With just two days to go until Road User Charging Conference Americas 2021 continues, CiTTi meets speaker Erin Aleman, executive director, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning.
Taking place on 10-11 March 2021 via Zoom, Road User Charging Conference Americas 2021 will bring together 27 senior-level speakers from Peru, Chile, Brazil, Jamaica, Canada and across the USA to share insight on the latest tolling technologies, road pricing projects and intelligent transport systems being implemented throughout the Americas.
Name: Erin Aleman
Job Role: Executive Director
What is the best thing about your job?
I love the diversity of issues we work on at Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP). Traditionally, we are thought of as the people who programme federal transportation dollars. But as a regional planning organisation we are also responsible developing the region’s comprehensive plan that addresses land use, climate resiliency, economic development, good government, and of course, mobility. At the end of the day, it is about improving the quality of life for people, and that is the best thing about what I get to do every day.
What is the biggest challenge facing those with responsibility for intelligent transportation systems and tolling/road pricing in 2021?
It’s hard to be the first to do something differently. But the fact is we need to start thinking about our transportation system differently, especially how we fund it. We can no longer operate as business as usual. Our region’s plan identifies the need to shift to a sustainable a sustainable funding stream to modernise our transportation system. It is about prioritising and positioning innovation as critical to our recovery.
What’s your best piece of advice for those looking to implement road-user charging or tolling solutions?
When starting discussions on road-user charging, it’s easy to focus on the financial benefits and overlook the benefits to the user. But that is exactly what I would suggest: focus your efforts on articulating the real benefits of road-user charging for drivers. For example, according to CMAP analysis, tolling and road-usage charging could reduce congestion by 60%. That still doesn’t get us to our goal of keeping congestion flat, but without such measures, congestion is expected to increase in our region by 87% by 2050.
Does legislation help or hinder development in the sector?
It is important to identify the goals upfront in terms of what you want to achieve with road usage charging. It’s then a matter of supporting legislation that allows for flexibility of implementation strategies. Throughout the process, it is especially important to emphasise education and outreach – both with the public as well as policymakers – to build understanding and acceptance of the concept of road charging. This is where organisations like CMAP, and other metropolitan planning organisations, have an important role to play.
How will the business of road-user charging have changed by 2030?
Today when we talk about road-usage charging, we are still very much talking about vehicle travel on roads. By 2030, I certainly hope, and expect, that we move away from thinking about this only as roads, but as a comprehensive, multimodal system offering users the best choice for their travel needs.
Why are you looking forward to speaking at Road User Charging Conference Americas 2021?
I always look forward to speaking and learning from my peers on how to better manage and fund our transportation system. It’s an exciting time to be in transportation in the USA.
At the conference you’ll also be able to hear from LA Metro, Cubic Transportation Systems, Mileage Based User Fee Alliance, the Eastern Transportation Coalition, IBTTA… and more! You can view the full agenda here. All times for Day 1 are shown in PST (GMT-8) and for Day 2 are shown in EST (GMT-5). All sessions will be available after the conference on-demand.
The two-day Road User Charging Conference Americas on 10 and 11 March 2021 is the perfect platform for senior decision-makers who have responsibility for tolling, intelligent transportation systems and road pricing to network and learn from experts in their field. To find out more go to: www.roaduserchargingconference.co.uk/ruc-americas.
For partnership enquiries, please contact Robert Gouge at robert.gouge@akabomedia.co.uk or by calling +44 (0) 20 8065 0465. For speaking opportunities, please contact Claudia Davidson at claudia.davidson@akabomedia.co.uk or by calling +44 (0) 20 8037 1777.
Meet some of our other speakers at Road User Charging Conference Americas 2021…
- Maureen Bock, chief innovation officer, OReGO
- Steve Morello, partner, Milestone Solutions
- Tyler Milligan, partner, Milligan Associates
- Lauren Prehoda, road user charging program manager, California Department of Transport (Caltrans)
- Freddy Naranjo, assistant bureau chief – quality control, at the Alabama Department of Transportation
- Tanya Bedward, senior director, transport policy (international and land), Jamaican Ministry of Transport and Mining
- Blaine Leonard, transportation technology engineer, Utah Department of Transportation
- Hannah Walter, associate deputy director, California Transportation Commission
