Past Webinars

You are here

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
February 21, 2023 Free Transit: It All Depends on How  -  Online

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

How can the transportation industry improve equity and ensure it fairly serves all communities? Free (or fareless) transit is presented as part of a solution to many problems—low ridership, growing income inequality, racial discrimination, and even climate change. While it is wholly unrealistic to expect fareless transit to solve any of these challenges on its own, the fact that it is a popular idea presents a substantial opportunity. It is worth asking—how can the ideas behind free transit be combined with other policies to make significant progress toward these goals? In this webinar, attendees learned about how free transit, microtransit, and other efforts could make a major impact on equity in transportation and bringing fair, accessible transportation to all.

PDH Certificate

View the Recording

View the Slides 

Read the Presenters' Perspective Paper


About the Presenters

Joshua Schank holds a PhD in Urban Planning from Columbia University and a Master of City Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a Research Associate at the Mineta Transportation Institute, a Managing Principal at InfraStrategies, and a Senior Fellow in the Institute for Transportation Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Schank previously served as Chief Innovation Officer of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), President and CEO of the Eno Center for Transportation, and Transportation Policy Advisor to Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY).

Emma Huang is a Senior Consultant with InfraStrategies LLC. Emma previously worked as a Transportation Planner in the Office of Extraordinary Innovation at LA Metro. She has a Master of Public Policy from the University of California, Los Angeles.


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

February 14, 2023 The Central Valley Transportation Challenge  -  Online

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

Students from minority populations and those in rural communities may not have the same established routes to learn about and access educational and professional opportunities as their peers from majority groups. The Central Valley Transportation Challenge (CVTC) provides underserved minority students, who are primarily from rural areas, with high quality transportation-related educational experiences so that they learn about transportation-related topics and opportunities in transportation careers. The CVTC is a project-based learning program that brings university faculty and students to K–12 classrooms in rural areas. This project supported K–12 teachers, connected K–12 students with university faculty and students, and transportation professionals, and developed an online hub with transportation-related lesson plans and sequences. The onset of the pandemic meant the timing of the program was especially useful, providing students that were learning from home with an engaging learning experience and some relief for teachers who were already dealing with a lot of adjustments. In this webinar, attendees learned about how the CVTC program empowered underserved students and how this model and its hub can continue making a positive impact in transportation.

 

Read the Full Report

View the Recording

View the Slides

View Fresno State Transportation Institute's K-12 Resources

 

PDH Certificate


About the Presenter

Dr. Christian Wandeler is an associate professor in research methods and statistics at California State University, Fresno. He has a Ph.D. in personality and positive psychology from the University of Zurich, Switzerland. His research interests are in the development of hope and learning achievement, project-based learning, and self-managing teams. He is currently researching the use of agile learning methods and design thinking in action civics projects. 


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

February 7, 2023 Exploring the Use of Public Transportation Among Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A National Survey  -  Online

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

Millions of older adults rely on public transportation in their daily lives, but adults aged 65 years or older often face additional challenges accessing and using public transportation, and this population encountered even more barriers during the COVID-19 pandemic. How did limited mobility options (e.g., lack of buses or trains in service due a combination of government lockdowns, fear of contracting or spreading the virus, and driver shortages in certain areas) brought on by the pandemic affect older adults? Did transportation challenges result in more age-related declines in perceptual, cognitive, and physical functioning? This event explored how older adults living in major metropolitan cities in the United States used and perceived public transportation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Attendees learned about the potentials of mobile technology as an option for finding transportation information and how this study’s findings may help transit agencies develop effective strategies for meeting older adults’ transportation needs.

Read the Full Report

View Recording

PDH Certificate


About the Presenter

Dr. Egbe-Etu Etu is an Assistant Professor of Business Analytics at San José State University (SJSU). He is also a Research Associate in the Mineta Transportation Institute. Before joining SJSU, Dr. Etu received his PhD in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Wayne State University in 2021 and his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Covenant University, Nigeria, in 2016. His research interests center on the development of use-inspired machine learning models to solve challenging business problems in healthcare, manufacturing, and transportation. He is a member of the Industrial Engineering and Operations Management (IEOM), Institute of Industrial & Systems Engineering (IISE), and SAVE International.


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

January 24, 2023 Combating Human Trafficking in Transportation  -  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. According to the International Labor Organization, 49.6 million people were living in modern slavery in 2021, of which 27.6 million were in forced labor and 12% of all those in forced labor were children.

Human trafficking is the fastest-growing organized crime with approximately $150B in annual profits. Like any business, trafficking relies on the transportation network—to recruit, move, or transfer their victims and to move goods produced by forced labor. Therefore, the transportation industry plays a critical role in preventing and combating human trafficking, as well as providing access for many survivors trying to leave their trafficking situation and obtain aid to rebuild their lives. 

This National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, we hosted a one-hour webinar featuring expert panelists to showcase efforts to combat this issue in the United States. Discussions included the role of transportation agencies in facilitating effective prevention training programs and increasing accurate victim identification, as well as putting in place survivor-centered and trauma-informed response protocols.

PDH Certificate

View Recording

View Human Trafficking Resources List


About the Panelists

  • Paul Chang, Regional Anti-Human Trafficking Coordinator, US Department of Labor

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.

 

  • Holly Austin Gibbs, System Director Human Trafficking Response Program, CommonSpirit Health

Holly Austin Gibbs is the System Director of the CommonSpirit Health Human Trafficking Response Program. Holly oversees efforts to implement policies, procedures, and education that assists providers in identifying patients who may be impacted by human trafficking and in offering trauma-informed services. In 2014, Holly released a book titled Walking Prey: How America’s Youth are Vulnerable to Sex Slavery; and in 2019, she received the Sister Concilia Moran Award from the Catholic Health Association. As a survivor of child sex trafficking, Holly has testified before Congress and consulted for organizations including the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, and the AMBER Alert program.

  • 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.

  • Elizabeth Jespersen, Manager, Organizational & Human Capital Development, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA)

Elizabeth Jespersen has spent over 30 years in both the public and private sector of Transportation. As VTA’s Manager of Organizational and Human Capital Development, Elizabeth is responsible for all employee training and development programs. She previously served as the Supervisor of Organizational Development and Training. Elizabeth was deeply involved with Diversity and Inclusion initiatives including serving on VTA’s Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Committee and leading VTA’s Discover Opportunities in Transit grant partnership with the Federal Transit Authority. With the Director of Policy and Compliance, Elizabeth manages the Not On Transit Grant, which will provide federal dollars towards eliminating human trafficking in and around the VTA system.

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.

December 6, 2022 Addressing Freight Emissions in San José: Seven Objectives to Reduce GHGs  -  Online

Freight represents about 30% of transportation climate-damaging greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, but many local climate action plans and freight plans put little emphasis on freight emissions reduction strategies. Routes to Lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Freight Transportation in the City of San José presents strategies for the City of San José to reduce GHG emissions from freight. While this study focused on GHG emissions from freight in a single city, the lessons gleaned from this case can be applied broadly to other cities and regions. Communities seeking to meaningfully reduce greenhouse gas emissions must focus on emissions from freight as a major contributor. By managing freight demand, utilizing low emissions modes, focusing on the last mile, and other critical objectives, we can reduce the negative impacts transportation emissions have on human and environmental health.

Read the Full Report


About the Presenter

Dr. Serena E. Alexander is an MTI Research Associate and Associate Professor of Urban and Regional Planning and Director of Urban Online at San José State University. She is currently establishing the American Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) and Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP) collaboration platform to serve as a repository of best practices of climate action planning across the globe. She currently serves as Visiting Scholar at USDOT Climate Change Center.

View Slides

View Recording

CM Credit Certificate

PDH Certificate

November 2, 2022 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)
  • Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE)
  • Intelligent Transportation Society of California (ITS California)
  • Latinos in Transit (LiT)
  • Women's Transportation Seminar (WTS)

View Slides.

View Recording.

September 15, 2022 Beyond Crypto: Blockchain for Urban Development  -  Online

Nonprofits in Oakland are planting trees to help with carbon sequestration to address climate change with the help of blockchain technology—a system in which a record of transactions are maintained across several computers linked in a peer-to-peer network. Blockchain provides an effective mechanism to codify process steps, enables any qualified individual or entity to easily participate in the delivery of those services, removes the need for single entity contracts, and also effectively tracks execution of those services. The process of selecting trees, getting permits to plant those trees in the right spot, planting the trees, and verification of proper planting all happen on the blockchain, and because activity is broken down and managed at discrete transaction level, anyone can participate in the effort as long as they follow the rules set out in the blockchain. This expert research investigates and develops specifications for using blockchain and distributed organizations to enable decentralized delivery and finance of urban infrastructure and the potentials of blockchain to empower everyone to improve transportation systems and their communities. Webinar also included Q&A with the project authors.

CM Credit Certificate.

PDH Credit Certificate.

View Recording.

View Slides.

June 3, 2022 13th Annual Mineta National Transportation Policy Summit: Mapping the Route to Equitable Road User Charges

The accelerating transition to electric vehicles brings new urgency to discussions on how to replace fuel taxes with other broad-based, reliable sources of transportation revenue. From Wyoming to Delaware to California, more and more state legislatures are considering mileage fees, regions like the San Francisco Bay Area are considering expanded tolling, and New York City is within reach of adopting a congestion pricing proposal. Overlaying these discussions is a persistent call to consider the equity of any new charges on drivers. How will the charges impact low-income drivers? Does payment require access to banking tools that are not universally available? This event explored proposals including fee rates that vary by driver income, vehicle characteristics, or time and place, and equity-centered policies for responding to non-payment of tolls or other fees.

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

PDH Certificate

View Program

View Recording


Speakers: 

  • Featured Speaker: US Congressman Peter DeFazio, Chair, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for the 117th Congress

  • Keynote Speaker: Polly Trottenberg, Deputy Secretary, US Department of Transportation

    • Q&A will be moderated by Jeff Morales, Managing Principal, InfraStrategies, LLC

  • Panel Moderator: Stephanie Wiggins, Chief Executive Officer, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro)

  • Panelists:

    • Asha Weinstein Agrawal, PhD, Director, MTI National Transportation Finance Center

    • James Corless, Executive Director, Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG)

    • Reema Griffith, Executive Director, Washington State Transportation Commission

    • Hasan Ikhrata, Executive Director, ​​San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG)

May 26, 2022 2022 MSTM Capstone Showcase  -  Online

6:00 - 8:00p.m. (PT) | View Event Page

During this virtual event, 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.

April 26, 2022 How to Be Your Own Boss Without Going Broke or Crazy - Part 3  -  Online

In this last session of the series, attendees had a chance to learn from small business owners about their experience building their business, with a focus on branding and winning work. We also invited a large consulting firm to share their perspective on partnering with small businesses. 
Panelists include:

View Part 1 Recording

View Part 2 Recording

View Part 3 Recording

 

Pages

-

CSUTC
MCEEST
MCTM
NTFC
NTSC

Contact Us

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