Fresno State’s Transportation Institute and CALSTART will host the Clean Transportation Summit on Wednesday, March 14 and Thursday, March 15 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Save Mart Center in Fresno. This event is free and open to the public and is in partnership with the Fresno State Office of Community and Economic Development (OCED), San Joaquin Valley (SJV) Clean Cities Coalition, SJV Electric Vehicle Partnership, and the SJV Natural Gas Partnership, with support from the State of California Energy Commission and the Fresno Council of Governments. Registration and sponsorships, visit: https://www.sjvcleantransportation.org/clean-transportation-summit

“Our goal is to inform, inspire, and motivate attendees to look beyond the traditional transportation technology and methods common in the San Joaquin Valley,” said Joseph Oldham, director, CALSTART SJV Clean Transportation Center. “We want to encourage them to take steps into a future where transportation is not a major contributor to poor air quality in the region. Ultimately, we hope that people attending the Summit come away with a new understanding of the opportunities to improve our air quality through new technology and new ideas. Most importantly, on how to improve mobility in the Valley in ways that are not focused on the single-occupant vehicle.”

“As our transportation systems continue to become ever more unsustainable, they are on the verge of a transformative revolution described as one of the most disruptive of our time,” said Dr. Aly Tawfik, assistant professor of Civil Engineering at Fresno State and director of the Fresno State Transportation Institute. “It is through discussions that happen at this summit and similar events that we can start recognizing challenges and opportunities, and preparing our region for a more viable and sustainable transportation future.”

Clean Transportation Summit Agenda for Wednesday, March 14:
Registration (8:30 a.m.) and vendor booths open (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., lobby and main concourse)

Ride-and-drive demonstrations (10 a.m. to 5 p.m., parking lot) Nearly 20 companies from throughout California and the Central Valley will showcase and demonstrate clean-air vehicles including:

  • Altec, Inc. will showcase the JEMS 4 Series with electrified PTO (ePTO) (40 ft Aerial) work truck
  • XL Hybrids will be in attendance with the Ford Transit XL Hybrid passenger van
  • ElDorado National-California will showcase an FC zero emissions bus
  • A-1 Alternative Fuel Systems will showcase a medium duty work truck
  • Hedrick’s Chevrolet will showcase the Chevy Volt
  • Lithia Nissan of Clovis will showcase the Nissan Leaf
  • Future Ford of Clovis will showcase a Ford Fusion Energi and a Ford Focus Electric

Welcome remarks (9:30 to 10 a.m., Event Floor/Main Arena)

  • John Boesel, President/CEO, CALSTART
  • Joseph I. Castro, President, Fresno State
  • Joseph Oldham, Director, CALSTART SJV Clean Transportation Center
  • Aly Tawfik, Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering, Fresno State’s Lyles College of Engineering, and Director of the Fresno State Transportation Institute

Panels and breakout sessions (1):
Natural Gas Trucks and Regulations (10:15 to 11:30 a.m., Southwest Main Concourse)

Moderator: Joseph Oldham, Director, CALSTART SJV Clean Transportation Center

  • Ryan Forrest, Senior Business Development Manager, Trillium CNG
  • Justin Loyear, Territory Manager, Cummins Westport Inc.
  • Michelle Sim, Clean Transportation Manager, SoCalGas

Active Transportation (10:15 to 11:30 a.m., Northeast Upper Concourse)

Moderator: Hongwei Dong, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Geography & City/Regional Planning, Fresno State

Panel:

  • Mohammad Alimi, Division Manager, County of Fresno
  • Peggy Arnest, Senior Regional Planner, Fresno Council of Governments (COG)
  • Scott Mozier, Director of Public Works, City of Fresno
  • Russ Robertson, Director of Public Works, City of Reedley

Keynote Speakers (Lunch): 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., Event Floor/Main Arena

  • Tom Jordan, Senior Policy Advisor, SJV Air Pollution Control District
  • Susan Shaheen, Co-Director, Transportation Sustainability Research Center, UC Berkeley

Panels and breakout sessions (2):
Alternative Fuels (1:15 to 2:30 p.m., Southwest Main Concourse)

Moderator: Joseph Oldham, Director, CALSTART SJV Clean Transportation Center

  • Ryan Forrest, Senior Business Development Manager, Trillium CNG
  • Anthony Tarabini, CNG Account Manager, Biorem Energy
  • Russ Teall, President and Founder, Biodico

Shared Mobility (1:15 to 2:30 p.m., Northeast Upper Concourse)

Moderator: Dr. Aly Tawfik, Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering, Fresno State Lyles College of Engineering,  and Director of the Fresno State Transportation Institute

  • Elliott Balch, Chief Operations Officer, Central Valley Community Foundation
  • Keith Bergthold, Executive Director, Fresno Metro Ministry
  • Ismael D. Herrera, Jr., Interim Executive Director, Fresno State OCED
  • Troy Hightower, Transportation Consultant, TDH Associates Int’l

Panels and breakout sessions (3):

New Areas of Electrification (2:45 to 4 p.m., Southwest Main Concourse)

Moderator: Joseph Oldham, Director, CALSTART SJV Clean Transportation Center

  •  John Clements, Special Projects Advisor, HummingbirdEV
  •  Cory Combs, Chief Technology Officer, Ampaire
  •  Chris Laudando, Head of Strategic Partnerships, Motivo Engineering
  •  Nicole Zieba, City Manager, City of Reedley

Autonomous Vehicles (2:45 to 4 p.m., Northeast Upper Concourse)

Moderator: Dr. Aly Tawfik, Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering at Fresno State Lyles College of Engineering, and Director of the Fresno State Transportation Institute

  • Farbod Khoshnoud, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Fresno State Lyles College of Engineering
  • Greg Larson, Office Chief, Office of Traffic Operations Research, CALTRANS
  • Linda Lim, civil engineering student, Lyles College of Engineering at Fresno State

Clean Transportation Summit Agenda for Thursday, March 15

Registration (8:30 a.m.) and vendor booths open (8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., lobby and main concourse)

Ride-and-drive demonstrations (10 a.m. to 4 p.m., parking lot) Nearly 20 companies from throughout California and the Central Valley will showcase and demonstrate of clean-air vehicles including:

  • Altec, Inc. will showcase the JEMS 4 Series with electrified PTO (ePTO) (40 ft Aerial) work truck
  • XL Hybrids will be in attendance with the Ford Transit XL Hybrid passenger van
  • ElDorado National-California will showcase an FC zero emissions bus
  • A-1 Alternative Fuel Systems will showcase a medium duty work truck
  • Hedrick’s Chevrolet will showcase the Chevy Volt
  • Lithia Nissan of Clovis will showcase the Nissan Leaf
  • Future Ford of Clovis will showcase a Ford Fusion Energi and a Ford Focus Electric

Welcome remarks (9:30 to 10 a.m., event floor/main arena)

  • Joseph Oldham, Director, CALSTART SJV Clean Transportation Center
  • Aly Tawfik, Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering, Fresno State Lyles College of Engineering, and Director of the Fresno State Transportation Institute
  • Max Vargas, Senior Policy Advisor to Mayor Tubbs, City of Stockton

Panels and breakout sessions (4):

High Speed Rail (10:15 to 11:30 a.m., Northeast Upper Concourse)

Moderator: Dr. Jesus Larralde, Associate Dean, Fresno State Lyles College of Engineering

  • Robert Campbell, Transportation Engineer, CA High Speed Rail Authority
  • Lee Ann Eager, President/CEO, Fresno Economic Development Corporation
  • Scott Smith, Senior Environmental Planner, California High Speed Rail Authority
  • Chih-Hao Wang, Ph.D, Assistant Professor, Geography & City/Regional Planning, Fresno State
  • Dan Zack, Assistant Director, Development & Resource Management, City of Fresno

Rural Transportation (10:15 to 11:30 a.m., Southwest Main Concourse)

Moderator: Ismael D. Herrera, Jr., Interim Executive Director, Fresno State OCED

  • David Greenfader, Vice President of Business Development, Envision Solar
  • Moses Stites, General Manager, Fresno County Rural Transit Agency
  • Reyes Barboza, Director of Operations, Green Raiteros/ValleyLEAP

11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch

Funders Forum (1:15 to 2:30 p.m., Event Floor/Main Arena): The funders forum session provides the opportunity to learn about the millions of dollars coming into the region for projects that will keep clean transportation moving forward, and will keep our air clean and improve the economy at the same time. Presenters will discuss their agency’s specific funding levels and availability, and prospects for leveraging of the funding sources for projects.

  • Tom Brotherton, Regional Director, CALSTART
  • Tony Boren, Executive Director, Fresno COG
  • Todd DeYoung, Strategies and Incentives Program Manager, SJV Air Pollution Control District
  • Garth Hopkins, Deputy Director – Planning, California Transportation Commission
  • Andy Hoskinson, Project Manager, Center for Sustainable Energy

Closing Remarks (2:30 to 3 p.m., Event Floor/Main Arena)

  • Joseph Oldham, Director, CALSTART SJV Clean Transportation Center
  • Aly Tawfik, Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering, Fresno State Lyles College of Engineering, and Director of the Fresno State Transportation Institute
  • Lynnette Zelezny, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Fresno State

The Fresno State Transportation Institute is a collaboration between the 15 cities within Fresno County, Fresno State’s Lyles College of Engineering, Sid Craig School of Business and College of Social Sciences. The Institute announced its opening in September soon after the Fresno COG, Policy Board and the Fresno County Transportation Authority approved the utilization of nearly $3 million from the Measure C New Technology Reserve funds. It was developed to address four primary areas of education, research, technical service and public outreach – all consistent with the most current Regional Transportation Plan and Sustainable Community Strategy. The funding will not only support students and faculty researchers as they address topics such as air pollution and greenhouse-gas emissions, safety, energy, congestion, and advanced-transportation technologies, but also enable them to seek federal and state transportation grants. The proposed program also provides technical assistance to local agencies to secure funding for maintenance and renovation of currently used technologies.

CALSTART, North America’s leading clean transportation technologies and solutions consortium, serves as a catalyst for creating jobs, cleaning the air, reducing fuel consumption and mitigating the threat of climate change. CALSTART is an industry organization with more than 185-member companies ranging from Tesla Motors to UPS to General Motors. Since its inception in 1992, CALSTART has helped develop and manage more than $500 million in clean-transportation technology programs. The organization is headquartered in Pasadena, and has offices in the San Francisco Bay Area, San Joaquin Valley, Colorado and New York.

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