President's Column - C. Gregory Bereskin

Many of you have noticed recent changes in the Transportation Research Forum (TRF) website and address and have wondered about the changes in both the TRF structure and access methods following termination of the management agreement between TRF and the Eno Foundation.

As the relationship between Eno and TRF was nearing its end, Eno also decided to discontinue publication of the Transportation Quarterly (TQ) as a journal. Since the Journal of the Transportation Research Forum (JTRF) and TQ were being jointly published, it became necessary for the council to seek alternative publication capabilities if JTRF were to continue. This search was accomplished by a committee headed by Mike Babcock. The committee recommended that the Journal be again taken inside TRF and Mike agreed to continue as editor in chief. Printing and distribution would be handled through the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute in North Dakota. In addition, Mike contacted the Journal of Economic Literature. The JTRF has been accepted for article listing. This will help JTRF retain its importance as a location for transportation sector analysis in both cross-discipline cross-modal research.

With the Journal's publication moving, there was a suggestion that perhaps it would also be appropriate to move the website to the same location. This was accomplished quickly and efficiently and is currently accessible under the URL of www.TRForum.org. The website is undergoing continuous construction. We intend to eventually have many TRF-related functions accessible through the website including annual meeting registration and membership information with credit card facility. There has also been discussion of including a section with electronic archiving of both past TRF journals and conference proceedings and (perhaps) other journals as appropriate. We believe this should bring sufficient value to our members on an active basis. I suggest that if you have not looked at the website lately you do so and bookmark it for future reference.

Also with the termination of the Eno agreement, it was necessary for TRF to make some changes in management oversight. The initial choice for a new executive vice president unfortunately lasted for a period of only six months. It then became incumbent on the council to find a new executive vice president. Gene Griffin, director of the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, offered to assume this role in addition to having the Journal and website handled through his location. We believe there are great synergies possible here. Gene brings an unbounded enthusiasm to this position and we look forward to a long period of joint collaboration.

The remaining question is "Where do we go from here?" As TRF president I see several areas where we will move forward. First, with the Journal and general oversight in competent hands, I see positive motion on both fronts. Second, I look forward to the annual meeting in Evanston, Illinois, (March 21-23) in concert with the 50th anniversary of Northwestern University's Transportation Center. The preliminary program looks like it will lead to interesting sessions and much cross-cultural discussion. Finally, as we look forward to changing transportation technologies, I see the TRF as the one organization that has and will continue to provide a truly cross-modal and cross-sectoral forum for discussion between academics, consultants, industry practitioners, and government officials.

For those of you who have been continuing TRF members, I thank you for your support. For former TRF members, I hope you will re-evaluate your needs and rejoin a vital and vibrant organization. For those of you who have never belonged to TRF, I invite you to join a truly dynamic forum for discussion of the transport sector.