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CPACS hosts the Economic Impact of Transportation Conference | April 5

Economic Impact of Transportation

Omaha – Nebraska has a vibrant transportation sector. Transportation occupations are held by a high number of people in Nebraska, 25,507; and have a high median income, $44,787 (see Nebraska’s Workforce).

On April 5, the College of Public Affairs and Community Service is hosting a half-day exploration into the economic role that transportation plays across the state of Nebraska. The event is a kickoff event to the 2019 Nebraska Public Transit Week.

CPACS is hosting this conference to:

Two panel sessions will bring together experts on transportation to discuss technology and the economic future. Participants can also visit an exhibit of research posters and information tables presented by UNO students, faculty, and staff, University programs, and community businesses and organizations. The conference will end with a keynote presentation by Senator Anna Wishart, District 27, who introduced LB 989 in Nebraska to allow autonomous vehicle manufacturers to work and test their products in the state.

Transportation technology experts participating include Chip Duden, vice president of business analytics at Werner Enterprises; Matt Selinger from HDR; Steve Ingracia, deputy director of technology and innovation at the Nebraska Department of Transportation; Deepak Khazanchi, associate dean of the UNO College of Information Science and Technology; and Victor Huang, assistant professor with the UNO School of Aviation. This panel will be moderated by Yu-Che Chen, professor with the UNO School of Public Administration.

Economic Future experts participating include Stephan Osberg, transportation director with the Omaha Chamber; Mike Helgerson, transportation director with the Metropolitan Area Planning Agency; Kari Ruse, transit manager with the intermodal planning division at the Nebraska Department of Transportation; Julie Tuttle, director of the Nebraska Bicycling Alliance, and Scott Tarry, director of the UNO Aviation Institute. This panel will be moderated by Josie Schafer, director of the UNO Center for Public Affairs Research.

The conference is free to attend, and includes all activities, lunch, and parking. The conference is being organized by the Center for Public Affairs Research.

On March 12, Governor Rickets proclaimed April 7-13, 2019, as the fifth annual Nebraska Public Transit Week. The organization and implementation of an annual Nebraska Public Transit Week is a collaboration between the Nebraska Department of Transportation, University of Nebraska, Nebraska Association of Transit Providers, and transit providers throughout the state. In 2018, 39 public transit agencies, serving 50 counties in Nebraska, participated, hosting a variety of different events, ranging from a community coffee and breakfast in Neligh to an Open Garage in David City featuring Butler County Transit Service's new transit facility. Twelve agencies organized a Stuff the Bus event where members of the community donated items for 19 charities across Nebraska. For more information visit nebraskatransit.com.