RICHMOND, – Transportation leaders from across the state and other regions of the country will discuss critical challenges facing Virginia’s transportation system and potential solutions to gridlock during an annual conference to be held at the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center, Oct. 26-28, 2005. The theme of this year’s conference is Virginia Transportation at the Crossroads – Investing in Mobility and Accessibility.

Governor Mark R. Warner is scheduled to deliver the keynote address on transportation issues at 5 p.m., Oct. 27 in the Roanoke Ballroom A-B of the Hotel Roanoke. Former Governor Gerald L. Baliles will discuss the challenge of mobility during a panel session beginning at 10:15 a.m., Oct. 28 in the same location. Transportation experts from the public, private and academic sectors will also give presentations on a wide range of transportation issues.

The conference will examine how Virginia can improve moving people and goods through a multi-modal transportation system. Topics of discussion will include:

Political and policy debate over mobility

The outlook for transportation funding and the need to make tough decisions

Public and private sector views on land development ,mobility, and accessibility linkages

The future for rail, freight and other multi-modal modes

The role of public-private partnerships in program delivery

Improved safety through system operations and technology

The conference is hosted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, the Virginia Department of Transportation, the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, the Virginia Port Authority and the Virginia Department of Aviation.

For a complete agenda, go to www.vatransconf.org.

Page last modified: Oct. 13, 2005