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
September 16, 2021	MTI Research Snaps Webinar: "Roadblock Up On The Cloverleaf: Workforce Development for the Trucking Industry" - Online The trucking industry transports goods essential to our everyday lives. In recent years, the industry has faced workforce dilemmas such as driver shortages and high turnover—and supply chain issues stemming from the pandemic only amplify these problems. How can we ensure this important workforce remains functional and efficient? How does trucking fit into the future of transportation? This webinar explored truck driver recruitment and retention as well as other broader industry trends. View Recording. View Slides.
September 8, 2021	Progressive Parking Policies: A Conversation with Prof. C.J. Gabbe & Students - Online The City of San Jose considered reducing the regulations it placed on parking to allow development to occur more easily. On August 27th, the City Council held a study session on this. What would these changes mean? Could they be beneficial for San Jose? How will they impact the next generation of San Joseans? Catalyze SV & Mineta Transportation Institute held a dynamic panel bringing together Professor C.J. Gabbe of Santa Clara University and his Environmental Studies and Sciences students. *MTI was a proud co-sponsor to this informative event. View Recording.
July 22, 2021	MTI Research Snaps Presents "Google It: Microtransit Pilot Via2G and the Future of Commuting" - Online This webinar found alternatives to solo driving can help reduce congestion, improve air quality, and reduce parking demand. In October 2019, Google contracted the company Via to launch a new on-demand microtransit commute option called Via2G. This webinar discussed three months of pilot operations to understand the trends, challenges, and successes of microtransit commuting. The Via2G program enjoyed increasing popularity over time, providing more than 7,500 rides to nearly 900 Google employees. Most trips were relatively short, suggesting the program complemented peoples’ existing commute modes. Findings suggested future program iterations should seek ways to minimize deadheading, focus future programming and outreach on employees who always drive and/or complete errands on the commute trip, and extend program hours. View Recording. View Slides.
June 17, 2021	MTI Research Snaps Webinar: "Using Twitter to Model Traffic Flows" - Online This webinar discussed how Twitter data can be used to understand and explain travel patterns in the relation between commuting and non-commuting trips. Local and regional planners struggle to keep up with rapid changes in mobility patterns, but researchers looked at whether geo-social network data can help. When comparing a robust data set of tweets from the Bay Area to US Census LODES data, researchers found that the data closely matched, and concluded that the common practice of employing LODES data to extrapolate to overall traffic demand is indeed justified. Regardless of trip purpose (e.g., shopping, regular recreational activities, dropping kids at school), the LODES data is an excellent predictor of overall road segment loads. View Recording. View Slides.
June 11, 2021	12th Annual Mineta National Transportation Policy Summit presents 'Electrifying the Transportation Future' Transportation policymakers face two overlapping, once-in-a-generation opportunities: electrifying the nation’s vehicle fleet and re-establishing a stable source of federal and state revenue for transportation. As states and the Biden administration begin a push to rapidly electrify the US fleet for climate reasons, policymakers are under increasing pressure to rethink how states and the federal government fund transportation infrastructure and services. For decades, motor fuel taxes have generated the majority of state and federal funds spent on transportation, even if recently these taxes have been losing their purchasing power. However, a shift to electric vehicles will require a new transportation funding model. The speakers will discuss the challenges and opportunities with such options as mileage fees, carbon taxes, higher vehicle registration fees, or a shift entirely away from user-generated revenue. View Recording \| View Program \| View Flyer \| View event page on Commonwealth Club website \| View past MTI's National Transportation Policy Summits
May 18, 2021	MTI Research Snaps Webinar: "Curb Chaos: Managing the Curb After COVID" - Online In recent years, curbspace has become more diverse and complex necessitating strategies for managing competition between multiple modes and types of users. This webinar featured policies, best practices, and lessons learned for managing curbspace in complex built environments and discussed recent changes in response to the global pandemic. Topics discussed include: Fees for access and use; Prioritizing access for public transportation, cyclists, pedestrians, older adults, youth, and people with disabilities; Geofencing to limit curb access; and Pricing; and other related strategies. View Recording. View Slides.
April 22, 2021	MTI Research Snaps Webinar: "Will AVs Do Away with Traffic Fines and Fees?" - Online This webinar discussed how widespread autonomous vehicle use impact traffic law violations and current government revenue schematics. States and localities have the opportunity to rethink and replace current practices since these vehicles will likely commit fewer traffic offenses. Governments can begin to reallocate resources that are currently invested in writing these tickets, defending the charges, and pursuing the debts in addition to re-evaluating the considerable equity issues that autonomous vehicle adoption may further highlight. View Recording. View Slides.
March 18, 2021	MTI Research Snaps Webinar: "Digital Butts in Seats: Creating Interesting, Engaging Virtual Events" - Online By now, we've all adjusted to Zoom meetings and online events, but are you utilizing technology's potential or was there a scramble to move everything digital with a "Phew! That'll do." attitude? In a survey by HubSpot, only 23% of companies were set up for remote work prior to COVID-19; 51% of companies weren't prepared for remote work at all and had to quickly pivot their in-person strategies. However, online events and in-person events were not created equal. This misunderstanding has led to day-long, butt-numbing virtual conferences, Zoom fatigue, and challenges maintaining team enthusiasm and participation. Sound familiar? With a few simple tips, you can learn the formula for effectively engaging your online community. Webinar discussed: Understanding participant attention: online vs. in-person events Creating memorable and effective content Utilizing the right technology View Recording.
March 4, 2021	MTI Research Snaps Webinar: "TODs and Park and Rides, Which is Appropriate Where?" - Online In the quest for environmental quality as the pandemic subsides, many urban planners understand and appreciate that housing located within walking distance of rail stations and bus stops motivates many local residents to choose commuting on buses and trains rather than driving. But what about those park-and-ride (PnR) facilities for the commuters who choose to live in places beyond walking distance to transit? Attendees listened to the new research-based evidence on where parking provides a boost to bus and train ridership that is double to four times the impact of transit-adjacent housing. This webinar started the discussion of how transit agencies should react to the research. View Recording. View Slides.
February 16, 2021	Safe Routes to School in 2021: Let’s Walk the Walk - Online As schools prepare to fully reopen, how can Safe Routes to School programs (SRTS) help prepare for the resurgence of children walking and rolling through busy intersections? MTI researchers analyzed the relationship between the presence of SRTS programs and the likelihood that children will travel to school by active modes. They also identified the potential to bolster existing SRTS programs by leveraging university student and city partnerships. Both of the research projects featured in this webinar dive into the racial and geographical demographics of the student population in areas with SRTS programs at different stages of implementation. View Recording. View Slides.