PSR served as the lead UTC sponsor of the TRB Tribal Peer Exchange. Esri, the global leader in geospatial information systems, graciously hosted the three-day event at its corporate headquarters in Redlands, CA, October 23-25, 2024.
In a landmark research initiative, Tribal transportation leaders, government officials, and researchers convened both in-person and virtually for a Transportation Research Board (TRB) national peer exchange entitled, “Equitable Tribal Transportation Systems: Benchmarking Workforce Needs.” The event—which gave voice to Tribal leaders representing Federally recognized tribes from throughout the nation—addressed the complex challenges faced by Tribal governments in developing, maintaining, and advancing transportation infrastructure—a critical yet often under-resourced sector within Tribal lands.
The Summit was the product of many years of planning and engagement by Ron Hall, Tribal Transportation Program Manager for the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute at North Dakota State University and CITT Executive Director Tyler Reeb, who cochaired the summit. Hall and Reeb worked closely with members of the TRB Standing Committee on Native American Transportation Issues (AME30) including Terry Bills, Esri Transportation Industry Director, Cameron Ishaq, National Center for Rural Road Safety (NCRRS) Director, Sherri Bozic AME30 Chair, and Misti Klan who previously served as AME30 chair.
Tribal Transportation Program Manager Ron Hall and Esri founder Jack Dangermond
The summit provided a national platform to highlight the structural inequities in transportation funding, data accessibility, and regulatory hurdles that Tribes encounter. Representatives underscored the unique context in which Tribal governments operate: while they carry responsibilities akin to state transportation departments, their financial and regulatory resources are significantly limited. “We’re likened to a third world country in conditions of transportation infrastructure,” one participant remarked, bringing to light the acute disparities in infrastructure support that Tribal communities endure.
A major theme of the exchange was the necessity of securing equitable funding and workforce development opportunities. Participants cited the need for federal agencies to support tribes with sustainable financial models that respect Tribal sovereignty. As it stands, tribes often rely on short-term, competitive federal grants, which are insufficient for addressing substantial maintenance backlogs and workforce shortages. "Step up and pay the bill,” urged one Tribal leader, calling on Congress to address the funding gap that inhibits Tribal governments from achieving self-determination to successfully design, develop, operate, and maintain their essential transportation systems. Tribal leaders also highlighted a range of challenges related to workforce gaps associated with crucial transportation projects, leading to a reliance on outside contractors and a difficulty in developing institutional knowledge.
Participants also highlighted a limited amount of data access. Tribal representatives expressed frustration over delays in accessing critical transportation data due to federal gatekeeping, which hampers project planning and safety improvements. The dialogue also extended to exploring more direct pathways to Tribal autonomy in data and project management, potentially through legislative adjustments that acknowledge Tribal self-governance in transportation systems.
Participants in the national TRB tribal peer exchange included members of multiple Tribes and Tribal organization, including the Red Lake Tribe, Pueblo of Jemez, Ak-Chin Indian Community, Pawnee Nation, Mescalero Apache Tribe, Navajo Nation, Chickasaw Nation, Crow Tribe, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, Sitka Tribe of Alaska, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes, Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, and Hoopa Valley Tribe.
The Pacific Southwest Regional (PSR) University Transportation Center (UTC) served as the lead UTC sponsor for the peer exchange in collaboration with the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute (UGPTI), the Small Urban, Rural and Tribal Center on Mobility (SURTCOM) and the National Center for Sustainable Transportation (NCST).
A report covering the results of the peer exchange and a related follow-up survey with national Tribal leaders are forthcoming.