All of mankind's greatest accomplishments ­ from building the great pyramids to putting a man on the moon to the invention of the automated driving car ­ began as a project. This presentation introduces the concept of project management and the steps to becoming a certified PMP. There are a growing number of fields in which project management is not a title but a job requirement. This underscores a major advantage to being good at managing projects; and that the basic project management methodology is transferable across most businesses.

9 am -1 pm Wayne State University
2:00 pm – 4 pm Toyota
more details forthcoming 

Public private partnerships are commonly known for increasing rail programs; however, partnerships within bus projects have also funded capital and operation projects successfully. 

• Bus departs hotel at 10:30 AM and returns at 12:30 PM
• 75 person limit
• There is an $18 fee for this session

According to published research published by the National Institute of Mental Health each year, depression affects at least 10 million people, often during their most productive years – between the ages of 25 and 44. The transportation industry is no exception. In addition to personal suffering, depression takes its toll at the workplace. Closely associated with depression is Anxiety and Stress in the workplace. People may turn down a promotion or other opportunity because it involves travel or public speaking, make excuses to get out of office parties, staff lunches and other events or meetings with coworkers or be unable to meet deadlines. This presentation is focused on the transportation industry, some of the unique situations facing workers and discuss methods to identify and alleviate some of the contributing factors causing depression and anxiety among our employees.

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is operating its freeway lighting system via an innovative Public/Private Partnership ¬ the first of its kind in the United States. This presentation will discuss the why, how and what of this unique procurement and delivery process and how it could transform future lighting projects around the country.

• Bus departs hotel at 4:15 PM and returns at 5:45 PM
• 50 person limit
• There is a $1.50 transportation fee for this session

30 Person Capacity

Depart at 9am and Return 11am

There is no charge for this tour

The QLine streetcar opened to the public on May 12, 2017, and you are here just in time to experience it. We invite you to ride the QLine and visit the Penske Tech Operations Center for a behind-the-scenes tour. The Tech Center was completed in 2016 and is home to our streetcar operations, staff, and light maintenance. As a part of the tour, we will share the QLine’s story from its initial concept through construction and startup. The QLine is a one-of-a-kind example of private, philanthropic, and federal agencies partnering to fund public infrastructure through a non-profit entity. Every aspect of this project has been unique, from stakeholder engagement to business partnerships, sponsorship, and operations.

Technology push has created a new social dynamics in our life. ITS may not be an exception. A well thought transition plan is required based on our current understanding.

30 Person Capacity

Led by Maintenance Manager Ernest Latham
Board and Ride People Mover from the Renaissance Center

The Detroit People Mover (DPM) officially opened to the public on July 31, 1987. Owned and operated by the Detroit Transportation Corporation, an agency of the Detroit city government, DPM is a driverless car system that stops at 13 stations, eight of which were built into existing downtown office buildings. One of the stations—Times Square—is the site of the Operations Center. Each station displays original, creative artwork on its walls, including a piece on permanent loan from the Detroit Institute of Arts.

Initially, DPM ran counter-clockwise, but today, its clockwise direction has one short, relatively steep uphill climb, then it coasts downhill for a majority of the ride. This allows the train to use gravity to accelerate, making each $0.75 round-trip slightly faster than when it was originally designed. The elevated track is unique, and is one of only five in the country.

The tour will include a ride on the Detroit People Mover and a review of the maintenance facility.

Every day the transportation industry is losing talent due to attrition. This workshop/presentation will provide best practices, tips and practical approaches on how to strategically develop and implement coaching and mentoring programs.

The project management triangle is well known as consisting of Scope, Cost and Time and all three must be effectively managed to have a successful quality outcome of the project. A common misnomer in managing projects is that you can choose any two of the three and in the municipal infrastructure field time is often the third not chosen to be  prioritized. This presentation will help provide understanding and tools to be able to prioritized. This presentation will help provide understanding and tools to be able to assess validity of delay claims, how to prepare for and prevent unnecessary claims. Topics covered will include, types of schedules, critical path method, float, longest path, best management techniques, baselines, progress updates, resource loading and cost forecasting. At the end of the presentation the attendants should have a better understanding of critical path scheduling and better prepared to discuss schedules and delay claims with the Contractor, Engineer and other stakeholders.

• Bus departs hotel at 1:10 PM and returns at 4:45 PM
• 30 person limit

The MTA’s Small Business Development Program has created a new paradigm for all small businesses in the construction industry, including but not limited to Minority, Women and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, to increase their contract opportunities, enhance their technical and business capabilities and grow their businesses by allowing emerging MWDBEs to bid work as prime construction contractors.

Multimodal transit technology and Web personalization can provide transit agencies universal options integrated with a rider’s daily life. In short, this transit Personalization technology connects public transit agencies with each customer more effectively, more intuitively and most of all, more intelligently helping every individual ‘get around’ in more meaningful ways. Therefore, this technology saves time and money for the agency as well as each rider.

In this session, HUBs will learn tips for identifying large opportunities that propel their firms; understand how to increase value and competitive edge in the eyes of both the client and the prime in order to win more work; and leave with tangible tools to set their pursuit strategies up for success.

Various research studies have already identified the multimodal transportation values of Millennials. This session goes a step further and diverges into the transportation workplace. What unique role and impact do Millennials have as professionals in transportation. The panel discussion is three prong: it will explore and identify, 1) multigenerational challenges and opportunities, 2) mutual concerns toward the progress of the industry and 3) successful strategies that companies can implement to attract, retain and empower Millennials.

Somat Engineering, Inc. (Somat) was tasked by HNTB and MDOT with a large scale environmental investigation for the M-1 rail corridor after the construction and excavation had already been completed on about 20% of the railway corridor. Time was of the essence. Recurring Sampling plans and interim reporting for segments of the corridor length became the mode of operation.

Understanding the groups that makeup our modern workforce and how to find value in what each group brings to them.

Cutting edge research and advancements being made in southeast Michigan associated with “Connected & Automated Vehicle” (CAV) global initiative.

The project was selected to be procured as a design build, so as to provide unique engineering process to address the geotechnical challenges of a 40 foot deep deposit of peat and marl, two high head artesian aquifers, and an environmentally sensitive wetlands through which the new bridge was to pass. The innovative design-build approach taken by MDOT allowed the contractor and design team to develop efficient and cost effective concepts in selecting the foundation design to meet the project goals. The entire project, including two 500-foot-long bridges and 1,300 feet of roadway, was completed in 77 days.

Today, with much of our national infrastructure on virtual life support, we have an opportunity to rebuild smartly – in a way that includes everyone. Together, we can create jobs, build more connected communities, catalyze a more inclusive and dynamic economy; and significantly expand socioeconomic opportunity.

Details forthcoming

Details forthcoming

Today’s leaders will need to embrace and deploy different strategies to attract, develop and retain the right kind of talent to be successful in tomorrow’s rapidly approaching business climate.

Presentation of models to lessen the effects of construction among businesses and residents.