The 2025 PacTrans Region 10 Transportation Conference was held at Portland State University on October 10, with attendees from all over the Pacific Northwest. The conference drew a mixture of transportation researchers and practitioners, with a theme of Connecting Communities: Improving Mobility under Uncertainty.
Sessions on smart mobility analytics, human-centered mobility, and innovations for infrastructure resilience offered in-depth looks at various projects and initiatives around the region. A series of Lightning Talks showcased a variety of innovative projects to enhance travel, and an afternoon poster session allowed students, as well as professionals, to share their work with interested colleagues.
Check out some photos from the conference.
Plenary: Closing The Gap Between Research and Practice
The morning plenary address was delivered by Greg Griffin, professor of practice, architecture and planning at the University of Texas at San Antonio and author of the 2025 book Transport Truths Planning Methods and Ethics for Global Futures, published by Bristol University Press.
Griffin explained how transportation research & practice can address complex problems by targeting underlying mechanisms. He illustrated this using a case study of I-35 in Austin, Texas; highlighting how a holistic approach is needed to understand and address project challenges.
The I-35 Austin story is what Griffin describes as a "wicked" problem - one that can't be solved by models or technical fixes alone. He argues that in order to make better planning decisions when faced with such problems, transportation professionals must use an interdisciplinary approach: one that combines technical analysis with qualitative insights, stronger engagement practices, and attention to how capital and development shape outcomes.
Keynote: Preparing Cities for Autonomous Vehicles
David Zipper, Senior Fellow at the MIT Mobility Initiative, gave the lunchtime keynote address. His recent Vox article, "A self-driving car traffic jam is coming for US cities," served as the basis for a discussion about what cities in America can do to ready themselves for an influx of autonomous vehicles on a large scale.
Watch a recording of the Keynote Address.
Portland State University's Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC) is a multidisciplinary hub for all things transportation. We are home to the Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation (IBPI), the data programs PORTAL and BikePed Portal, the Better Block PSU program, and PSU's membership in PacTrans, the Pacific Northwest Transportation Consortium. Our continuing goal is to produce impactful research and tools for transportation decision makers, expand the diversity and capacity of the workforce, and engage students and professionals through education, seminars, and participation in research. To get updates about what's happening at TREC, sign up for our monthly newsletter or follow us on social media
