Critical Issues Calls for Reassessing the Role of Transportation in Addressing Major Societal Challenges

• A massive shift away from fossil fuels to clean energy has begun that will require a complete turnover of hundreds of millions of motor vehicles by 2050 to help meet national decarbonization goals.
• Commuting to work has changed dramatically because of the COVID-19 pandemic in ways that pose significant threats to public transportation.
• Ten thousand more people died from road crashes in 2022 than 10 years ago.
• Society at large is grappling with the nation’s history of racial discrimination and increasing disparities in wealth and incomes.

The dynamic changes being driven by these and other environmental, public health, and socioeconomic forces require reassessing the role of transportation in addressing societal challenges and the research that informs the choices that society will need to make in 2024 and the coming years.

For the latest edition of Critical Issues in Transportation, released today, the Transportation Research Board’s Executive Committee chose to focus on five complex and broad societal goals, and the various ways that transportation is vitally important to them. We hope you find ways to connect Critical Issues to your work. The report is now available in full online.

Happy New Year,

Victoria Sheehan, TRB Executive Director

U.S. Transportation Secretary Buttigieg Will Participate in the TRB Annual Meeting

Hear from U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, who will join the conference for a portion of the Chair’s Plenary Session on Wednesday, January 10. The session will include a “fireside chat” on mental wellness for transportation construction and other workers, hosted by Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti, chair of TRB’s Executive Committee and commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Transportation. Secretary Buttigieg will also participate in a workshop titled “New Materials for Infrastructure: Reinventing the Roadway, Runway, and Railway.”

Make Your Next Career Move

Join us for TRB’s in-person Careers in Motion Networking Fair on Sunday, January 7. Be at this high-energy networking event to learn about available positions. Meet and chat with hiring managers, receive feedback on your qualifications, and learn about job opportunities first hand.

There’s Still Time to Register!

Don’t miss this opportunity to participate in the largest global gathering of transportation professionals and researchers. Online registration will remain open through the entire meeting, but you must register online before you arrive onsite.

Find What You're Seeking With the 2024 Mobile App

To download the TRB Annual Meeting mobile app, search “TRB 2024” in the App Store or Google Play. When opening the app for the first time, enter the same email address you used to register for the Annual Meeting. Then build your personalized itinerary! The app provides the most up-to-date and detailed information on all sessions, workshops, posters, and exhibits.

What Can You Expect from the TRB Annual Meeting? 

Search #TRBAM online to get a taste of the meeting or:

• See TREC at Portland State University's photo album
• Get an international perspective from City Lab Barcelona's Jordi Honey-Roses
• Read a summary of poster presentations from Tangent's representatives Eleni Vlahogianni, Panagiotis Fafoutellis, and Elena Mantouka
• Understand a first-time exhibitor's point-of-view from EBP's Jessica Wilson

Use the hashtag #TRBAM in your own posts to reach the largest audience.

A Note from TRB Executive Director Victoria Sheehan

As we celebrate the New Year, we find ourselves reflecting on the past year and thinking of those people who have helped shape the Transportation Research Board community and fulfill our mission in significant ways. May the moments you've all shared with family, friends, and colleagues inspire you as we look forward to a 2024 filled with hope, peace, and possibility. Wishing you an abundance of happiness and health. Happy New Year!

Transportation Research Record Seeks an Editor in Chief

TRB is seeking candidates for the inaugural Editor in Chief (EIC) of its flagship journal, Transportation Research Record (TRR), the most cited journal in transportation research. TRB invites a single individual or small team to apply to serve as Editor/s in Chief.

The EIC will be responsible for working with TRR staff and a team of about 50 Associate Editors and about 240 Handling Editors to shape, lead, and execute the journal’s editorial vision and to serve as TRB’s ambassador to the author, reviewer, and reader communities.

The deadline for applications and/or nominations is March 15.

Cooperative Research Program Annual Reports Now Available

Each year, TRB releases an overall Annual Report (coming soon!), but TRB's Cooperative Research Programs also each release their own yearly roundups. These are all online in full now and include:

• ACRP 2023 Annual Report of Progress
• BTSCRP 2023 Annual Report
• NCHRP 2023 Annual Report
• TCRP Annual Report of Progress 2023

Foundational Research Gaps and Future Directions for Digital Twins (National Academies)

January 25 - WTS is hosting Engaging with TRB: A Primer for WTS Members featuring TRB Executive Director Victoria Sheehan, Airport Cooperative Research Program Manager Marci Greenberger, and TRB Senior Program Officer Claire Randall. TRB is pleased to have an MOU with WTS. Register today!