Knodler To Speak About Transportation and Public Policy at Oct. 3 SPP Colloquium

Michael Knodler, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering and director of the UMass Transportation Center (UMTC), will speak on Monday, October 3, 2016, as part of the annual faculty colloquium at the School of Public Policy (SPP). Knodler’s talk, “The Intersection of Transportation and Public Policy,” will take place from 12:15-1:15 p.m. in Thompson 620.

Knodler’s talk will focus on specific applications of public policy within the transportation domain. How should speed limits be set and enforced? How should transportation be financed? Is open road tolling a good thing? What do we do with all of these drones?  What policies can be adopted to help save lives on our nation’s roadways?

Professor Knodler is an expert on transportation safety and is also the director of the UMass Traffic Safety Research Program (UMassSafe). Knodler’s research has ranged from observational studies of drivers’ cell phone usage to investigations that use “big data” to better understand highway crash patterns. Recently, UMTC received a $6.1 million grant from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) to consolidate and run several programs for fostering innovation in the transportation sector. Knodler was honored in 2012-13 with the College of Engineering’s Outstanding Teacher award. 

Charlie Schweik, SPP’s interim director, will introduce Knodler.

SPP’s colloquia are generally held monthly each semester and feature UMass faculty discussing ongoing research that has significant policy implications. All talks are free and open to the public. Brownbag lunches are welcome.

For additional information, go to www.masspolicy.org or contact Susan Newton (snewton@pubpol.umass.edu).