Historically, equity has not been a primary objective in the transportation infrastructure investment planning process. By effectively incorporating equity into the process, underserved communities and Native nations can realize increased benefits from transportation improvements. This research explored effective strategies for incorporating equity in transportation capital investment planning and provides guidance to transportation agencies, planning organizations and Native nations.
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The winding road to an electric fleet
Reprinted from CTS News, November 24, 2025
Even for cities, counties, and organizations with zero-carbon emissions goals, most fleet managers are skeptical about going fully electric. Calculating the return on investment for a single vehicle is straightforward—but for a fleet, it’s complex.
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CTS Webinar: Preparing Transportation Professionals for AI Integration
Monday, December 15, 2025, 12:00–1:30 pm (Virtual)
About the Event
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping how we design, plan, and manage infrastructure systems. In this webinar, CTS scholars Qizhi He and Seongjin Choi from the University of Minnesota’s Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering will discuss how AI tools are beginning to influence teaching, research, and professional practice in civil engineering. Their conversation will consider how the field can adapt curriculum and training to prepare future engineers for an AI-integrated profession. They will also explore questions around quality management, professional ethics, and community-centered design in an AI-driven context.
Offering a practitioner’s perspective, Melissa Barnes will share insights from MnDOT’s ongoing AI pilot identification project. She will discuss how state agencies are evaluating opportunities and risks associated with AI implementation—and engaging and educating their staff about AI.
This webinar will highlight opportunities for collaboration between academia and practice as the transportation industry navigates the evolving impacts of AI on engineering education, quality assurance, and workforce development.
Speakers
Qizhi He is an assistant professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering at the University of Minnesota (UMN) and a CTS scholar. Before joining the UMN, he was a postdoctoral researcher in the Scientific Machine Learning Group at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. His research focuses on developing hybrid physics–AI/ML computational methods for predictive modeling and the simulation of complex mechanical behavior in civil and geomaterials under extreme and multiphysics conditions. His work aims to advance next-generation, high-performance computing and digital-twin technologies that enhance infrastructure resilience and support natural hazard mitigation.
Seongjin Choi is an assistant professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering at the University of Minnesota and a CTS scholar. Choi was previously a postdoctoral researcher at McGill University in Canada and Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology in South Korea. His research focuses on developing machine learning and (generative) artificial intelligence models for transportation and mobility data, with the goal of enhancing both individual-level travel experiences and system-level performance.
Melissa Barnes is the Operations Division artificial intelligence program manager (mobility) at MnDOT and a licensed civil engineer with more than 21 years of experience in transportation. She has worked at MnDOT for more than 12 years, including positions in Central Office and the Metro District. Her expertise spans program delivery, traffic engineering, planning, safety, operations, project management, policy, and cross-functional leadership, and she is known for her commitment to equity and collaboration.
Registration
This webinar is free, but registration is required. Once you have registered, you will receive an email confirmation with a Zoom link. The link should not be shared with others; it is unique to you.
More information
Visit the CTS website or contact Samantha Hahn-Douville at snhahn@umn.edu.
If you’re unable to join us for the live broadcast, a recording will be available here after the event.
CTS Webinar: The Coffee Supply Chain—What Goes into Delivering Your Favorite Coffee to the Store Shelf
Thursday, December 11, 2025
noon–1:00 p.m. CST, Virtual
About the Event
This webinar may not be related to MnDOT research, but we thought you might find it interesting if you drink coffee.
Join CTS and Patrick Hessini, CTS Executive Committee member and head of supply chain at Cameron’s Coffee, for an in-depth look at the challenges and logistics of today’s supply chain. Grab a cup of coffee and bring your lunch as we learn about where and how we get our coffee from trees to mugs.
Registration
This webinar is free, but registration is required. Once you have registered, you will receive an email confirmation with a Zoom link. The link should not be shared with others; it is unique to you.
More Information
Visit the CTS website or contact James De Sota at jadesota@umn.edu.
TRB Webinar: Connected Mobility Futures—Integrating Transit and Technology
Dec 16, 2025, 12 PM – 1:30 PM CST (1:00PM – 2:30PM ET)
Pre-registration is required.
Public transit agencies are reimagining mobility through innovation, integration, and technology to create seamless travel experiences and improve access for all users. TRB will host a webinar on Tuesday, December 16, 2025 from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM Eastern that will highlight strategies and technologies transforming the future of connected mobility. This session will explore how public agencies and technology partners are addressing fragmented systems through open platforms, integrated trip planning, and seamless fare payment, drawing on lessons from the Federal Transit Administration’s Integrated Mobility Innovation (IMI) and Accelerating Innovative Mobility (AIM) programs. Attendees will also gain insights into how Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) and Autonomous Mobility-on-Demand (AMoD) can expand access, improve service efficiency, and rebuild ridership. Presenters will share real-world examples, research, and lessons learned to help agencies advance scalable, user-centered transportation systems.
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Identifying Factors That Affect Stormwater Basin Performance
Stormwater basins are used to control runoff, prevent flooding and limit pollutants from reaching rivers, lakes and other large bodies of water. MnDOT monitors and maintains more than 400 infiltration and filtration basins statewide, and that number continues to grow. Identifying indicators of needed maintenance will increase management efficiency and basin performance. Field research at 28 basins identified basin age and silt content as two important factors to consider when planning inspections and taking corrective actions.
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CTS Webinar: A New System to Report School Bus Stop-Arm Violations
Wednesday, December 10, 2025
11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. CST
Zoom Virtual
About the Event
School bus stop-arm violations by motorists pose a serious risk to children. A new University of Minnesota study investigated the existing violation reporting ecosystem, finding issues like underreporting, underenforcing, and significant workflow inefficiencies and barriers across all stakeholder groups.
To address these systemic barriers, study researchers concluded that a centralized statewide online portal is needed to streamline communication, simplify data access, and standardize reporting. They also provided near-term recommendations until this comprehensive solution can be developed.
Join this webinar to learn about the research findings and proposed short- and long-term recommendations for improving the reporting system, with the goal of making bus stops safer for children across Minnesota and beyond
Beyond the border: Canadian studies consider permeable pavement, climate change impacts on deicing operations
Reprinted from MnLTAP News, November 17, 2025
The 2025 Salt Symposium highlighted two studies from Canada, one comparing salt applications on permeable and asphalt surfaces and another considering the impact of climate change on municipal operations. Hosted by Bolton & Menk, the August 5 Salt Symposium brought together professionals from throughout the world to share research, projects, and approaches for chloride management.
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Beyond traffic: Transportation as a social construct
Reprinted from CTS News, September 8, 2025
Urban transportation is more than roads and bridges: it’s a powerful social force that shapes our lives and influences our opportunities, well-being, and even power dynamics. Consider the everyday experience of commuting to work—the route you take, the cost of the ride, and the people you encounter are all shaped by social forces. By looking at transportation through this social lens, University of Minnesota researchers are moving beyond physical infrastructure to understand its deeper impact on society.
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Mitigating the Negative Effects of Spaghetti Junctions
Complex highway interchanges in large metropolitan areas, also referred to as spaghetti junctions, have contributed greatly to enhancing vehicular connectivity and spurring economic growth. But the benefits of this built infrastructure are not evenly distributed, and neighborhoods near these highways are often negatively impacted. This project explored strategies used by other states to mitigate the consequences of spaghetti junctions that MnDOT could implement to improve conditions and livability for similar neighborhoods in Minnesota.
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Crossroads 