With just five days to go until Road User Charging Conference Americas 2021, CiTTi meets speaker Patricia Hendren, executive director at The Eastern Transportation Coalition.
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: Patricia Hendren
Job Role: Executive Director
What is the best thing about your job?
Bringing implementable solutions to states up and down the Eastern Seaboard to help make our transportation system safer and work better.
What is the biggest challenge facing those with responsibility for intelligent transportation systems and tolling/road pricing in 2021?
Though people value transportation, they don’t realise there’s a funding problem. Our research has shown that drivers place a high value on good roads and are generally satisfied with their transportation system – but most don’t know how roads are funded or that governments face deteriorating infrastructure and declining transportation revenue.
What’s your best piece of advice for those looking to implement road-user charging or tolling solutions?
Start with the value of transportation. In surveys, people have told us how much they love their state and their roads. That’s a great place to start when it comes to messaging around implementation. Emphasise how our roads and bridges put food in the grocery store, deliver packages to our front door, and help get vaccines into everyone’s arms.
Does legislation help or hinder development in the sector?
Legislation that is based on stakeholder input, real-world research, national guidance, and an understanding of the diversity of transportation users can help the sector.
How will the business of road-user charging have changed by 2030?
The concept of ‘pay for what you use’ will be more widely understood and implemented. As part of this, governments will adjust to embracing drivers as customers. I also think we’ll see a better overall understanding of the cost and value of transportation. This will allow people to make informed decisions about which mode of transit to choose and which route to take.
Why are you looking forward to speaking at Road User Charging Conference Americas 2021?
There is important work being done in the USA and internationally to determine a sustainable funding approach for the future. The conference provides the opportunity for people to share key insights and challenge each other to think through implementation barriers.
At the conference you’ll also be able to hear from LA Metro, Cubic Transportation Systems, Mileage Based User Fee Alliance, NHTSA, 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
- Hannah Walter, associate deputy director, California Transportation Commission
