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News & Updates

Virtual Conference on Research Needs in Transportation Planning Begins

Monday, March 8, 2010

“We’re at a time where we need to be able to show results and give people confidence that what we’re doing is making a difference,” said Kansas DOT Secretary Deb Miller as she opened the Plenary Session of this first ever Virtual Conference being held by AASHTO’s Standing Committee on Planning. An estimated 300 people attended the Plenary Session today. The Conference is being held to identify problems and challenges faced by the transportation planning community that research can help address.

A panel composed of Jim Cheatham, Director of the Office of Planning for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA); Michelle Maggiore, Program Director for Planning and Policy for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO); and Rich Denbow, Technical Programs Director for the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (AMPO) was moderated by Michael Grant of ICF International. Attendees were briefed on current research and technical assistance activities and resources available from FHWA, AASHTO and AMPO. Challenges and knowledge gaps facing transportation planning practitioners were also discussed.

Lori Sundstrom, Senior Program Officer for the National Cooperative Research Program outlined resources available from the Transportation Research Board and keys to getting new research done.

The Plenary Session is being followed by six Breakout Sessions. Dates and registration links for each of these sessions are available from this Web site and a special conference Web site at www.TransportationPlanningNeeds.com.

  • You can see and hear the entire Webinar in high-resolution video HERE.
  • Get a pdf file of the presentation slides including the two audience polls HERE.
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