Building a New Research Agenda for the Transportation Sector

Building a New Research Agenda for the Transportation Sector

On March 13, 2026, the Transportation Initiative at Penn (TRIP) housed at Penn IUR, hosted “Building a New Research Agenda for the Transportation Sector” at Penn Washington in Washington, DC. The event brought together 70 leading stakeholders from across the public and private sectors. Featured speakers included:

• Carlos Braceras, CEO, Utah Department of Transportation

• Randy Clarke, CEO, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority 

• Elizabeth Klein, Director of Domestic Policy Programs, Penn Washington

• Russell McMurry, Commissioner, Georgia Department of Transportation

• Leslie Richards, Executive Director, the Transportation Initiative at Penn

• Megan Ryerson, Ph.D., UPS Foundation Professor and Chair, Department of City and Regional Planning, Weitzman School of Design, University of Pennsylvania

The discussion focused on identifying emerging research priorities, accelerating the translation of research into practice, and shaping a pragmatic national transportation research agenda. Panelists explored a wide range of topics, including the challenges of operating within an unpredictable federal policy landscape and the need for a deeper understanding of consumer behavior in transportation systems. Speakers identified several key priorities:

• Data standardization, particularly in construction costs and system performance

• Closer alignment between land use planning and transportation, especially as it relates to housing and freight

• Development of a talent pipeline to support the sector’s evolving needs

• Strengthening trust among the public, elected officials, management, and agency staff to enable thoughtful risk-taking, improved performance, and better safety outcomes

New and emerging technologies, a changing climate, and rapidly evolving consumer behavior are reshaping every aspect of the transportation sector. The session underscored that, in this environment, transportation research is not just a “nice to have.” A bold, pragmatic, and accessible research agenda is critical to building a transportation system that is safer, more efficient, more affordable, and more resilient for all users.