical topics, such as:

  • America's High-Speed Rail Revolution: Fast-Tracking the Tipping Point
  • The Biden Administration's Vision for High-Speed Rail
  • Silver Bullet Solution: Elected Officials Roundtable on High-Speed Rail
  • The Global High-Speed Rail Revolution and China's Bullet Train Empire
  • Accelerating the U.S. High Speed Rail Program and Project Delivery
  • California High-Speed Rail: America's Game-Changing Megaproject
  • Building Integrated Rail Networks: Linking to Amtrak and Regional Systems
  • World-Class Station Design and Transit Oriented Development
  • Decarbonizing the U.S. Transportation System with High-Speed Rail
  • Projects of National Significance: Ready for Major Funding
  • Pathways Toward a National High-Speed Rail Network
  • Made in America: An Industrial Strategy for U.S. High-Speed Rail
  • Scaling Up Private Sector Participation and Investment
  • Leveraging High-Speed Rail to Address the Cost of Living Crisis
  • Transforming the Politics of High-Speed Rail
  • Next Steps Toward America's High-Speed Rail Revolution

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

May 1, 2023 to June 7, 2023  SVBC's Bike Month and Bike to Wherever Days

Whether you bike to work, school, shops, parks, libraries, or just wherever, biking is fun, and good for you and our environment. Bicycling is one of the biggest ways you can reduce Climate Change as well as improve your health!

May was Bike Month and May 18, 19 and 20 were Bike to Work/Wherever Days!

We want as many people as possible to get in the habit of bicycling for transportation rather than driving a car. Did you know that it’s possible to move more stuff using your bike than most people can fit in a car? Check out Carrying Things by Bike. And did you know if you choose to bike rather than drive you can save 1 million dollars?  See below for many fun things you can do during Bike Month and Bike to Wherever Days!

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

Major Bike Month Events

  • 4/6 — Bike Commuting (Online class).

  • 4/11 — Smart Cycling (Part 1 - Online class). Learn how to ride just about everywhere from busy streets to crossing the US.

  • 4/19 — Smart Cycling (Part 2 - In person) - Turn classroom learning into muscle memory and practice on real streets under expert supervision.

  • 4/23 — Viva Calle San Jose — A super Open Street event for all that is not to be missed.

  • 4/26 — Basic Bike Maintenance (In person) — Get your bike ready for Bike Month!

  • 5/1-31 — Bike Month — All month.

  • 5/1 — Biking Basics (Online) — Learn the essentials to keep you safe when bicycling.

  • 5/13 — Volunteer BTWD bag stuffing.

  • 5/15 — Volunteer BTWD bag distribution to energizer stations.

  • 5/16 — Basic Bike Maintenance (In person).

  • 5/18 — Bike To Work Day. With Energizer Stations across San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Concludes with Bike Bash events.

  • 5/18 — Bike Bash party.

  • 5/19-20 — Bike to Wherever Days. With Energizer Stations across San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.

  • 5/19 — San Jose Bike Party.

  • 5/24 — Smart Cycling (Part 1 - Online) Learn how to ride just about everywhere from busy streets to crossing the US.

  • 5/28 — Smart Cycling (Part 2 - In person) - Turn classroom learning into muscle memory and practice on real streets under expert supervision.

  • 6/7 — Family Biking (Online).

April 28, 2023  Transport and the Triple Bottom Line Summit 2023: Transit Lessons Learned from the Pandemic (So Far)  -  Online

The Transport and the Triple Bottom Line Summit sought to explore the concept of 'sustainable transport,' leaving attendees with a fuller understanding, and most importantly, a definition for the term. Panelists and speakers included an array of national experts, practitioners, and scholars on social equity and transport, the environmental impact of transport, financial mechanisms for secure and continuous operations, as well as, decision-makers currently involved in California's notable public-private partnerships. Further, conference panelists included leaders in the advocacy, public, private, P3, and nonprofit sectors. Integrating existing discourse and studies on sustainability and Elkington's and Savitz's Triple Bottom Line, attendees leave with a holistic and objective definition of sustainable transport, allowing all parties the ability to confidently and equally assess and explain such transport.

View Agenda

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

April 27, 2023  Combating Human Trafficking in Transportation (2023 Caltrans Safety Awareness Week)  -  Online

Human trafficking, a form of modern slavery, is the recruitment, transport, and/or transfer of persons using force, fraud, or coercion to exploit them for acts of labor, services, or sex. It is the fastest growing organized crime with approximately $150B in annual profits. Because trafficking relies on the transportation network to recruit, move, and transfer victims and to move goods produced by forced labor, the transportation industry plays a critical role in preventing and combating human trafficking.  Transportation can also be a gateway for survivors to leave their trafficking situation and obtain aid to rebuild their lives. 

For 2023 Caltrans Safety Awareness Week, the Mineta Transportation Institute hosted a one-hour webinar featuring expert panelists to showcase efforts to combat human trafficking in the United States. Experts discussed these critical questions: How can industry employees protect loved ones & our community? How can we learn to identify risk factors and signs of human trafficking when in the transportation system? 

Watch the recording to learn more about the role of transportation industry stakeholders in facilitating effective prevention training programs and increasing accurate victim identification, as well as putting in place survivor-centered and trauma-informed response protocols.

View the Recording 

View the List of Resources

View & Download PDH Certificate


About the Panelists

  • Paul Chang, Regional Anti-Human Trafficking Coordinator, US Department of Labor – Wage and Hour Division

Paul Chang serves as the Regional Anti-Human Trafficking Coordinator at the U.S. Department of Labor – Wage and Hour Division. In his 28+ years with the agency, Paul worked on some of the most celebrated cases as an investigator and Assistant District Director. He developed numerous training materials and programs, including the Enterprise Model that focuses on strategic approaches to prosecution, protection, and prevention of forced labor. Paul served as the National Co-Chair of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) Regional Network. Paul is also a lecturer at Cal State LA’s MPA program and Vanguard University on Human Trafficking. He is the recipient of numerous Secretary’s Awards and community honors, including the 2019 Global Center for Women and Justice Diamond Award.

  • Evelyn Chumbow, Operations Manager and Survivor Advocate, 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.

  • Aston Greene, Chief of System Safety and Security, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA)

  • Polly Hanson, Senior Director, Security, Risk and Emergency Management, American Public Transportation Association (APTA)

Polly Hanson coordinates with APTA stakeholders to develop transit security, risk and emergency management standards and policies. She serves as the Vice-chair of the TSA Surface Transportation Security Advisory Committee. Previously Ms. Hanson was the Chief of Police for AMTRAK, where she led a national police department responsible for protecting over 30 million passengers and 20,000 employees. Additionally, as the Chief of the Metro Transit Police in D.C., she led a tristate police department and directed the response to the terrorist attacks in Madrid and London. She received WMATA’s Carmen E. Turner Award, and the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) named Ms. Hanson a “Woman Who Moves the Nation.” Ms. Hanson is a member of the Operation Lifesaver, Inc Board of Directors.

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.

Presenters: Paul Chang, Evelyn Chumbow, Aston Greene, Polly Hanson, Dr. Kezban Yagci Sokat
April 23, 2023 VivaCalle @ SJSU

Viva CalleSJ was a free program that temporarily closes miles of San José streets to bring communities together to walk, bike, skate, play, and explore the city like never before. Attendees could enter through any of the side streets to join thousands as they wander through activity hubs, watch live art being created, see demonstrations of BMX specialists, purchase food from local food trucks, stop at a bike maintenance tent, grab water from one of the many water stations, hang out to watch a band or two, or play a few games. 

This year, SJSU was an official activity hub! At the SJSU Activity Hub, attendees all kinds of fun activities, including

  • Join the SJPL Makerspace[ship] Bus
  • Enjoy dancing from many cultures with Mosaic America
  • Speak with Council Member Omar Torres' office
  • Build a new city with SJSU Urban Planning
  • Learn how to say greetings in one of San José's many languages
  • Play games with SJSU Athletics
  • Learn about and take a selfie at the Cesar Chavez Arch
  • Dance to the marching band
  • Make some art
  • Participate in exercise demos
  • Win some swag from prize wheels
  • Purchase food from on-site food trucks

MTI was a proud co-sponsor of the SJSU Urban Planning's activity hub. 

March 21, 2023  When Women Lead: Strategies to Advance Equity

In celebration of Women’s History Month, the Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) and the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) hosted a conversation with a diverse panel of women transportation leaders representing academia, public and private industries, and the nonprofit sectors as they shared personal stories from their careers and lessons learned as they rose to the top. 

Moderated by April Rai, CEO of COMTO and a member of the MTI Board of Trustees, this webinar delved into a critical issue faced by the transportation industry: How are we prioritizing women and other traditionally underrepresented voices to build the most inclusive and effective transportation workforce for our future? What can their success stories teach us about the values of empowering women? 

Speakers:

  • Melissa Figueroa, Chief of Strategic Communications, California High-Speed Rail Authority (CAHSRA)

  • Dr. Karen Philbrick, Executive Director, Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI)

  • Kimberly Slaughter, CEO, SYSTRA USA

  • Lynda Tran, Director of Public Engagement & Senior Advisor, U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)

Moderator: April Rai, President & CEO, Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO)

This event was co-sponsored by COMTO and WTS San Francisco Bay Area Chapter.

PDH Certificate

View Recording


About the Panelists

  • Melissa Figueroa, Chief of Strategic Communications, California High-Speed Rail Authority (CAHSRA)

As the Chief of Strategic Communications, Melissa oversees the communications branches for media, stakeholder engagement, special projects, and outreach. Melissa previously served as CalSTA’s Deputy Secretary of Communications and Strategic Planning; Deputy Secretary of Communications and External Affairs at the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency; and Deputy Secretary of Communications at the State and Consumer Services Agency. Before beginning work in the state’s executive branch, Melissa worked within the Legislature as Press Secretary for California State Senator Joe Simitian. Figueroa graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in 2002 with a degree in Journalism. She served as a student representative on the department’s advisory board and now serves on the Cal Poly Journalism Advisory Board.

Karen Philbrick is the executive director of the Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) at San José State University, a position she has held since 2014. MTI leads three multi university competitively selected consortia: the Mineta Consortium for Transportation Mobility (MCTM) funded by the US Department of Transportation, the California State University Transportation Consortium (CSUTC) funded by the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 (CA Senate Bill 1) and the Climate Change and Extreme Events Training and Research Program funded by the Federal Railroad Administration. 

Dr. Philbrick has received many prestigious awards for her leadership excellence and outstanding contributions to her field. She received the CUTC Administrative Leadership award, the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) named Dr. Philbrick a “Woman Who Moves the Nation,” the Silicon Valley Business Journal named Dr. Philbrick 1 of the 100 Women of Influence in Silicon Valley.

Kimberly Slaughter has been involved in the development of mobility solutions for over 30 years and has a wealth of experience in the transportation industry, working for planning, architecture/engineering consulting firms and public transportation providers. She is a graduate of the University of Texas in Austin with an MSc in Community and Regional Planning. Kim was appointed to head the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) subcommittee for the Mobility Restoration & Recovery Task Force. Kim has also served on the APTA Board of Directors and Business Members Board of Governors, Business Council of the African American Mayors Association, Women’s Transportation Seminar, and Conference of Minority Transportation Officials.

  • Lynda Tran, Director of Public Engagement & Senior Advisor, U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)

Lynda Tran serves as Director of Public Engagement and Senior Advisor to the Secretary. A longtime organizer and communicator with over two decades experience in policy, advocacy, and campaigns, Lynda returns to DOT after co-founding 270 Strategies, where she developed public engagement strategies for clients across the globe – including the Environmental Defense Fund, Oxfam America, United Way Worldwide, FAMM, the Black Economic Alliance, and the Economic Security Project. Recently, she was a senior strategist for Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy and served on the Board of Advisors for Higher Ground Labs and Battleground Texas. A CBS News Political Contributor through the 2020 cycle, she previously led teams for Organizing for America, then-Governor Tim Kaine, and SEIU.

  • (Moderator) April Rai, President & CEO, Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO)

April joined COMTO in December 2021 as President and CEO with nearly 20 years of experience managing private, public sector and non-profit organizations. Previously, April served as Deputy Executive Director for Women’s Transportation Seminar International (WTS), leading the management of operations, staffing and program management for 65 chapters across North America. Prior to joining WTS, April served as the CEO for the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS), a coalition of over 100 organizations and agencies dedicated to youth health and safety education. April’s current appointments include Board Member, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Board Member, Mineta Transportation Institute and numerous transportation related advisory boards.

March 18, 2023  Environmental Literacy Summit  -  Santa Clara County Office of Education, 1290 Ridder Park Drive, San José, CA 95131

The Santa Clara County Office of Education hosted their second annual Environmental Literacy Summit on Saturday, March 18, featuring guest speakers, student-led panels, interactive workshops, and an opportunity to connect with community-based partners.

Session Topics: 

  • Action & Advocacy in the Community 
  • Cultivating Green & Sustainable Campuses and Facilities 
  • School Gardens for Health and Education 
  • Inclusive Environmental Literacy Education 
  • Indigenous Knowledge & Land-Based Pedagogy 
  • Climate Action & Education 
  • Green Career Pathways 

*MTI was an exhibitor at this event. 

February 28, 2023  Voices of Impact  -  Online

This webinar was the fourth part of MTI Research Snaps' Advancing Transportation Equity series.

The Mineta Transportation Institute partnered with the California Planning Roundtable on Voices of Impact, an oral history project focused on identifying how past planning practices have impacted communities of color. The project highlights the voices of people who ordinarily may be reluctant to share their stories—to raise public awareness and to suggest how planning professionals and policy makers can change their practices in response. This film shares the unique stories of six individuals impacted by housing and land use policies enacted by federal, state and local governments and their successful community efforts for positive impact through emerging practices of equitable planning. This webinar shared critical perspectives that often go unheard, created a platform for historically underrepresented communities, and collaborated to find real solutions for injustice in our communities.

 

Watch the Project Video

Read ED Blog about the Project

 

 

View Recording

View Slide Deck

PDH Certificate

Discussion Guide


About the Presenter

Miguel Angel Vazquez, AICP, serves as the President of California Planning Roundtable. He is one of the first planners hired by a public health department in the nation. His role at the Riverside University Health System-Public Health is to strengthen the integration of planning and health through collaboration with non-traditional partners. The American Planning Association and affiliates have recognized his work and leadership with numerous awards, including the 2018 APA President’s Award and the 2020 APA California Distinguished Contribution Award.


About the Series

Transportation moves the world—impacting the lives of everyone, everywhere. Like many industries, transportation has dealt with its share of issues in equity. Transportation professionals work collaboratively to identify, analyze, and overcome inequities in the industry, acknowledging a sometimes-painful past to ensure that transportation policies serve all communities equitably

This February, we hosted a 4-part MTI Research Snaps series on “Advancing Transportation Equity.” In this series, MTI researchers discussed transforming equity in transportation as we reflected on some of the most pressing issues of diversity and accessibility in the industry as a whole and how to overcome them. 

Webinars include:

  • Webinar #1 | Feb 7, 12:30-1:00p.m. (PT) | Exploring the Use of Public Transportation Among Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A National Survey

  • Webinar #2 | Feb 14, 1:30-2:00p.m. (PT) | The Central Valley Transportation Challenge 

  • Webinar #3 | Feb 21, 12:30-1:00p.m. (PT) | Free Transit: It All Depends on How 

  • Webinar #4 | Feb 28, 12:30-1:00p.m. (PT) | Voices of Impact

Presenters: Miguel A. Vasquez, AICP

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Contact Us

SJSU Research Foundation   210 N. 4th Street, 4th Floor, San Jose, CA 95112    Phone: 408-924-7560   Email: mineta-institute@sjsu.edu