Opening Ceremony
All Congress delegates, accompanying persons and exhibitors are welcome to this ceremony where the President of Mexico, Felipe Calderon Hinojosa will do the honor of opening the XXIVth World Road Congress. The opening ceremony will provide delegates with an introduction to the comprehensive program, including the Congress purpose and goals. Awards to the best contributions submitted to the call for papers will be presented during this session.
Ministers' Session
Theme for discussion:
"Sustainable mobility within social policy".
Description.
Transport is a strategic priority for all countries. It is essential to their economic viability and represents a large investment that has a long term benefit. Society must reconcile economic benefits and demands with the environmental and social impact they produce. Therefore, ensuring that mobility is sustainable has become one of the main goals of road infrastructure administration agencies.
Transport sustainable financing. Financial Solutions that fit together transport policy with environmental problems without overlooking equal social rights and quality of life. Equal opportunity access for basic services. Private sources to finance construction, operation and maintenance of roads. Tax policy, road pricing, user charges, intermodal transport as an option for cost reduction.
Safe mobility. Accident reduction measures, regulation and road safety auditing. Risk management and disaster mitigation. Funding for research and technology innovation, participation of private institutions. Intelligent transport systems (ITS). Road safety education, social costs of accidents.
Environmentally responsible development. Sustainable development Concepts in developed countries compared to transitional and developing countries. Measures to decrease climate change impact - both mitigation and adaptation. Land use planning and urban effects. Reducing high energy use/costs and demand worldwide. Alternative, decarbonised transport futures. Citizen consultation as a means of decision-making. Urban transport sustainable plans in great cities.
Closing Session
The closing session will include a summary of the congress highlights and a presentation on the future direction of the World Road Association, including the presentation of its four-year Strategic Plan. The host country of the next World Road Congress will invite delegates to experience the wonders and innovation of their country during an official handover of the Congress by the Association.
Keynotes Sessions
This is the first time in a World Road Congress organization that Keynote Sessions will be presented. The aim is to maintain congress delegates' attention and to think about topics related to roads.
Specialists will be chosen and conferences will be very attractive.
Speakers will be selected by their recognized experience so they will motivate enthusiasm and interest among congress delegates through topics that will offer future opportunities and perspectives.
At this time the following profiles and topics have been considered, however they could change when the speaker is selected.
Political Profile:
"Social and economic transport impact"
Financial Profile:
"Investment opportunities in the economic world crisis".
Engineering or Research Profile:
"Sustainability and climate change".
"Technological Innovations".
"Great Project challenges (Extraordinary works)"
