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Past Webinars
MTI organizes or participates in several transportation-related webinars each year. You can find leading transportation experts at all of these webinars, making them an excellent resource for professional and research insights.
| Dates | Events |
|---|---|
April 9, 2025 |
Garrett Morgan Competition Career Night (2025) - Online How will automation and urban technology redefine our cities? What role do engineers play in building sustainable, resilient infrastructure? At the Garrett Morgan Competition Career Night, we explored these questions and more about the future of transportation careers with two experts shaping the industry. Dr. Billy Riggs, professor at the University of San Francisco and director of the Autonomous Vehicles and the City Initiative, discussed his career in automated mobility and transportation innovation. Andrea Mosqueda, a licensed professional engineer, shared her perspective on what it’s like designing roads, bikeways, and drainage systems to meet the challenges of modern cities. Guest Speakers:
View the Recording.View the Slide Deck.About the Speakers Andrea Mosqueda, PE is a Project Engineer with Ardurra. With over 7 years of experience, she has contributed to and led design efforts for numerous general civil, transportation, stormwater, and structural engineering projects in California including several large-scale public works infrastructure projects. An active member of ASCE, Andrea has advanced the profession through her commitment to professional and community activities including K-12 and college student outreach. Andrea holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Stanford University and a M.S. in Civil Engineering with a structural focus from CSULB. William (Billy) Riggs, PhD is an MTI Research Associate. He is also a professor at the University of San Francisco, and the director of the Autonomous Vehicles and the City Initiative. He is an expert in the fields automated mobility and future transportation, urban technology and sustainable urban development in the face of climate change. He has authored over 100 publications, including the 2022 Mineta Transportation Institute report, Blockchain and Distributed Autonomous Community Ecosystems: Opportunities to Democratize Finance and Delivery of Transport, Housing, Urban Greening and Community Infrastructure. Dr. Riggs is the author of two books, most recently, End of the Road: Reimagining the Street as the Heart of the City, which envision a distributed and sustainable future for our cities. |
March 11, 2025 |
Electrifying Transit: Zero-Emission Buses in the U.S. - Online 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:
Moderator: Karen Philbrick, PhD, Executive Director, Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) View Recording.View PDH Credit.View Presentation Slides.About the PresentersMTI Researcher; Manager, Rebel Group
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. MTI Researcher; Manager, Rebel Group
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. |
March 5, 2025 |
Berlin, Beijing, Bakersfield: Station Design Insights for U.S. Rail - Online 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 #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:
View Recording.View PDH Credit.View Presentation Slides.About the SpeakersEric 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. |
February 12, 2025 |
The German Case: Rail Stations to Connect the World - Online 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 #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 KeylTobias 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. |
January 15, 2025 |
The Spanish Case: Transformacion Rápida - Online 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 #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 RomoEduardo 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. |
December 11, 2024 |
The French Case: Stations as City Boosters - Online 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 - The French Case: Stations as City Boosters Join Fabrice Morenon, PhD, Managing Director of French Railways international branch, as he explores how French rail stations serve as catalysts for urban and regional growth. Drawing on notable examples from stations in larger cities like Lyon and Bordeaux, as well as smaller cities like Besançon, Dr. Morenon will reveal how iterative design processes and public-private partnerships transform stations into powerful economic and mobility hubs. In the first of this webinar series, discover how French development principles can inspire high-speed rail success in the U.S. Featured Guest: Fabrice Morenon, PhD, Managing Director, SNCF Hubs & Connexions Moderator: Eric Eidlin, Station Planning Manager, City of San José Department of Transportation
View Recording.View PDH Credit.About Fabrice Morenon, PhDFabrice 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). |
November 20, 2024 |
Connect for Your Career: An Introduction to Professional Associations in Transportation (2024) - 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 transportation organizations that offer networking, professional development opportunities, and/or scholarship opportunities. Participating organizations include:
View Recording.View Slides. |
November 13, 2024 |
Perfecting Your Scholarship Application (2024) - Online 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. |
October 22, 2024 to October 24, 2024 |
2024 “Research to Practice” Transit Symposium - Online 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:
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 RecordingView Day 2 RecordingView Day 3 Recording |
September 25, 2024 |
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 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. |
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