Eno Transportation Foundation policy forums bring together public and private sector leaders to discuss important emerging issues in the transportation field. The goal of these non-partisan forums is to share information and perspectives, consider innovative approaches to transportation problems, and develop a consensus for future action.

Eno executives work with partners in government and industry to identify topics for in-depth focus. They consider issues in both passenger and freight movement and developments across all transportation modes including highways, maritime, aviation, and transit. Special attention is paid to transportation's role in assuring U.S. competitiveness in the global economy.

The Foundation hosts a number of forums each year. Formats include day-long roundtable discussions, multi-day intensive workshops, and a series of lunch presentations scheduled over several months.

RECENT FORUM TOPICS

The Future of Urban Transportation

In 2006-07, the Eno Foundation convened public- and private-sector leaders at two meetings about the future of transportation in and around the nation's major metropolitan areas.

The 2007 Forum. In September 2007, the Eno Foundation co-hosted a second forum on urban transportation with PB Consult, DMJM Harris and Parsons Group. The focus was on the major concern expressed at the first forum about whether the various governmental agencies now charged with funding and planning of transportation are suited to the serious and increasingly complex demands of our cities. Four research papers were commissioned for this forum:

• Transportation consultant Alexis Perrotta wrote about the transportation funding trends at the state and local levels.
• Transportation consultant Jeffrey Zupan wrote about the funding history of the Federal Transit Administration.
• Rob Puentes of The Brookings Institution & Tom Sanchez of the University of Utah wrote about the future of the Metropolitan Planning Organizations.
• Michael Meyer of the Georgia Institute of Technology wrote about congestion and logistics.

Click here for an executive summary of the forum report.

Click here to view the full forum report.

View papers and presentations delivered at the meeting.

The 2006 Forum. In December 2006, the Eno Foundation convened more than 50 leaders of government, industry, academia, and the non-profit sector to explore major trends -- demographic, economic, environmental, and other -- that will affect urban transportation systems in the coming years. The purpose of the forum was to develop a set of recommendations to be presented to the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission in early 2007. Three research papers were commissioned for the forum:

• Rob Puentes of The Brookings Institution wrote about changes in the demographics and immigration in urban America.
• Todd Litman of the Victoria Policy Institute wrote about related trends in energy and the environment.
• Dr. Robert Cervero of the University of California at Berkeley examined the economic growth of urban regions.

Click here to purchase the forum report, including description of proceedings and final recommendations.

View papers and presentations delivered at the meeting.

Listen to Washington radio station (WTOP) interview with Eno President Tom Downs.

The British Example

Sir Rod Eddington, former CEO of British Airways, was jointly commissioned by the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Transport to examine the long-term links between transport and the UK's economic productivity, growth and stability, within the context of the Government's broader commitment to sustainable development. Click here to view the study.

View additional past Eno policy forums

For more information on Eno policy forums, please contact Steve Van Beek.