To reduce traffic congestion, create jobs and meet growth forecasts, international governments are planning a range of major highway projects over the next decade. However, there are also legitimate concerns regarding the social, environmental and financial costs of these large construction projects — especially when other transportation solutions could be implemented. To consider the long list of pros and cons, the Transport Futures Highway Planning Webinar Series compared and contrasted the latest global research, case studies and best practices through presentations and interactive panel discussions. Between February and May 2023, our seven webinars focused on:

1. Expanding Highways: Opportunities and challenges in a COVID-altered world (Feb 9)

2. Optimizing Highways: Enhancing existing networks without expansions (Feb 23)

3. Replacing Highways: A different approach to transportation planning (Mar 9)

4. Highway $$$: Funding, procurement and financial structures  (Mar 23)

5. Highway Communications: Framing benefits and costs for diverse audiences (Apr 13)

6. Highway Construction and Operations: Traditions and innovations (Apr 20)

7. Highway Stakeholders: Diverse perspectives on the future of highways (May 4)

After learning from and with our Canadian, American, British and European experts and stakeholders, delegates representing government, business, academia and NGOs decided whether it is best to expand, optimize and/or replace limited access highways in the short and long term.

Thanks to everyone who joined us!

Tija Dirks Speaker
Tija Dirks, Ontario Ministry of Transportation
Patrick Decorla Souza, Speaker
Patrick DeCorla-Souza, US Federal Highway Administration
Maureen Bock, Speaker
Maureen Bock, Oregon Department of Transportation
Ricardo Sanchez, Speaker
Ricardo Sánchez-Gomez, Cintra
Elizabeth Deakin, Speaker
Elizabeth Deakin, University of California, Berkeley
Tija Dirks, Ontario Ministry of Transportation
Patrick DeCorla-Souza, US Federal Highway Administration
Maureen Bock, Oregon Department of Transportation
Ricardo Sánchez-Gomez, Cintra
Elizabeth Deakin, University of California, Berkeley
Tija Dirks, Ontario Ministry of Transportation
Patrick Decorla Souza, Speaker
Patrick DeCorla-Souza, US Federal Highway Administration
Maureen Bock, Speaker
Maureen Bock, Oregon Department of Transportation
Ricardo Sanchez, Speaker
Ricardo Sánchez-Gomez, Cintra
Elizabeth Deakin, Speaker
Elizabeth Deakin, University of California, Berkeley
Michael Chiu, Speaker
Michael Chiu, MSC Consulting
Andrew Price, Speaker
Andrew Price, Jacobs UK
Jose Vassallo, Speaker
José Vassallo, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
Colin Black, Speaker
Colin Black, AECOM UK & Ireland
Baher Abdulhai, Speaker
Baher Abdulhai, University of Toronto
Michael Chiu, MSC Consulting
Andrew Price, Jacobs UK
José Vassallo, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
Colin Black, AECOM UK & Ireland
Baher Abdulhai, University of Toronto
Michael Chiu, Speaker
Michael Chiu, MSC Consulting
Andrew Price, Speaker
Andrew Price, Jacobs UK
Jose Vassallo, Speaker
José Vassallo, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
Colin Black, Speaker
Colin Black, AECOM UK & Ireland
Baher Abdulhai, Speaker
Baher Abdulhai, University of Toronto
Bill Denning, Speaker
William Denning, Transport Management Consulting
Ian Lockwood, Speaker
Ian Lockwood, Toole Design Group
Bjorn Ekelund, Speaker
Björn Ekelund, Warm in the Winter
Marjo De Kraker, Speaker
Marjo de Kracker, City of Utrecht
Andres Hoolachan, Speaker
Andrew Hoolachan, University of Glasgow
William Denning, Transport Management Consulting
Ian Lockwood, Toole Design Group
Björn Ekelund, Warm in the Winter
Marjo de Kracker, City of Utrecht
Andrew Hoolachan, University of Glasgow
Bill Denning, Speaker
William Denning, Transport Management Consulting
Ian Lockwood, Speaker
Ian Lockwood, Toole Design Group
Bjorn Ekelund, Speaker
Björn Ekelund, Warm in the Winter
Marjo De Kraker, Speaker
Marjo de Kracker, City of Utrecht
Andres Hoolachan, Speaker
Andrew Hoolachan, University of Glasgow
Andrea Ostrodka, Speaker
Andrea Ostrodka, Toole Design Group
Marjin Kik, Speaker
Marijn Kik, City of Utrecht
Michael Bernsiewicz, Speaker
Michael Bernasiewicz, Northface Infrastructure Management
Andres Hoolachan, Speaker
Sherena Hussain, York University
Santiago Rodilla, Speaker
Santiago Rodilla, Ferrovial S.A.
Andrea Ostrodka, Toole Design Group
Marijn Kik, City of Utrecht
Michael Bernasiewicz, Northface Infrastructure Management
Sherena Hussain, York University
Santiago Rodilla, Ferrovial S.A.
Andrea Ostrodka, Speaker
Andrea Ostrodka, Toole Design Group
Marjin Kik, Speaker
Marijn Kik, City of Utrecht
Michael Bernsiewicz, Speaker
Michael Bernasiewicz, Northface Infrastructure Management
Andres Hoolachan, Speaker
Sherena Hussain, York University
Santiago Rodilla, Speaker
Santiago Rodilla, Ferrovial S.A.
Eric Morris, Speaker
Eric Morris, Clemson University
Sam Johnson Speaker
Sam Johnson, Graham Capital
Lisa Orchard, Speaker
Lisa Orchard, Scribe Technical
Vince Versace, Speaker
Vince Versace, Daily Commercial News
Christina Basil, Speaker
Christina Basil, 407 ETR
Eric Morris, Clemson University
Sam Johnson, Graham Capital
Lisa Orchard, Scribe Technical
Vince Versace, Daily Commercial News
Christina Basil, 407 ETR
Eric Morris, Speaker
Eric Morris, Clemson University
Sam Johnson Speaker
Sam Johnson, Graham Capital
Lisa Orchard, Speaker
Lisa Orchard, Scribe Technical
Vince Versace, Speaker
Vince Versace, Daily Commercial News
Christina Basil, Speaker
Christina Basil, 407 ETR
Murtaza Haider, Speaker
Murtaza Haider, Toronto Metropolitan University / Post Media
Alex Esenhart, Speaker
Alex Eisenhart, Metropolitan Transportation Commission
Colleen Grants, Speaker
Colleen Gants, PRR
Mike Woof, World Highways / Route One Publishing
Andy Manahan, Speaker
Andy Manahan, Manahan Consulting Services
Murtaza Haider, Toronto Metropolitan University / Financial Post
Alex Eisenhart, Metropolitan Transportation Commission
Colleen Gants, PRR
Mike Woof, World Highways / Route One Publishing
Andy Manahan, Manahan Consulting Services
Murtaza Haider, Speaker
Murtaza Haider, Toronto Metropolitan University / Financial Post
Alex Esenhart, Speaker
Alex Eisenhart, Metropolitan Transportation Commission
Colleen Grants, Speaker
Colleen Gants, PRR
Mike Woof, World Highways / Route One Publishing
Andy Manahan, Speaker
Andy Manahan, Manahan Consulting Services
Shoshanna Saxe, Speaker
Shoshanna Saxe, University of Toronto
Brenda Liegler, Ontario Ministry of Transportation
Nevena Vajdic, University of Cambridge / Digital Roads of the Future
Emil Ramos, Speaker
Emil Sylvester Ramos, IRIS
Matthias Schueller, Parsons Canada
Shoshanna Saxe, University of Toronto
Brenda Liegler, Ontario Ministry of Transportation
Nevena Vajdic, University of Cambridge / Digital Roads of the Future
Emil Sylvester Ramos, IRIS
Matthias Schueller, Parsons Canada
Shoshanna Saxe, Speaker
Shoshanna Saxe, University of Toronto
Brenda Liegler, Ontario Ministry of Transportation
Nevena Vajdic, University of Cambridge / Digital Roads of the Future
Emil Ramos, Speaker
Emil Sylvester Ramos, IRIS
Matthias Schueller, Parsons Canada
Nicole Swerhun, Third Party Public
Rebecca Lush, Transport Action Network
Eric Doherty, Climate Justice Victoria
Phil Pothen, Environmental Defence
Ben Crowther, America Walks
Nicole Swerhun, Third Party Public
Rebecca Lush, Transport Action Network
Eric Doherty, Climate Justice Victoria
Phil Pothen, Environmental Defence
Ben Crowther, America Walks
Nicole Swerhun, Third Party Public
Eric Doherty, Climate Justice Victoria
Rebecca Lush, Transport Action Network
Phil Pothen, Environmental Defence
Ben Crowther, America Walks
Ben Dachis, C.D. Howe Institute
Richard Lyall, Residential Construction Council of Ontario
Mike Millian, Private Motor Truck Council of Canada
Ben Dachis, C.D. Howe Institute
Richard Lyall, Residential Construction Council of Ontario
Mike Millian, Private Motor Truck Council of Canada
Ben Dachis, C.D. Howe Institute
Richard Lyall, Residential Construction Council of Ontario
Mike Millian, Private Motor Truck Council of Canada
Check out our detailed agendas and bios of our 43 speakers!

Who attended the Highway Planning Webinar Series?
Delegates interested in transportation policy/planning/engineering, land development, climate change, infrastructure, health and safety, social justice, business, finance/economics/taxation, social marketing and/or sustainability attended the highway planning webinars!

The Highway Planning Webinar Series was generously sponsored by:

We also recognize 407 ETR’s financial support of 4 of our 7 highway planning webinars (Feb. 9 – Mar. 23)!

Would you like to promote your organization at Transport Futures?
Check out our sponsor recognition opportunities and contact Martin Collier for more info!

The Highway Planning Webinar Series will continue in  late 2023 or early 2024. 
Please subscribe to our listserv to be kept informed of future sessions!