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December 1, 2000 |
| ELECTRIC CARS, SCOOTERS & BIKES SPOTLIGHT FORUM MTA'S FIRST TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION FORUM TO BE HELD DECEMBER 7 MTA's first Technology and Innovation Forum will showcase new and exciting technologies that are now emerging, including state-of-the-art electronic devices and computer programs as well as an array of electric vehicles that include electric and hybrid cars, scooters and bicycles. "The advances in technology over the last 10 years have transformed the way we get things done," said Los Angeles County Supervisor and MTA Board Chair Yvonne Brathwaite Burke. "It's clear to the MTA and its Board of Directors that as technology has changed the way we communicate, it is also changing the way we travel." The day-long conference, scheduled for Thursday, December 7 from 8:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. at MTA's headquarters building, One Gateway Plaza in downtown Los Angeles, will look at the future of transportation in LA County and how the transportation infrastructure may be impacted by new technology and innovations. "As we look toward the future, there are really no magic bullets in terms of transportation solutions for the region," said James de la Loza, MTA executive officer for planning and programming. "It is clear that we are not going to be able to build our way out of congestion. We need to make better use of what we already have, target our resources and use our infrastructure more efficiently." Improving efficiency in the current systems is the charge of the Transportation Demand Management (TDM) planning efforts and one of the reasons for the forum. MTA is currently developing a draft of a 25-year Long Range Transportation Plan which will be the blueprint for transportation planning and investment in Los Angeles County. The draft plan should be available for public review in January. MTA Board of Directors will consider adoption of the plan next Spring.
Seating is limited and those wishing to attend the forum need to make reservations by Tuesday, December 5 by calling Shelly Azizi at (213) 922-3027 or e-mail azizis@mta.net. Special technical presentations will be provided by Ford and General Motors, which now produce hybrid and electric cars, as well as computer and electronic devises under development by IBM and AT&T. In addition displays will include fuel cells, micro turbine engines, electric cars, scooters and bicycles. "This forum will bring together the people who are developing the technologies that will carry the region well into the 21st century," said Burke. "We're looking to the innovations of today to help provide tomorrow's transportation solutions." # # # MTA-128 |
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Scheduled to speak at the all-day Technology and Innovation Forum
will be science fiction author Ray Bradbury, Todd Litman, an expert in
Transportation Demand Management, Joel Kotkin, from Pepperdine University,
School of Public Policy, UCLA professor, Hayes Bautista, expert in demographics,
UC Davis Physicist and expert in Fuel Cell Technology Marshal Miller,
e-business experts Ann Strisaker and Siva Darivemula of IBM as well as
MTA Board Chair Burke and MTA Board member Jose Lagaspi.