UTC Fall 2024 Seminar Series

The impact and future of autonomous vehicle technology will be the focus of online presentations this fall.  Note the details below:

September 19: The debut Fall 2024 online Urban Transportation Center Seminar Series presentation will discuss the history and introduction of autonomous vehicles in Arizona and why Arizona is a prime location for AV testing. Featured speaker Amanda Kindle,  Stakeholder Relations Manager with ADOT/MVD, will also discuss current AV operations and regulations in Arizona. The presentation, which starts at noon, will close out with future plans related to more in-depth reporting and AV. Learn more and register.

October 17:  The second presentation will feature researchers from the University of Minnesota who will speak on on a recent study involving employing autonomous vehicle bus service to address last mile issues related to the Miller Hall Mall in Duluth.  Watch for details.

November 14: And, plans are underway to host a presentation on the role of AV in middle mile logistics, the part of a supply chain that moves goods from the port to the warehouse or distribution center.

UTC Spring 2024 Seminar Series

The outlook for paratransit services was the focus of UTC Seminar Series online presentations during the spring 2024 semester. Here are some details:

February 22: The debut UTC Seminar Series presentation for Spring 2024 focused on a wide range of issues and developments involving paratransit services across metropolitan Chicago.  Speakers from the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) tackled funding, right-of-way challenges, reduced fare programs, ADA paratransit eligibility and more.  We recorded the presentation, “The Outlook for Paratransit Across Metropolitan Chicago in 2024.”  Visit this link to access a Box folder with the zoom recording, audio only recording, Chat comments, and three presentations.

March 21: The second UTC Seminar Series presentation for Spring 2024 focused on the growth of paratransit services in Northeastern Illinois and a statewide initiative to provide paratransit vehicles to transit providers and non-profit organizations.  Featured speakers were Pace Suburban Bus  Executive Director Melinda Metzger and Zoe Keller, Illinois Department of Transportation Section Chief, Office of Intermodal Project Implementation.  Miss “The Evolution of Pace Paratransit and IDOT Consolidated Vehicle Procurement Program?” Visit this link to access a Box folder with the zoom recording, audio only recording, Chat comments and PowerPoint decks.

April 11: The final talk, “Hailing Uber While Wheeling,” featured Dr. Mahtot Gebresselassie, Assistant Professor at York University in Toronto.  The focus was on a recent study, “Wheelchair Users’ Perspective on Transportation Service Hailed Through Uber and Lyft Apps.” All are invited to visit this link to access a Box folder with the zoom recording, audio only recording, Chat comments and the PowerPoint presentation.