Dear Alverina,
This month, we spotlight leadership, workforce development, and innovative research shaping the future of transportation. From insights shared by Mineta Leadership Fellow Grace Crunican to new studies on project delivery and pavement technology, MTI continues to connect research, practice, and people to strengthen transportation systems nationwide.
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- Mineta Leadership Fellow Grace Crunican’s leadership journey and video series
- “Safe Streets Start with YOU!” high school essay contest now open
- New research on Alternative Project Delivery Methods (APDM) in California and a machine learning framework for detecting asphalt pavement cracking
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Upcoming events including Everyday GenAI and the Trailblazer Tuesday webinar featuring Caltrain Executive Director Michelle Bouchard
- A recap of our recent “Beyond the Bullet Train” webinar
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How do transportation leaders get their start? For Mineta Leadership Fellow and Emeritus Trustee Grace Crunican, it began with mowing lawns, babysitting, and even working as a clown at the Oregon Zoo.
A civics opportunity led to an internship in the Portland Mayor’s Office—an experience that launched a four-decade career in transportation leadership, including senior roles at major transit agencies across the country.
In the latest Mineta Leadership Fellows video series, Grace reflects on the power of internships, mentorship, and staying connected to the people and communities our transit systems serve. Her advice for leaders? Don’t fear mistakes—fear indecision. And always bring others along.
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Safe streets start with YOU! |
Announcing our latest essay contest theme: Safe Streets Start with YOU! This contest challenges high school students to solve a real-world transportation safety challenge in their community while exploring STEM, technology, creative thinking, and writing skills. This competition is hosted by MTI with funding from Howard University-led REPS (Research and Education for Promoting Safety) Tier 1 University Transportation Center. Participants will write about smarter traffic management, protecting pedestrians and cyclists, or using new technology, to have the chance to win cash prizes.
Share our contest widely to engage the next generation of transportation leaders! Open NOW until May 1st, 2026!
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Alternative Project Delivery Methods in California: The Path Forward
Alternative Project Delivery Methods (APDMs) are gaining momentum as effective alternatives to the traditional Design-Bid-Build approach for transportation projects. This study examines how California transportation agencies are using APDMs, the legislative frameworks that authorize them, and the benefits and challenges associated with each method.
Findings show growing legislative support and increased interest in methods such as CM/GC and Progressive Design-Build. However, implementation varies by agency type and size, with smaller agencies facing barriers such as limited capacity and training. The report offers practical recommendations to help legislators, agencies, and contractors strengthen APDM selection and implementation—supporting more efficient, cost-effective, and high-quality transportation projects across California.
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Development of a Framework for Identifying Asphalt Pavement Cracking Distresses Using Machine Learning
Asphalt pavement cracking is one of the most significant forms of roadway deterioration, reducing pavement performance and service life while creating safety hazards, increasing vehicle maintenance costs, and driving up expensive repairs for cities and states. To address this issue, the California State University Transportation Consortium researchers developed a prototype system that uses machine learning and computer vision to automatically detect and classify pavement cracks from high-resolution drone or ground-based images.
The system is built on the “You Only Look Once” (YOLO) detection framework and achieves over 80% accuracy across multiple crack types. Designed for practical use, it provides transportation agencies with a faster, more reliable tool for pavement assessment to support safer roads and more cost-effective maintenance strategies.
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Everyday GenAI: Your AI Writing Assistant
AI is changing how we write, but what does it actually mean for your day-to-day work?
Join MTI for the next webinar in our Everyday AI series: Your AI Writing Assistant.
Explore how tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude can support real writing tasks, including brainstorming ideas, organizing thoughts, and drafting and refining content. We’ll also discuss the limitations and risks of AI, and how to use it thoughtfully as a tool to enhance—not replace—your expertise. Learn practical strategies for prompt engineering, selecting the right tools for your needs, adhering to organizational policies, and streamlining your workflow while maintaining clarity, accuracy, and your own voice.
*0.75 PDH credit available
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Ramses Madou, Planning, Policy, and Sustainability Division Manager, San José Department of Transportation
- Lisa Rose, Editor, Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI)
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Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Online
12:00-12:30p.m. (PT)
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Trailblazer Tuesday with Michelle Bouchard
The Mineta Transportation Institute is hosting a series of virtual fireside chats featuring influential women leaders in transportation. These successful women, representing academia, public and private industries, and the nonprofit sector, will share their compelling personal narratives and leadership journeys. Gain valuable insights into their strategies for balancing assertiveness with emotional intelligence, overcoming stereotypes, and leading with intention. Join us to explore the profound impact of reshaping perspectives and championing women's roles within the transportation industry and beyond.
*0.5 PDH credit available.
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Beyond the Bullet Train: Lessons from Japan’s Shinkansen
Japan’s Shinkansen is often described in superlatives: fast, precise, iconic. But what actually makes it work?
In this webinar, Masahiro Nakayama, Managing Director of JR Central Hotels Company, and Bryan Wong, Associate Planner at Access Planning, joined moderator Eric Eidlin, Station Planning Manager at the City of San José Department of Transportation and MSTM Instructor, to peel back the myth and explore the real decisions, principles, and design thinking behind Japan’s high-speed rail success—and what they mean for North American practitioners.
Rather than a technical deep dive, the conversation served as a guided “show-and-tell” of observations, questions, and practical takeaways that oriented attendees to how and why the system functions so reliably. Participants gained insight into what makes the Japanese system so successful—and how those lessons can be thoughtfully adapted and applied in other contexts.
This webinar was co-sponsored by the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco, the APTA High-Speed & Intercity Passenger Rail Committee, the High Speed Rail Alliance, and the US High Speed Rail Association.
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Mineta Transportation Institute
One Washington Square
San José, CA 95192
sjsu.edu
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