View Winners of 2020 Tennessee Sustainable Transportation Awards
Awarded by TDEC and TDOT
Tennessee Sustainable Transportation Forum and Expo
The Tennessee Sustainable Transportation Forum & Expo (STF&E) is an annual conference where attendees share and discover projects that can reshape what is possible in transportation and mobility. In 2020, STF&E was held as a free, online webinar series that promoted research, technology, planning, and policy developments that improve transportation efficiency, reduce vehicle emissions, and address the mobility needs of all. Panelists and speakers from across the country highlighted best practices to transform transportation systems efficiently, affordably, and sustainably. Sign up for the STF&E email list to receive updates on the 2021 forum.
2020 STF&E Webinar Series
The 2020 STF&E webinar sessions occurred every other week throughout October and November. Webinar recordings and speaker information can be found below.
What are the short-term and long-term expectations for the growth of freight transportation? What transportation modes and markets are most heavily impacted, and what are the responsibilities of different actors (e.g., State government, private industry, personal consumers, etc.) when trying to make freight transportation more sustainable? The experts on this panel will answer these questions and more in a dedicated discussion on freight transportation in Tennessee. Click here to watch the webinar recording.
Moderator: Dan Pallme, Assistant Chief of Environment and Planning / Freight and Logistics Director, TDOT
Speaker: Amanda Marruffo, Senior Manager of Environmental Operations, BNSF
Speaker: Amy Kosanovic, Planning Supervisor of the Freight Planning Office, TDOT
Speaker: Kevin Walker, Principal Engineer, CSR Engineering
Rural travelers may encounter mobility challenges specific to their communities, including limited pedestrian or biking infrastructure, lack of exposure to alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies, increased trip mileage, increased rate of mortality in transportation collisions, and more. How can sustainable transportation projects help address these challenges? The STF&E panelists will discuss these considerations and how rural sustainable transportation initiatives can succeed in Tennessee. Click here to watch the webinar recording.
Moderator: Suzanne Carlson, Multimodal Transportation Resources Division Director, TDOT
Speaker: Alex Clegg, Project Development Lead at Build America Bureau, U.S. DOT
Speaker: Mark Graves, Town of Chapel Hill Administrator, Chapel Hill
Speaker: Pingen Chen, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Tennessee Tech University
Speaker: Robert Buckley, AICP, Director of the Office of Financial Management and Program Oversight, Federal Transit Administration – Region IV
The state’s transportation system needs to be resilient and able to recover and allow for safe travel after extreme weather events, major accidents, equipment or infrastructure failures, and other impediments to normal transportation function. The experts on this panel will examine sustainable transportation resilience through the lens of climate adaptation, cybersecurity, transportation planning, and more. Click here to watch the webinar recording.
Moderator: Ben Bolton, Energy Programs Administrator, Office of Energy Programs, TDEC
Speaker: Andrew Joyner, Associate Professor, East Tennessee State University
Speaker: Mark D. Abkowitz, Ph.D., Director of Vanderbilt Center for Environmental Management Studies, Vanderbilt University
Speaker: Tiffany Rad, CEO and Founder, Anatrope, Inc.
The final STF&E webinar will feature a digital “fireside chat” between TDEC Commissioner David Salyers and TDOT Commissioner Clay Bright, moderated by Deputy Commissioners Greg Young of TDEC and Preston Elliott of TDOT. Speakers will highlight exceptional mobility projects from across the state’s diverse geographies and communities, as well as several State-organized resources, programs, and tools that support transportation efficiency, safety, and accessibility for all Tennesseans. Click here to watch the webinar recording.
Speaker: Clay Bright, TDOT Commissioner
Speaker: David Salyers, P.E., TDEC Commissioner
Moderator: Greg Young, TDEC Deputy Commissioner, Bureau of Environment
Moderator: Preston Elliott, TDOT Deputy Commissioner, Environmental and Planning Bureau
In addition to the forum, previous in-person STF&E events have provided the following offerings:
• A luncheon that honors both winners of the Tennessee Sustainable Transportation Awards (TSTAs) and new inductees to the Tennessee Green Fleets (TGF) program
• An alternative fuel vehicle and equipment showcase and an alternative fuel vehicle ride and drive
• A poster session highlighting projects or research focused on the implementation of sustainable transportation and enhanced mobility solutions
• A networking reception coordinated and hosted by the East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition
Explore the links below to learn more about these offerings or to find information on past STF&E events.
Tennessee Sustainable Transportation Awards
The TSTAs recognize outstanding initiatives to improve the efficiency, accessibility, affordability, and sustainability of transportation systems in the state, consistent with ongoing efforts to improve the health and well-being of Tennesseans, provide for a strong economy, and protect and enhance our state’s natural resources.
Nominations for the 2020 TSTAs were due by July 10.
Tennessee Green Fleets
The TGF program offers an opportunity for Tennessee fleets to receive certification for their transportation efficiency efforts. Organized by Tennessee Clean Fuels, TGF certification is based on an applicant’s vehicle data and fleet fuel use. The TGF program recognizes fleets based on actions taken to reduce petroleum consumption, lessen greenhouse gas emissions, and implement alternative fuel vehicles.
Applications for 2020 TGF certification were due by July 29.
Alternative Fuel Vehicle and Equipment Showcase
Each year, Tennessee Clean Fuels assembles an alternative fuel vehicle and equipment showcase for all STF&E attendees. Past participants have exhibited electric, hybrid, propane, compressed or liquefied natural gas (CNG or LNG), biofuel (biodiesel or ethanol), and hydrogen vehicles and equipment from across the state. The showcase highlights local fleets that have adopted alternative fuels, demonstrating the breadth of fleet innovation occurring in Tennessee. Find information on previous showcases here.
Previous STF&E Events
Since the forum’s inception in 2015, STF&E events have been held in Memphis, Chattanooga, Nashville, and Knoxville. While the specific themes for each forum have changed from year to year, STF&E has always celebrated new achievements and opportunities in sustainable transportation, particularly in how such projects and ideas can be implemented in Tennessee to serve the public good. Explore previous STF&E agendas, venues, speakers, and presentation materials here.
All photos courtesy of State of Tennessee staff.