WASHINGTON — Transportation industry leaders, policymakers, administrators, and researchers will gather in person from Jan. 7 to 11 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., for the 103rd annual meeting of the Transportation Research Board (TRB). The meeting’s program covers all transportation modes with hundreds of sessions and workshops related to a variety of topics including energy and the environment, equity in transportation, infrastructure and supply chains, multimodal urban transport, and aviation. 

Panel sessions and special events include: 

Chair’s Plenary Session
Featured speakers include U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, who will also join the New Materials for Infrastructure session. Additionally, there will be a fireside chat on mental wellness of transportation construction workers and others in the transportation workforce. 
Wednesday, Jan. 10, 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET 

New Materials for Infrastructure: Reinventing the Roadway, Runway, and Railway
Organized at the request of Secretary Buttigieg, this USDOT-led workshop will focus on innovative durable materials, including green and low embodied carbon infrastructure materials, bio-engineered materials, and other topics related to decarbonizing the infrastructure supply chain.
Wednesday, Jan. 10, 3:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET 

Thomas B. Deen Distinguished Lecture
This year’s lecture, “Shifting Gears: Reflections on the Role of Researchers in Shaping the Ideas that Shape Transportation,” will be given by Susan Handy, director of the National Center for Sustainable Transportation and professor of environmental science and policy at the University of California, Davis.
Monday, Jan. 8, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET 

Chair’s Plenary Session
Featured speakers include U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, who will also join the New Materials for Infrastructure session. Additionally, there will be a fireside chat on mental wellness of transportation construction workers and others in the transportation workforce. 
Wednesday, Jan. 10, 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET 

New Materials for Infrastructure: Reinventing the Roadway, Runway, and Railway
Organized at the request of Secretary Buttigieg, this USDOT-led workshop will focus on innovative durable materials, including green and low embodied carbon infrastructure materials, bio-engineered materials, and other topics related to decarbonizing the infrastructure supply chain.
Wednesday, Jan. 10, 3:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET 

Thomas B. Deen Distinguished Lecture
This year’s lecture, “Shifting Gears: Reflections on the Role of Researchers in Shaping the Ideas that Shape Transportation,” will be given by Susan Handy, director of the National Center for Sustainable Transportation and professor of environmental science and policy at the University of California, Davis.
Monday, Jan. 8, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET 

Sessions with U.S. and State Department of Transportation officials include:

U.S. Department of Transportation: Achieving Vision Zero: Advances in Roadway Safety
USDOT, tribal, state, and local officials will share advances and innovations in their work to achieve Vision Zero (zero traffic deaths) in this session moderated by U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation Polly Trottenberg.
Monday, Jan. 8, 10:15 a.m. to noon ET 

U.S. Department of Transportation: National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization at One Year
Carlos Monje, undersecretary of transportation for policy at the USDOT and officials from the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Environmental Protection Agency will take stock of recent progress, discuss how they are working together to transform transportation, and announce priorities as the nation works to realize a decarbonized transportation sector.
Monday, Jan. 8, 1:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. ET

 Why Risk Matters: A Fireside Chat with State Department of Transportation Leaders
Managing risk across agencies, within programs, and at the project level is a critical factor in ensuring safety, accessibility, and reliability throughout the transportation system. Chief executives from the California, Connecticut, Georgia, and Minnesota transportation agencies will talk about how they approach risk.
Monday, Jan. 8, 3:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET 

 State DOT Roundtable: Maximizing Investment, Safety, and Workforce Together
This session will examine how state DOTs can get the most out of the historic federal investments in infrastructure, improve safety, and develop our workforce. It will feature commissioners, directors, and secretaries of the Delaware, Connecticut, Missouri, Puerto Rico, and Washington departments of transportation.
Tuesday, Jan. 9, 10:15 a.m. to noon ET 

Transportation Leaders Ask: What Can Artificial Intelligence Do for Me and to Me?
A panel of senior transportation agency leaders from Delaware, Nevada, Utah, and Vermont will discuss their expectations and concerns about how artificial intelligence will affect their roles, and how they might achieve the most value from AI for themselves and their customers.
Tuesday, Jan. 9, 10:15 a.m. to noon ET 

State DOT CEO Roundtable: Envisioning and Realizing the Next Era of America’s Transportation Infrastructure
This session, featuring the leaders of the Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Texas, and Utah departments of transportation, will focus on the continuing efforts to create a transportation system centered on connecting communities, moving people and goods, and meeting customer needs at all scales, delivered as a partnership between state DOTs and other public, private, and civic organizations. 
Tuesday, Jan. 9, 1:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. ET 

View from the Flight Deck: Perspectives from Federal Aviation Administration Leadership
This panel, featuring FAA leaders, will address strategic priorities of the agency such as pilot mental health, cybersecurity resilience, innovation, safety culture and risk management, and other key topics. It will be moderated by U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation Polly Trottenberg.
Tuesday, Jan. 9, 3:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET

U.S. Department of Transportation: Achieving Vision Zero: Advances in Roadway Safety
USDOT, tribal, state, and local officials will share advances and innovations in their work to achieve Vision Zero (zero traffic deaths) in this session moderated by U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation Polly Trottenberg.
Monday, Jan. 8, 10:15 a.m. to noon ET 

U.S. Department of Transportation: National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization at One Year
Carlos Monje, undersecretary of transportation for policy at the USDOT and officials from the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Environmental Protection Agency will take stock of recent progress, discuss how they are working together to transform transportation, and announce priorities as the nation works to realize a decarbonized transportation sector.
Monday, Jan. 8, 1:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. ET

 Why Risk Matters: A Fireside Chat with State Department of Transportation Leaders
Managing risk across agencies, within programs, and at the project level is a critical factor in ensuring safety, accessibility, and reliability throughout the transportation system. Chief executives from the California, Connecticut, Georgia, and Minnesota transportation agencies will talk about how they approach risk.
Monday, Jan. 8, 3:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET 

 State DOT Roundtable: Maximizing Investment, Safety, and Workforce Together
This session will examine how state DOTs can get the most out of the historic federal investments in infrastructure, improve safety, and develop our workforce. It will feature commissioners, directors, and secretaries of the Delaware, Connecticut, Missouri, Puerto Rico, and Washington departments of transportation.
Tuesday, Jan. 9, 10:15 a.m. to noon ET 

Transportation Leaders Ask: What Can Artificial Intelligence Do for Me and to Me?
A panel of senior transportation agency leaders from Delaware, Nevada, Utah, and Vermont will discuss their expectations and concerns about how artificial intelligence will affect their roles, and how they might achieve the most value from AI for themselves and their customers.
Tuesday, Jan. 9, 10:15 a.m. to noon ET 

State DOT CEO Roundtable: Envisioning and Realizing the Next Era of America’s Transportation Infrastructure
This session, featuring the leaders of the Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Texas, and Utah departments of transportation, will focus on the continuing efforts to create a transportation system centered on connecting communities, moving people and goods, and meeting customer needs at all scales, delivered as a partnership between state DOTs and other public, private, and civic organizations. 
Tuesday, Jan. 9, 1:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. ET 

View from the Flight Deck: Perspectives from Federal Aviation Administration Leadership
This panel, featuring FAA leaders, will address strategic priorities of the agency such as pilot mental health, cybersecurity resilience, innovation, safety culture and risk management, and other key topics. It will be moderated by U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation Polly Trottenberg.
Tuesday, Jan. 9, 3:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET

Additional program highlights:

Equity and Safety 

Travel Barriers to Accessibility and Practices in Improved Americans with Disabilities Act Implementation
Monday, Jan. 8, 8 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. ET 

Older Adults, Travel Options, and Barriers to Accessibility
Monday, Jan. 8, 10:15 a.m. to noon ET 

A Movement Toward Reparative Transportation and Community Building: The Aftermath of Urban Freeway Planning, Locating, and Construction
Tuesday, Jan. 9, 10:15 a.m. to noon ET  

Homelessness Within the Right-of-Way
Tuesday, Jan. 9, 1:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. ET 

Health and Equity at the Heart of Transportation Planning, Policy, and Practice
Tuesday, Jan. 9, 3:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET 

Inequities in Tribal Transportation Safety
Wednesday, Jan. 10, 8 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. ET 

Climate and Sustainability 

City and State Electrification: A Fully Charged Discourse on Resilience and Safety
Sunday, Jan. 7, 9 a.m. to noon ET 

Overcoming Challenges to Decarbonizing Transportation in Small and Rural Communities
Sunday, Jan. 7, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET 

Transitioning Toward Low Emission Vehicles in Urban Freight
Tuesday, Jan. 9, 10:15 a.m. to noon ET 

Connecting Communities with Clean Mobility
Tuesday, Jan. 9, 1:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. ET 

The Air We Breathe: Intersectionality of Sustainability, Resilience, and Society in Transportation and Public Health Wednesday, Jan. 10, 8 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. ET 

Technology 

The 2030 Aviation Ecosystem: Embracing Vehicle Technology from Uncrewed Aircraft Systems to Commercial Space Monday, Jan. 8, 10:15 a.m. to noon ET 

U.S. Department of Transportation: GPS at 50, Results for Transportation and New Threats
Monday, Jan. 8, 3:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET 

Evolving Consumer Choices, Smartphones, Remote Work, Information and Communication Technology, and Mobility Tuesday, Jan. 9, 1:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. ET 

City Department of Transportation Leadership Roundtable: Automated Vehicles Are on Our Streets. Now What? Wednesday, Jan. 10, 10:15 a.m. to noon ET 

Highway to Artificial Intelligence: Future-Proofing the Transport Sector
Thursday, Jan. 11, 9 a.m. to noon ET 

Equity and Safety 

Travel Barriers to Accessibility and Practices in Improved Americans with Disabilities Act Implementation
Monday, Jan. 8, 8 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. ET 

Older Adults, Travel Options, and Barriers to Accessibility
Monday, Jan. 8, 10:15 a.m. to noon ET 

A Movement Toward Reparative Transportation and Community Building: The Aftermath of Urban Freeway Planning, Locating, and Construction
Tuesday, Jan. 9, 10:15 a.m. to noon ET  

Homelessness Within the Right-of-Way
Tuesday, Jan. 9, 1:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. ET 

Health and Equity at the Heart of Transportation Planning, Policy, and Practice
Tuesday, Jan. 9, 3:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET 

Inequities in Tribal Transportation Safety
Wednesday, Jan. 10, 8 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. ET 

Climate and Sustainability 

City and State Electrification: A Fully Charged Discourse on Resilience and Safety
Sunday, Jan. 7, 9 a.m. to noon ET 

Overcoming Challenges to Decarbonizing Transportation in Small and Rural Communities
Sunday, Jan. 7, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET 

Transitioning Toward Low Emission Vehicles in Urban Freight
Tuesday, Jan. 9, 10:15 a.m. to noon ET 

Connecting Communities with Clean Mobility
Tuesday, Jan. 9, 1:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. ET 

The Air We Breathe: Intersectionality of Sustainability, Resilience, and Society in Transportation and Public Health Wednesday, Jan. 10, 8 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. ET 

Technology 

The 2030 Aviation Ecosystem: Embracing Vehicle Technology from Uncrewed Aircraft Systems to Commercial Space Monday, Jan. 8, 10:15 a.m. to noon ET 

U.S. Department of Transportation: GPS at 50, Results for Transportation and New Threats
Monday, Jan. 8, 3:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET 

Evolving Consumer Choices, Smartphones, Remote Work, Information and Communication Technology, and Mobility Tuesday, Jan. 9, 1:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. ET 

City Department of Transportation Leadership Roundtable: Automated Vehicles Are on Our Streets. Now What? Wednesday, Jan. 10, 10:15 a.m. to noon ET 

Highway to Artificial Intelligence: Future-Proofing the Transport Sector
Thursday, Jan. 11, 9 a.m. to noon ET 

Curated programs on critical issues in transportation, including climate change, equity issues, infrastructure, public health, safety, artificial intelligence, and electric vehicles and alternative fuels, are available here. Other notable topics with extensive coverage at the conference include aviation, energy and the environment, pedestrians and bicyclists, public transportation, and rail. 

A media room will be available to reporters in the Convention Center. Members of the media must register for access to the meeting. To register, please contact Paul Mackie (details below). 

Attendees can download the free annual meeting app to access information on the schedule of events, program participants, exhibitors, and more. To download, search for “TRB 2024” in the App Store or Google Play. To follow online conversations about the annual meeting, use the hashtag #TRBAM and follow TRB on X (formerly known as Twitter) @NASEMTRB.  

TRB is a program unit of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine — private, nonprofit institutions that provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions related to science, engineering, and medicine. The Academies operate under an 1863 congressional charter to the National Academy of Sciences, signed by President Lincoln.  

Contacts:

Paul Mackie, Director of Communications/Media
Transportation Research Board
202-334-2378; e-mail PMackie@nas.edu  

Joshua Blatt, Media Relations Officer
Office of News and Public Information
202-334-2138; e-mail JBlatt@nas.edu