News from New York State Department of Transportation

For more information contact: Carol Breen, 518-457-6400

NYSDOT Experts Lead Discussions At National Forum

Contribute Knowledge, Insight to Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting

ALBANY, NY (01/14/2008; 1326)(readMedia)-- From how to manage an aging transportation infrastructure to keeping bridges safe and analyzing the impact of rising energy costs on personal travel, New York State has the experts to help others from our country and around the world to do a better, more efficient and productive job.

This week, key members of the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) are in Washington, D.C., to share their knowledge with an international audience at the Transportation Research Board’s (TRB) 87th Annual Meeting.

NYSDOT professionals will attend specialty workshops and moderate discussions in their field of expertise at the meeting, which runs from January 13 to 17, 2008.

The conference brings together more than 10,000 transportation officials from around the world to share knowledge and perspectives regarding the latest developments in transportation research, policy and practice

NYSDOT Commissioner Astrid C. Glynn said, “This transportation forum gives experts from the State Department of Transportation the opportunity to share their ideas on a national platform on issues such as the environment, materials usage and economics. It also gives us the chance to exchange information with other states and learn new strategies for more effectively implementing transportation policy and programs.”

Discussions moderated by NYSDOT experts include:

• Transportation Operations and Ecology: Working In and Around Water. This session will examine the need for caution when implementing transportation projects in or near aquatic sites. It will also consider recent federal regulatory changes and ways to limit or avoid impacts to the environment when building or maintaining transportation infrastructure. Moderated by Debra A. Nelson.

• Policy Research to Address Our Aging Infrastructure: Keys to Robust Research Programs. This session will examine the reasons for including policy research in transportation planning and what affect policy research can have on the handling of aging assets. Moderated by Gary A. Frederick.

• Partnering to Respond to the Perfect Snowstorm: Colorado, New York and Pennsylvania Experiences. This session will examine NYSDOT’s emergency response to two consecutive storms that dumped more than eight feet of snow in upstate New York in less than two weeks, and will explore the method for partnering with other states during emergency operations. Moderated by David Clements.

• Evaluation and Analysis of Bridge Foundation Elements and Approaches. This session will examine the techniques and materials used to support and stabilize bridge structures. Moderated by Robert A. Burnett.

• Travel Data Users Forum: How Will the Changing Cost of Energy Affect Personal Travel? This session will examine the economic history, trends and impacts of the relationship between energy pricing and travel behavior. Moderated by Nathan S. Erlbaum.

The TRB Annual Meeting covers all transportation modes, with more than 3,000 presentations in 600 sessions addressing topics of interest to policy makers, administrators, practitioners, researchers and representatives from government, industry and academic institutions.

The TRB is a division of the National Research Council, a private, nonprofit institution serving the research needs of government, the public and the scientific and engineering communities. Based in Washington, D.C., TRB strives to provide leadership in objective, interdisciplinary, multimodal transportation innovations and progress through research and information exchange.

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