Building Smarter Mobility Together: Academic-Industry-Transit Collaboration for Path-TN

9:30 – 10:00 AM: Registration & Light Refreshments

• Check-in
• Breakfast and networking

10:00 – 10:30 AM: Opening Session – Welcome & Context Setting

• Welcome Remarks:
  • Vanderbilt University
  • University of Memphis
  • Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD)
• Overview:
  • The vision behind PATH-TN: Partnership for AI-driven Multimodal Transportation Services Integration
  • Importance of collaboration across academia, industry, and transit
  • Goals and outcomes for the workshop

10:30 – 12:00 PM: Session 1 – OEM and Transit Perspectives on Workforce Mobility

• Part A: OEM Led (10:30 – 11:00 AM)
  • How does current transit service affect OEM operations and workforce mobility needs?
  • What interim strategies have OEMs implemented to address workforce mobility challenges?
  • What are the biggest constraints (policy, demographic, economic) faced by OEMs?
  • What kind of innovation is needed (e.g., AVs, shift coordination, employer-transit links)?
• Part B: Transit Agency Led (11:00 – 11:30 AM)
  • Participants: MTA (Nashville), CARTA, Knoxville Area Transit, MATA
  • What has been done to support workforce mobility?
  • What are the challenges in expanding or adapting services?
  • What partnerships would help?
• Integrated Discussions (11:30 – 12:00 PM)
  • Alignment of goals, needs, and constraints
  • Planning and operational opportunities
  • Gaps between industry needs and transit goals
  • Opportunities for pilot demonstrations
  • How AI tools can improve workforce mobility

12:00 – 1:00 PM: Working Lunch with Posters and Demonstrations

• Themed tables by topic: Data, AV/microtransit, workforce service models, policies
• Lunch

1:00 – 2:15 PM: Session 2 – Tools, Data, and Planning Landscape

• Academia Led:
  • TN’s current transit gaps
  • Partner challenges: ridership decline, rising costs, labor shortage, infrequent service
• Tool Demonstrations:
  • Digital Twin-based Bus Operations Center (BOC)
  • Service Zone Generator (CARTA Use Case)
  • On-demand forecasting and vehicle positioning tools
• Framework Presentation:
  • Current vs. optimal state
  • Metrics for progress tracking
• Questions:
  • What data/simulations are needed?
  • How to adapt tools for decision-makers?

2:15 – 2:30 PM: Break

2:30 – 3:45 PM: Session 3 – Designing the Path Forward

• Breakout Design Activity:
  • Sustainability goals
  • Governance and collaboration models
  • Funding pathways and coordination
  • Data sharing and decision tools
• Integrated Discussions:
  • Funding & partnerships
  • Tool development
  • Policy, regulation, and pilot planning

3:45 – 4:30 PM: Closing Session – Commitments and Next Steps

• Facilitator Recap:
  • Highlights and emerging themes
• Discussion:
  • Commitments and working groups
  • Next meetings and pilots
  • Available tools to implement
• Closing Remarks: Vanderbilt University, University of Memphis
• Workshop Deliverables:
  • Workshop Summary Report
  • Stakeholder & Requirements Map
  • Tool Development Brief
  • 3-Year Path-TN Vision