Risk Management for Transportation Projects: Challenges and Opportunities

Presenter: Dr. Michael Garvin, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech

This webinar examines risks in major transportation projects further by presenting findings from a recent
investigation that identified how risks are typically allocated, which risks are particularly problematic, and how risk allocation and management can be improved. The findings make it clear that the allocation and management of risks such as those related to third-parties are a
significant challenge. Yet, strategies such as better counterparty communication and employing risk pools provide opportunities to remedy current problems in the market.

Equity Analysis at the Project Level

Presenter: Dr. Qinbing Cui, Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland

As infrastructure projects are planned and implemented, it is essential to ensure that they promote equity and value for all members of society. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Justice 40 initiative place a significant emphasis on equity analysis at the project level to ensure that federally-funded infrastructure projects prioritize equity and inclusion. This webinar will provide a comprehensive overview of equity analysis, highlight the resources available from the federal government, and demonstrate how equity analysis can be performed using a data-driven approach.

Doing More with Less: Maintenance-Oriented Strategies for Transportation Improvements

Presenter: Dr. Carter Casady, Research Engineer, Center for Sustainable Development and Global Competitiveness, Stanford University

The webinar addressed deferred maintenance, which is a challenge for many public agencies. It discussed methods for identifying infrastructure assets that are underutilized and possess untapped potential as well as maintenance-oriented strategies public agencies can employ to tackle deferred maintenance and maximize value in their transportation infrastructure portfolios.

Project Bundling: Issues, Benefits and Limitations

Presenter: Dr. Samuel Labi, Professor, Purdue University

The webinar considered project bundling, which is the combination of multiple projects into a single contract. Transportation agencies and key stakeholders want to better understand many aspects of bundling such as how to measure bundling benefits, empirical evidence on project bundling benefits, the limitations of project bundling, and which project-related and contract-related factors promote or inhibit bundling benefits.

Lemons to Lemonade: Leveraging Underperforming Retail Properties on Arterial Roads for Affordable Housing

Presenter: Sasha Page, Principal, Rebel

The webinar examined the abundance of arterial highways in the US that have more land devoted to retail than similar high-income countries. Given the nation’s affordable housing challenges and the underperformance of many retail facilities, the potential exists to transform these retail properties into multi-family and affordable housing. Strategies for enabling this transformation through legislation and public transit development were explored. 

NEPA Litigation over Large Energy and Transport Infrastructure Projects

Presenter: Michael Bennon, Research Scholar, Center for Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law, Stanford University

The webinar focused on an empirical study of the impacts of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. Using data from 355 major transportation and energy projects, the investigation found that the energy sector has greater private financing, shorter permit durations and higher rates of litigation, cancellation and completion compared to transportation whereas the transportation sector has greater public financing and lower litigation rates but longer permit timeframes. 

Building America’s Future: Academic Strategies for Supporting IIJA and IRA Implementation

Presenter: Dr. Qingbin Cui, Professor and Director of Build America Center, University of Maryland

The webinar examined the role that academia can play in supporting the implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). It highlighted strategies for conducting practice-oriented research, fostering innovation and advancing infrastructure projects that meet the goals of IIJA.