TRF 2024 Conference Agenda

Pre-conference activities

9:15 – 12:15 pm

TECHNICAL TOURS. Each tour involves approximately one mile of walking. They depart from the Van Metre Hall lobby shortly after 9 am and return to the conference venue at noon.

TOUR 1: WASHINGTON UNION STATION. This tour explores Washington Union Station (WUS) 's remarkable transportation role and plans for expanding and enhancing this iconic facility. We’ll learn about the challenges rail providers currently face, the anticipation of additional service in the year ahead, and efforts to revamp the station. Roundtrip Metrorail fare included.

TOUR 2: VIRGINIA RAILWAY EXPRESS COMMUTER RAIL & HIGHLIGHTS OF ALEXANDRIA. This tour features a technical discussion of the trends and innovations involving the commuter railroad’s headquarters and a walking tour. Our talks at VRE’s Alexandria Station and headquarters will be followed by a brief historically oriented Alexandria walking tour led by a local expert. Attendees can meet outside Van Metre Hall at 9 am or the VRE office at 1500 King Street at 9:40 am. We will travel using rideshare services to and from Alexandra, which is included with registration.

Conference Activities

1–1:25pm

The symbol + denotes graduate student presenter or co-author

WELCOME SESSION Room 120

• Introduction by Michael Edwards, Joseph Schwieterman, Emily Hamilton, and 2024 Host Committee. Screening of a four-minute film on TRF.

1:30–3pm

SESSION 1.0 FINANCIAL CHALLENGES IN THE HIGHWAY AND MARITIME SECTORS Room 120. Moderator: Alejandro Molnar, The World Bank

• Highway revenue impacts in the era of Electric Vehicles, Deepak Benny+, Samuel Labi, Chishala I Mwamba+, David Orlando Holguin Mejia+, Purdue University

• The Fate and Impact of Challenged Public-Private Partnership Projects: An Assessment of U.S. Experience, Jonathan Gifford, Carter B. Casady, Muhammet Mustafa Sever+, Marina Manganaris, Divya Rana, Cindy Quiroz, George Mason University

• Global Port Infrastructure Sufficiency Index, Ju Dong Park, Gyeongsang National University, Jan Hoffmann, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Seunghyun An, Korea Maritime Institute

  SESSION1.2 ANALYSISOFTHEDEMANDFORRAILTRANSITANDPASSENGERVEHICLETRAVEL Room 121, Andrew Jennings, transportation consultant

• Rail Rationalization and Ridership Response: Station Closures in Chicago, Gregory Newmark, Morgan State University, and John Allen

• Comparison and Evaluation of Factors Influencing Travel Demands between Rail Stations for the Washington D.C. Metrorail System, Md Saiful Alam+, Janna Kamilah Chapman+, Hiroyuki Iseki, Taylor Matthew Oshan, University of Maryland, College Park

• The Right Thing to Do? Demand Response Transit to Alleviate Transportation Insufficiency, Amy Hofstra, P. S. Sriraj, Kazuya Kawamura

  SESSION 1.3 SMALL-GROUP DISCUSSION Q&A WITH DC TRANSPORTATION PROFESSIONALS Room 118, Introductions by Emily Hamilton, DePaul University

• A conversation with Jeff Plungis, Principal of Transport Politic Communications, formerly Bloomberg News, 1:30 – 2:15 pm. Attendance is limited to 20.

• A conversation with Dana Yanocha, Senior Research Manager, Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, 2:20 – 2:55 pm. Attendance is limited to 20.

.3–3:20PM

COFFEE BREAK SPONSORED BY C. GREGORY BERESKIN

3:20- 4:50 pm

SESSION 2.1 IMPROVING THE MOBILITY AND SAFETY OF USERS OF TRANSPORTATION Room 120, Moderator: Piere Vilain, KPMG

• Spatiotemporal Modeling for Enhanced Road Safety: Bayesian Hierarchical Approach with INLA- SPDE in Analyzing Large Truck Crashes, Texas (2016-2021), Paul Olukoye Omulokoli+, Dr. Judith Mwakalonge, Dr. Saidi Siuhi, Dr. Gurcan Comert, South Carolina State University

• The influence of driver characteristics on willingness to pay for not meeting Heavy Goods Vehicles on rural roads in Norway, Stephen Nkesah+, Nord University, Norway

• Strategies of Integration with Innovative Mobility Options to Complement Public Transit Networks. Insights from the Chicago Metropolitan Area, Pietro Buffoni+, University of Illinois at Chicago

SESSION 2.2 SETTING PRIORITIES FOR STATE AND LOCAL TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENTS Room 121, Moderator: Gregory Newark, Morgan State University

• Rural Planning Organizations and State Departments of Transportation, PS Sriraj, University of Illinois Chicago

• The Importance of Transportation Policies in Local Elections, Xavier Harmony+, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

• An Optimization Model for maximizing Federal grants for State DOTs, Deepak Benny+, Samuel Labi, Saeel Shrivallabh Pai+, Purdue University

  SESSION 2.3 CASE STUDY IN LOGISTICS: TEMPERATURE AND TIME-SENSITIVE TRANSPORTATION (Concludes at 4:20 PM)
  Room 118, Moderator: Michael Edwards, University of Missouri – Saint Louis

  Poster setup starts at 4:30 pm, coordinated by Blythe Chesney, DePaul University.

  5:00- 6:30 pm

  POSTER SESSION, Multipurpose Room

• A new Eastern Bay Area Rapid Transit (Ebart) System as a Candidate for the next Chesapeake Bay Crossing Alternative, George Donohue, George Mason University

• A Study of the Efficiency of World’s Major Container Ports: A Data Envelopment Analysis Approach, Yongshin Park, Ju Dong Park, Gyeongsang National University and Yuan Xu,

• An Evaluation of the Gap between Supply Chain Management Curricula and Industry Demands, Christopher Mondy and Jill Bernard Bracy, University of Missouri – St. Louis

• Analysis of Distracted Pedestrians Crossing Behavior: An Immersive Virtual Reality Application, Methusela Sulle, South Carolina State University

• Built Environment Disparity: Assessing the Impact of Urban Design on Active Living across Different Socio-economic Groups in Los Angeles, Mintesnot Woldeamanuel, California State University, Northridge

• Commercial Motor Vehicle Rural Crash Prevention Dashboard Tools in North Dakota, Yun Zhou, Kimberly Vachal, Ihsan Ullah Khan, and Vimlesh Kumar, North Dakota State University

• Comprehensive Review of Distracted Driving Programs in the United States, Hongyun Chen, Charles H. Hruda, Keenan Hubbard, Amelia Lawson, Kiara Meggitt-Goff, Nolan Metz and Jacob Wilhelm, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

  Resilient Supply-Chain with Real-time EoT Visibility for Temperature and Time Sensitive Peter Yan and Shirley Hongping Shen, Cortex Innovation, Yulia Vorotyntseva, Saint Louis University, Hope Yen, University of Texas – Austin Transportation, St. Edward's University, Dalian Maritime University

• Determine the Impact of Access on Safety Performance of Pedestrian and Bicyclist, Charles H. Hruda, Amelia M. Lawson and Hongtun Chen, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

• Developing computer vision and sensor models for Parking facilities using Machine Learning techniques: Optimizing Parking Space Allocation, Eric Osei

• Distinguishing a Successful Transit Oriented Development, Aishwarya D Vanmali

• Drivers Route Preferences Involving Heavy Goods Vehicles in Rural Roads: A Choice Experiment,

  Stephen Nkesah, Nord University, Norway

• Avoidance Using

• Estimating Freight Transportation Emissions Through Freight Movement and Telematics Data, Mitra Salehi Esfandarani, Paul Ciannavei, Aleksandra Maguire and Paul Bingham, S&P Global Market Intelligence

• Examination of Urban Micromobility Dynamics: A Geospatial Analysis of Scooter Crash Hotspots and Temporal Pattern, Tumlumbe Juliana Chengula, Judith Mwakalonge, Saidi Siuhi, and Gurcan Comert, South Carolina State University

• Freight Rail Service: Were Delay Charges Higher During the COVID-19 Pandemic?, Elvis Ndembe, Prairie View A&M University

• Illinois Pedestrian-Oriented Riverfront Development, Emily Hamilton, DePaul University

• Mind the Gap: Illinois Residents and Regions Underserved by Amtrak and Bus Transportation,

  Alexandra Klimczak, DePaul University

• Navigating PPE Disruptions: Lessons Learn From 3M’s Pandemic Experience, Hsin Jung Huang,

  Min Han Tsai, Yi Hsuan Chan, Manisha Reddy Lankela, Yulia Vorotyntseva, Saint Louis University,

• Navigating PPE Disruptions: Lessons Learn From 3M’s Pandemic Experience,

• Synthesizing Research for Regional Rail Authority, Robert Munson,

• The Impact of a Country's Logistics Performance on Food Insecurity, Camil Martinez and Andres

  Naranjo, Los Andes University

• The role of socioeconomic and environmental factors on pediatric vehicular heatstroke (PVH)

  deaths and sentiment analysis: An investigation, Tumlumbe Juliana Chengula, South Carolina State University

  TRF RECEPTION: 5:30 – 6:30 pm
  Multipurpose Room
  Our reception will be held in the same area as the Poster Session. Brief remarks by the Annual Forum committee at 6:15 pm. Beer, wine, soft drinks, and light food items, including vegetables, flatbread, and pizza.

  Friday, April 5th, 2024
  The symbol + denotes graduate student presenter or co-author

Enhancing Road Safety: Investigating Animal-Autonomous Vehicle Collision

F1/10 Vehicles to Warn Human Drivers and Nearby Traffic, Denis Ruganuza, Paul Olukoye Methuselah Sulle , Dr Judith Mwakalonge , Dr Gurcan Comert , Dr Saidi Siuhi, South Carolina State University

Hsin Jung Huang, Min Han Tsai, Yi Hsuan Chan, Manisha Reddy Lankela, Yulia Vorotyntseva, Saint Louis University

8:45 am- 10:15 am

SESSION3.1 RELATIONSHIPBETWEENTRANSPORTATIONSYSTEMSANDECONOMICPERFORMANCE Room 118, Moderator: Ian Savage, Northwestern University

• Does rail transit access affect firm dynamics? Analysis of firm births and closures in Maryland, USA, Basheer Saeed, University of Duhok, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, Ph.D., Hiroyuki Iseki University of Maryland, College Park

• Urban and infrastructure determinants of freight cost in India, Alejandro Molnar, Forhad Shilpi, The World Bank

• Exploring the Association Between Road Traffic Fatalities and National Culture, Utpal Dutta, University of Detroit Mercy

  SESSION3.2 ISSUESINAIRPORTSANDAVIATION
  Room 120, Moderators: Michael Bomba, University of North Texas

• International Air Travel and Cruise Tourist Demand in The Bahamas, Dr. Tamilla Curtis, Dr. Li Zou, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

• Business Resilience in the European and US Airline Industries, 2018-2023, Aisling Reynolds- Feighan, University College Dublin

• The On-Time Performance Effects of a Policy Change in Airport Slot Restrictions: A Synthetic Control Analysis, Jules Yimga, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

  10:15 – 10:35 PM

  COFFEE BREAK SPONSORED BY TRF’s CHICAGO CHAPTER

  10:35 – 12:05 PM

  SESSION 4.1 AGRICULTURE TRANSPORTATION AND POLICY, SESSION 1, SPONSORED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA)
  Room 120, Moderator: Kranti Mulik, USDA

• Transportation Issues Affecting Fresh Food Distribution: A Comparison Study of Rural vs. Urban U.S., Regina M. Hirsch, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems (CIAS), Michelle Miller University of Wisconsin, Madison, Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems (CIAS), Ai Chih Chang New Jersey Institute of Technology, Junmin Shi New Jersey Institute of Technology

• Inferring impacts of weather extremes on the US crop transportation network, Theodoros Skevas, Wyatt Thompson, Benjamin Brown, Delmy Salin, Jesse Gastelle, University of Missouri

• Food Transportation and Price Impacted by Diesel Price and Truck-Driver Shortage Pre-, Amid and Post Pandemic, Jim Shi and Jasmine Chang

• Estimating the Determinants of Bulk Agricultural Truck Rates Across the U.S, Jake Wagner, Washington State University

  SESSION4.2 INTERNATIONALTRANSPORTATIONSYSTEMANDCONTAINERSHIPMENTS Room 118, Moderator: Moderator: Uptal Dutta, University of Detroit Mercy

• Maritime shipping industry adjustments to Covid, James Nolan and Zoe Laulederkind, University of Saskatchewan

• Two-way relationship between warehousing and distribution centers and maritime logistics clusters, Ricardo Ungo, Old Dominion University, Anthony Pagano, University of Illinois at Chicago

• Method and System for Container Inventory Management, Lalith Edirisinghe, CINEC Campus

• The Linkage Direction of Public Logistics Data in Korea, Jaesung Choi, Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements.

  SESSION 4.3 INTERNATIONAL LOGISTICS PERFORMANCE AND CROSS-BORDER FREIGHT Room 122, Moderator: Michael Edwards, University of Missouri – Saint Louis

• Understanding the Incidence and Consequence of Disruptions and Closures of Border Crossing Along the Texas-Mexico Border, Michael Bomba, University of North Texas

• The Relationship of Logistics Management and Transportation on Environmental Performance in Latin America, Anthony M. Pagano and Frank Mendez, University of Illinois at Chicago, and Sofia Karolina Villagrana Galindo, Monica Valeria Romero Cervantes, and Juan Jose Cabrera-Lazarini, Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey

• Measuring Relative Logistics Performance and the Impact of National Culture in the Post- Pandemic Environment, Carl Scheraga, Fairfield University

  12:10 – 1:40 pm

  TRF AWARDS LUNCHEON

  A hot buffet with vegetarian options will be served. Our program will include a brief TRF organizational update, our keynote speaker, and the 2024 TRF Awards, including Distinguished Researcher, Best Paper, Best Student Paper, and Best Poster Awards, with several cash prizes being awarded. Presentation of awards by Michael Edwards, University of Missouri – St. Louis, Ian Savage, Northwestern University, and Joseph Schwieterman, DePaul University.

  1:45 – 3:15 pm

  SESSION 5.1 AGRICULTURE TRANSPORTATION AND POLICY – SESSION 2 Room 118, Moderator: James Nolan, University of Saskatchewan

• Analysis of U.S. Containerized Grain, Dried Distillers Grains, and Other Feed Exports Trend,

• Estimating Demand and Supply Capacity of U.S. Hay Export to Korea, EunSu Lee, New Jersey City University

• The Impact of the U.S.-China Trade War on Air and Ocean Shipments, Li Zou, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Martin E. Dresner, University of Maryland, College Park, Chunyan Yu, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

  SESSION5.2 COSTESCALATIONANDPERFORMANCEOFTRANSPORTATIONSYSTEMSANDSTRATEGIES Room 120, Moderator: Baruch Feigenbaum, Reason Foundation

Multipurpose Room, Van Metre Hall
Keynote Speaker: Michael Sussman, Founder & CEO of Strategic Rail Finance and On Track North America.

• Inland Waterways System Funding: Problems and Solutions, Jay Derr, Reason Foundation

• Evaluating Advance Refunding Strategies in Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic in U.S.

  Transportation Infrastructure Projects, Jonathan Gifford, Carter Casady, Muhammet Mustafa

  Sever+, George Mason University

• Forecasting Regional Inflation and Costs for Transportation Agencies, Jung Bae, Andrew Komendantov, Elizabeth Shi, KPMG LLP SESSION 5.3

Room 121, Moderator:

INNOVATIONS IN HIGHWAY DESIGN TO PROMOTE EFFICIENCY AND SAFETY

Minseok Kim, Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration

3:15 – 3:30 PM

COFFEE BREAK

3:30 – 4:55 PM

SESSION 6.1 SUSTAINABILITY, CARBON EMISSIONS, AND ECONOMIC CYCLES IN TRANSPORTATION Room 118, Moderator: Jule Yimga, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

• Sustainability Analysis of Construction Projects with a CPM Schedule, Achintyamugdha Sharma, Priyanka Deka, Goutam Jois, Umesh Jois, Jois Construction Management

• Comparison of carbon emissions of infrastructure elements in rail, road, and air transport,Inga von Scheliha+, Juliane Roesing+, RWTH Aachen University

• Economic Cycles and Infrastructure Deployment, Richard Mudge, Compass Transportation and Technology

  SESSION6.2 CHALLENGESANDINEFFICIENCIESINPUBLICTRANSITANDTAXISERVICES
  Room 120, Moderator: Jack Ventura, TRF Washington Chapter, former Surface Transportation Board

• Solving the Airport Taxi Problem, Ray Mundy, Ph.D., University of Missouri - Saint Louis

• The Promises and Perils of a Free Rural Transportation Service in Northern Saskatchewan,

  Canada, Jacob Alhassan, University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine 

  Post-conference activities

  5:10 – 5:40 pm

  POST CONFERENCE MIXER at Uncle Julio’s at 4301 Fairfax Drive in Arlington, same location as dinner.

• Are We Back Yet? Identifying The New Normal Post-COVID Norms, Pierre Vilain, Lucile Kellis, M.Sc., Nicholas Daly, KPMG LLP

6–7:30pm

EVENING DINNER AND SOCIAL GATHERING ($50)

Join us for TRF’s post-conference dinner outing at Uncle Julio’s, a Mexican restaurant featuring “made- from-scratch” entrees and desserts. Attendees will be able to choose from a list of menu options, including vegetarian fare, and there will be a cash bar. Uncle Julio’s at 4301 Fairfax Drive in Arlington, next to a major hotel, is a 15-minute (0.7 mile) walk from the conference center and a half-mile from the Virginia Square Metro Station. Attendees can ride together if they prefer not to walk to and from the restaurant.

Saturday, April 6, 2024

Tour: Gathering at the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum’s Cafe for small-group discussion and an optional self-paced tour of the museum: 10:30 am – 11:30 am

All attendees are invited to participate in a small group discussion with several local transportation experts at the Cafe in the National Air & Space Museum at 600 Independence Boulevard on the Washington
Mall. After the discussions end at 11:30, attendees can visit the museum (which is free) at their own
pace. The museum is a 40-minute Metrorail ride from Van Metre Hall (fare not included). No advance registration is required!