As the countdown to Road User Charging Conference Americas 2021 continues, CiTTi meets speaker Lauren Prehoda, road user charging program manager at the California Department of Transport (Caltrans).
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: Lauren Prehoda
Job Role: Road User Charge Program Manager
What is the best thing about your job?
I love the opportunity my job presents to constantly learn new things and work with wonderful people in other states. It is an interesting balance of big picture and technical detail. It is a real privilege to be involved in the challenge of finding a replacement to the gas tax, something we have relied on for 100 years.
What is the biggest challenge facing those with responsibility for intelligent transportation systems and tolling/road pricing in 2021?
There are still large questions to be answered before a road charge could be ready for California to consider, as is true in many states, and it will be important to put our shoulder to the wheel and methodically get research done. Once the final round of STSFA grants are awarded, California could have three active pilots in different stages this year. Add to that momentum building over the topic in Washington.
Balancing the important slow and steady tortoise-like research work that still needs to be done while adapting to and incorporating increasing hare-like quick and frantic political interest at the federal level will be interesting. The frantic demands attention, but we can’t forget slow and steady wins the race.
What’s your best piece of advice for those looking to implement road-user charging or tolling solutions?
A road charge is a very new idea to most people. People don’t typically react well at first to something new. Taking the time to educate your state, perhaps through a pilot, is very important.
How will the business of road-user charging have changed by 2030?
I think it likely that we will have had a nation pilot as well as several states implementing a full programme.
Why are you looking forward to speaking at Road User Charging Conference Americas 2021?
When tackling something new, exchanges of information are always valuable and invigorating. I hope to both contribute and receive on that front.
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…
