Mobility 10x Summit: Accelerating Transportation Innovation Across California was the capstone event of the Resilient and Innovative Mobility Initiative (RIMI)—a four-year research effort launched in 2021 by the University of California Institute of Transportation Studies (UC ITS), featuring a number of UC Berkeley Institute of Transportation Studies researchers and their research performed through RIMI. (Read more about RIMI projects in the Mobility 10X: Accelerating Transportation Innovation in Caloifornia publication)
Designed as a forward-looking forum, it brought together academia, government, and other sectors to drive tenfold improvements in transportation outcomes, whether in policy impact, emissions reduction, or system performance. Focused on ten critical topics at the intersection of climate-neutral mobility, resilience, equity, safety, and innovation, the Mobility 10x Summit highlighted transformational change, not just incremental improvement—multiplying the impact of research and policy to shape a more sustainable and equitable transportation future for California.
9:00 AM Welcome and Introductions Laura Podolsky, UC ITS, Executive Director
9:10 AM Morning Plenary: From Disruption to Opportunity: Shaping Mobility’s Next Chapter
This session will kick off the summit by examining the key forces that will shape mobility over the next 5 to 10 years. Panelists will explore major disruptions and transformative trends, including advancing decarbonization strategies, the effects of climate change, the future of public transit and shared mobility, transportation pricing, and changing travel behavior. The discussion will also emphasize the critical roles of policy, technology, research, and cross-sector collaboration in driving sustainable and equitable mobility strategies.
Moderator: Susan Shaheen, Ph.D., Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering, UC Berkeley; Director, Resilient & Innovative Mobility Initiative, UC Institute of Transportation Studies
Panelists: Dina El-Tawansy, Director, California Department of Transportation (Caltrans); Chanell Fletcher, Deputy Executive Officer, Equity, Communities & Environmental Justice, California Air Resources Board; Michael Pimentel, Executive Director, California Transit Association; Lori Wilson, Assemblymember, California State Assembly, District 11
10:30 AM Breakout Sessions
Driving Efficiency: Managing Road Capacity, Pricing Roads, and Mitigating Impacts
This session will explore innovative strategies for managing road capacity and funding California’s transportation in the context of induced demand. Panelists will discuss how road pricing can serve as both a revenue source and policy lever to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT). The discussion will also examine mitigation strategies aimed at enhancing equity and environmental benefits, such as mitigation banking, improving the balance between affordable housing and jobs, congestion pricing, and more.
Moderator: Bill Higgins, Executive Director, California Association of Councils of Governments
Panelists: James Hacker, Undersecretary, California State Transportation Agency; Amy Lee, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Researcher, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis; Michael Manville, Ph.D., Professor, Urban Planning, Luskin School of Public Affairs, UCLA; Kiana Valentine, Executive Director, Transportation California
Equitable Electrification: Charging Infrastructure and Incentives that Work for Everyone
How can we ensure that the benefits of electric vehicles (EVs) reach all communities? This session will focus on strategies to accelerate EV adoption across diverse populations. Panelists will discuss how to expand access to reliable and affordable charging, reduce cost barriers, and design incentive programs that effectively support low-income and underserved populations. The conversation will also explore approaches to improving EV access in multi-family housing and rural communities.
Moderator: Terry Travis, Co-founder & Principal, EVNoire
Panelists: Ethan Elkind, J.D., Director, Climate Program, Center for Law, Energy & the Environment, UC Berkeley; Jen Kalafut, Deputy Director, Fuels and Transportation Division, California Energy Commission; Michelle Buffington, Chief, Mobile Source Control Division, California Air Resources Board; Gil Tal, Ph.D., Director, Electric Vehicle Research Center, UC Davis
Complement or Compete? Exploring Microtransit, Ridehailing, and Public Transit in California’s Future
How do microtransit and ridehailing services fit into California’s evolving transportation landscape, and how might they develop to complement public transit more? This panel will investigate the implications of these services in terms of operations, equity, and cost-effectiveness, as well as how these services may change with automated vehicles. Panelists will also consider business and policy options (e.g., subsidies, curb management) for aligning these services with public sector goals.
Moderator: Tilly Chang, Executive Director, San Francisco County Transportation Authority
Panelists: James Corless, Executive Director, Sacramento Area Council of Governments; Michael Hyland, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering, UC Irvine; Katie Malkin, Vice President of State and Local Policy VIA Transportation; Susan Shaheen, Ph.D., Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering at UC Berkeley, Director, Resilient & Innovative Mobility Initiative, UC Institute of Transportation Studies
12:45 PM Breakout Sessions
The Future of Public Transit: Resilience, Ridership, and Revenue
Public transit agencies are grappling with multiple post-pandemic challenges, including flagging ridership, frequent budget shortfalls, and shifting travel patterns. This session will bring together experts to explore strategies for boosting ridership, adapting to evolving work and land use trends, and securing long-term financial sustainability. Panelists will also address post-COVID-19 funding recovery challenges, new revenue opportunities, workforce issues, and opportunities to strengthen system resilience.
Moderator: Laura Tolkoff, Transportation Policy Director, SPUR
Panelists: Seleta Reynolds, Chief Innovation Officer, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority; Joshua Schank, Partner, InfraStrategies; Brian D. Taylor, Ph.D., Professor, Urban Planning & Public Policy, Luskin School of Public Affairs, UCLA; Kari Watkins, Ph.D., Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering, UC Davis
Zero-Emission Frontiers: Decarbonizing Freight, Aviation, Marine, and Public Transit
While light-duty vehicles are at the forefront of electrification, decarbonizing heavy-duty freight, aviation, marine, and the public transit sectors remains a significant challenge with many uncertainties. This session will examine the potential of zero-emission strategies, such as hydrogen, electrification, and sustainable fuels, to transform these hard-to-abate sectors. Panelists will also explore the infrastructure, investment, and policy frameworks needed to scale these technologies effectively.
Moderator: Scott Moura, Ph.D., Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering, UC Berkeley
Panelists: Kip Lipper, Chief Policy Advisor on Energy and Environment, Office of Senate President pro Tempore Monique Limón; Colin Murphy, Ph.D., Co-Director, Low Carbon Fuel Policy Research Initiative, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis; Craig Rindt, Ph.D., Assistant Director for Research Coordination, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Irvine Chris Shimoda, Regulatory Affairs Consultant, California Trucking Association
Designing for Safety: Creating Transportation Systems that Protect All Users
With traffic deaths and serious injuries on the rise among people walking and biking, this session focuses on how to use more proactive, upstream, and effective strategies to improve road safety for all. Panelists will explore the core principles of the Safe System approach, which assumes humans will make mistakes and focuses on designing a “forgiving” system that prevents errors from becoming fatal. This includes using proactive designs and policy change – including self-enforcing roadways, managing speed for safety, and safety-focused vehicle technology – to ensure system designers are making choices aligned with safety and health goals.
Moderator: Leah Shahum, Executive Director, Vision Zero Network
Panelists: Rachel Carpenter, Chief Safety Officer, California Department of Transportation; Julia Griswold, Ph.D., Director, Safe Transportation Research & Education Center, UC Berkeley Daniel Hennessey, Director, Transportation and Public Works Department, City of Santa Rosa; Federico E. Vaca, M.D., M.P.H., Professor & Executive Vice Chair, Emergency Medicine School of Medicine; Faculty Associate, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Irvine
2:20 PM Breakout Sessions
Automation and Safety: Navigating Risks and Opportunities for Different Stakeholders
As automation reshapes the transportation landscape, ensuring safety is more critical than ever– not just for the driverless vehicles but also traditional vehicles, bikes, pedestrians, and the system as a whole, especially from a cybersecurity perspective. This session will explore how different forms of automation, such as robotaxis and automated trucks, as well as other emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, can enhance safety for all. Panelists will also explore the needs of different stakeholders and policy considerations needed to create a safer transportation system in California.
Moderator: James Fishelson, Ph.D., Director, California PATH, UC Berkeley
Panelists: Alexandre Bayen, Ph.D., Liao-Cho Professor of Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, UC Berkeley; Julia Friedlander, Senior Manager of Automated Driving Policy, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency; Jiaqi Ma, Ph.D., Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering, UCLA; Patrick Zubin, Director, Strategy & Business Operations, Lyft Autonomous
Driving Grid Readiness: Integrating Electric Vehicles into California’s Energy System
As demand on California’s power grid continues to rise, the state’s energy infrastructure must adapt to remain resilient and responsive. This session will explore how the growing adoption of EVs will impact grid capacity, with a focus on utility policies, managed charging programs, and bidirectional charging. Panelists will highlight key challenges and opportunities of integrating EVs into California’s energy system while still keeping rates affordable. The panel will also discuss what EV adoption means for California’s clean energy future.
Moderator: Roland Hwang, Policy Director, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis
Panelists: Duncan Callaway, Ph.D., Professor, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, UC Berkeley; Kerry Fleisher, Director of Distributed Energy Resources, Natural Gas, and Retail Rates, California Public Utilities Commission; Alan Jenn, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering, UC Davis; Peter Klauer, Senior Advisor for Smart Grid Technology, California Independent System Operator
Mobility for All: Expanding Access Through Shared and On-Demand Services
Shared and on-demand mobility services offer new opportunities to close transportation gaps and improve access, particularly for underserved communities. This session will explore the role of services like shared micromobility, carsharing, and mobility wallets in expanding equitable access. Panelists will also discuss funding models, performance metrics, and lessons learned from recent pilot and demonstration programs.
Moderator: Lilly Shoup, Smart Mobility & Mobility Transition, Rebel Group
Panelists: Evelyn Blumenberg, Ph.D., Professor, Urban Planning, UCLA; Susan Pike Cayar, Ph.D., Director, Transit Research Center, UC Davis; Mario Cruz, Chief, Climate Investments Branch, California Air Resources Board; Avital Shavit, Senior Director, Office of Innovation, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
3:55 PM Closing Fireside Chat: Turning Vision into Action: Advancing Resilient, Affordable, and Equitable Mobility
This forward-looking fireside chat will wrap up the summit by highlighting key takeaways and outlining practical steps to advance resilient, affordable, and equitable mobility. Thought leaders will discuss innovative policies, funding strategies, and multi-stakeholder partnerships crucial for turning ideas into action. The conversation will focus on overcoming obstacles and setting priorities for the next phase of mobility transformation in California, including next steps for the UC ITS collaboration with the State. The session will end with a call to action, encouraging stakeholders to build bold partnerships, align on shared goals, and take coordinated action to accelerate mobility innovation.
Moderator: Randy Chinn, Policy Advisor, UC Institute of Transportation Studies
Panelists: Kome Ajise, Executive Director, Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG); Christopher Cabaldon, Senator, California State Senate, District 3 Alissa Kendall, Ph.D., Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Director, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis; Jean-Daniel Saphores, Ph.D., Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering; Director, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Irvine; Tanisha Taylor, Executive Director, California Transportation Commission
4:55 PM Closing Remarks Laura Podolsky, Executive Director, University of California Institute of Transportation Studies
