This week more than 3,000 transportation professionals will gather in West Lafayette for the 110th annual Purdue Road School Transportation Conference and Expo.

Arvind Raman, the John A. Edwardson Dean of the College of Engineering, will welcome attendees during the Opening Session in Stewart Center’s Loeb Playhouse on Tuesday, March 12, at 9:30 a.m. Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) Commissioner Mike Smith will share an update on the agency’s safety efforts then join a panel discussion moderated by Indiana Constructors, Inc. President, Richard Hedgecock, alongside Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter and former City of Westfield Mayor, Andy Cook. Panel members will share experience and insights on the issues of roadway and traffic safety, as well as the importance of partnership in the ongoing effort to create widespread change.

“Purdue Road School is always a highlight of my year,” said INDOT Commissioner Mike Smith. “I’m looking forward to expanding on INDOT’s renewed safety efforts during the opening session and sharing our mission with attendees.”

This year’s Road School, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday (March 12-13) offers more than 200 sessions designed for federal, state, and local agencies, as well as industry, consulting, and academic colleagues. These sessions are organized into 18 tracks and will be presented in Stewart Center and several adjacent classroom buildings on Purdue’s campus.

“Road School is an important activity that helps fulfill Purdue’s land grant mission for practicing professionals who plan, design, build and operate our transportation infrastructure,” said Purdue civil engineering professor and Joint Transportation Research Program (JTRP) director Darcy Bullock. “This year we are offering over 200 technical sessions ranging from emerging electric vehicle technologies to traditional engineering topics related to project planning, design, and construction.  We look forward to engaging with more than 3,000 attendees at the 110th Purdue Road School.”

Information about the schedule and technical program is available at https://roadschool.purdue.edu/.

John Haddock, a Purdue civil engineering professor and director of Indiana Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) said, “Purdue Road School brings together professionals from local agencies, INDOT and industry partners for two full days of networking and learning. Building and fostering these relationships are crucial to improving transportation in Indiana.”

Purdue Road School is co-sponsored by the Joint Transportation Research Program (JTRP) and Indiana Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP).  Purdue Road School traces its origin to 1913, when W.K. Hatt, head of Purdue’s School of Civil Engineering, initiated a conference to help county surveyors and city engineers develop and maintain Indiana’s roads and streets.  At the 1914 conference, a resolution was passed calling for a yearly school and the conference officially became known as Purdue Road School. 

Nearly 60 exhibitors will be set up in the north and south ballrooms of the Purdue Memorial Union during the two-day event.  Complimentary coffee, lunch, and afternoon refreshments are supported in part by the exhibitors.  Road School participants are encouraged to visit the Exhibit Hall between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. each day.

Professional Development Hours (PDH) and Continuing Education Units (CEU) are available for all technical sessions.