2026 Transportation Engineering, Economics, and Policy Workshop

From dramatic policy swings for vehicles and infrastructure to rapidly evolving technologies, this is a busy time for transportation policy in the United States. Over the coming years, policymakers at all levels will make key decisions that affect the innovation and adoption of new transportation technologies—and both policymakers and other experts have signaled a need for research that integrates engineering, economics, and policy perspectives to inform these decisions.

This one-day event highlights interdisciplinary research on the economic, equity, environmental, and health implications of new technologies and policies, and features discussions with policy experts on the future of US transportation policies.

The 2026 Transportation Engineering, Economics, and Policy Workshop is organized jointly by the University of Maryland, Carnegie Mellon University, Cornell University, University of Michigan, and Resources for the Future, with generous funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM ET | Registration and Breakfast

9:00 AM ET | Opening Remarks

• Joshua Linn, Professor, University of Maryland

9:10-10:30 AM ET | Emerging Developments in Transportation Decarbonization Research

• Jeremy Michalek, Carnegie Mellon University, “Electric Vehicle Battery Chemistries, Supply Chain Vulnerabilities and Circularity Potential”
• Asal Mehditabrizi, University of Maryland, “En Route and Home Proximity in EV Charging Accessibility: A Spatial Equity Analysis”
• Parth Vaishnav, University of Michigan, “Vehicle-to-home charging can cut costs and greenhouse gas emissions across the USA”
• Samitha Samaranayake, Cornell University
• Anna Stefanopoulou, Professor, University of Michigan (Moderator)

10:30-10:50 AM ET | Break

10:50 AM-12:00 PM ET | Fellow Research Presentation Session 1

• Rin Futara, University of Maryland, “The Role of Consumer Beliefs in Consumer Undervaluation of Automotive Fuel Cost Savings”
• Jingchen Ma, University of Michigan, “Electric Vehicle Thermal Preconditioning: Energy Demand Implications under Climate Change”
• Ricardo Daziano, Professor, Cornell University (Moderator)

12:00-12:45 PM ET | Lunch

12:45-1:55 PM ET | Fellow Research Presentation Session 2

• Matias Navarro, Cornell University, “On the Right Track? Designing Optimal Public Transit Contracts.”
• JP Pieper, Carnegie Mellon University, ” Manufacturing flexibility could mitigate vulnerability to PEV battery supply-chain disruptions”
• Joshua Linn, Professor, University of Maryland (Moderator)

1:55-2:15 PM ET | Break

2:15-2:45 PM ET | Research Briefs

• Arseniy Braslavskiy, University of Maryland, “Pressure to Spend: Transportation Project Selection under ARRA”
• Ning Duan, Cornell University, “Bus Line Design Considering Passenger Choice”
• Siqi Feng, Cornell University, “An equitable choice-based recommender system to optimally match supply and demand: Multimodal Mobility as a Service.”
• John Mantus, Carnegie Mellon University, “Rethinking Electric Vehicle Externalities: Global Emissions and Distributional Equity”
• Apoorva Roy, University of Michigan, “Valuation of Used Electric Vehicles: Trustworthy Range and Remaining Useful Life Assessment”

2:45-4:00 PM ET | Panel Discussion: Transportation Research Opportunities to Inform Upcoming Policy Challenges

• Jeff Beck, Senior Director of Federal Affairs, American Motor Honda Co. Inc.
• Tim Dallmann, Global Programs Director, International Council on Clean Transportation
• Cody Nehiba, National Center for Environmental Economics at the US EPA
• Kate Whitefoot, Professor, Carnegie Mellon University

4:00 PM ET | Closing Remarks

• Kate Whitefoot, Professor, Carnegie Mellon University

4:00-5:00 PM ET | Networking Reception

• Refreshments and desserts will be provided.

*Additional speaker information and session details coming soon.