1st Annual California PATH/UTC Conference -
On the Road to Sustainability: From Research to Practice
October 29 - 31, 2007

Transportation systems around the world are facing tremendous challenges that are economic, environmental and social in nature. In the United States, two key issues are becoming large drivers of policy changes and debate. First, global warming threatens our fragile environment. Policymakers, researchers and the public are increasingly looking to the transportation sector to reduce its impact. Second, the primary federal funding source for transportation, the Highway Trust Fund, will have a significant shortfall in just two years. Creative financing and demand management strategies are needed to sustain high quality transportation infrastructure and services.

California faces a special set of challenges. By 2025, California's population is expected to reach 50 million - a population larger than that of many nations. California's transportation system will have to meet the challenge of rapid growth while at the same time securing future economic prosperity, environmental quality and social equity.

This year's PATH-UTC conference addressed these critical issues. We examined the topic of sustainable transport from all angles -- technology, policy, planning, engineering, social and environmental impact, economics and finance.

The three-day conference was designed to bridge research and practice, with 35 presentations, a poster session, and ample time for participant comments, questions, and discussion. Conference participants will help shape the future agendas of the participating research groups by sharing ideas on needed improvements and innovative concepts.

See Website for more information, and to download the conference presentations: www.uctc.net/path-utc