Eno @ 100:
Legacy. Innovation. Impact.
Legacy. Innovation. Impact.
2021 Impact Report
The How and Why of Eno’s Impact
A Note from Eno’s Leadership
Robert Puentes
President and CEO
James Burnley
Board Chairman
Here at Eno, the importance of transportation was abundantly clear in 2021.
In a year that kicked off with the ongoing health crisis, we focused on travel restrictions in aviation and ridership declines in public transit. In the summer, the political landscape was shaped by the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and we reported on this generational infusion of funding for all modes of transportation, especially rail. The year was capped off with the supply chain chaos and concerns about resiliency of global trade. And all throughout 2021 were ongoing social issues stemming, in part, from lack of access and isolation, climate change worries, cybersecurity threats, and crushing workforce challenges all throughout the economy.
But for those outside of our industry looking back on the year, transportation is almost certainly not the primary issue they would associate with 2021. (Ok, there was that ship that got stuck in the Suez Canal.) Yet while it may not be a priority issue itself for most Americans, we know transportation touches nearly every aspect of American life.
Transportation enables global trade, powers businesses, connects workers to their jobs, creates new opportunities for struggling communities, and protects America from an unpredictable natural environment. That’s true across the whole transportation ecosystem: whether private investments in freight railroads, seaports, and pipelines, to public investments in roads, transit, bike/ped, and airports.
It’s also why we remind ourselves that if we are transportation people talking to other transportation people about transportation things, we get transportation outcomes. Of course, that is critically important to do in most cases. But, if we are smart, and connect transportation to issues of primary concern to most Americans—economy, environment, equity, health—we exponentially increase the audience for our work and greatly expand the reach of our impact.
With that in mind, over the next several months we will bring our insightful work on transportation project delivery to ground in specific places like Austin and New York. Our focus on cybersecurity will hone in on real threats to pipelines, transit networks, airlines, and supply chains. We will work to bring together the aviation and telecommunication industries to avoid last year’s 5G fiasco in the future. We will connect with workforce intermediaries to build sector strategies across the transportation space. Our professional development programs will continue to deploy innovative tools for deep engagement in an ever-changing work environment. And much more, including new tactics for communications and outreach.
The bottom line is that we strive for maximum impact in everything we do. In fact, we are allergic to check-the-box exercises, reports that sit on shelves, and echo-chamber conversations. That is not who we are. True impact is only realized and sustained through partnerships and meaningful collaborations. Over the next year, we look forward to working with you all, strengthening those relationships, and realizing our vision for a transportation system that fosters economic vitality, advances social equity, and improves the quality of life for all.
Centennial Spotlight
Celebrating 100 years through
Learning from Pioneers and ExpertsConvening Changemakers in Transportation
Education and Innovation
Throughout 2021, Eno provided multichannel, interactive virtual programming to bring professionals together for meaningful learning and network-building in the midst of the on-going pandemic.
Three programs formed the pillars of our Centennial Celebration:
Steering Committee
Lillian Borrone, Co-Chair
Diane Woodend Jones, Co-Chair
Asha Weinstein Agrawal
Avital Barnea
Susan Binder
James Burnley
Emil Frankel
Patricia Hendren
Joung Lee
Linda O’Bryant
Jerry Premo
Joshua Schank
Robert Skinner
Stephen Van Beek
Martin Wachs
Martin Whitmer
Tay Yoshitani
Honorary Committee
David Bragdon
Nicholas Calio
Jane Chmielinski
Chris Connor
Grace Crunican
Larry Dahms
Thomas Deen
Mortimer Downey
Geraldine Knatz
Damian Kulash
Ray LaHood
William Millar
Debra Miller
Norman Mineta
Neil Pederson
Federico Peña
Mary Peters
Robert Prince
Leslie Richards
Janette Sadik-Khan
Frederick Salvucci
Paul Skoutelas
Rodney Slater
Peter Stangl
Beverley Swaim-Staley
Jim Tymon
Traci Ulberg
Phillip Washington
Thank you to all of you who helped make the Centennial a success!
Diane Woodend Jones
Centennial Co-Chair
Lillian Borrone
Centennial Co-Chair
James Burnley
Steering Committee & Trivia Co-Host Extraordinaire
Robert Puentes
Centennial Steering Committee
Patricia Hendren
Steering Committee & Institute Speaker
Mary Peters
Centennial Honorary Committee
Martin Whitmer
Centennial Steering Committee
Tay Yoshitani
Centennial Steering Committee
Bradley Mims
Centennial Institute Speaker
Neil Pederson
Centennial Honorary Committee
Andrew Salzburg
Centennial Institute Speaker
Paul Skoutelas
Centennial Honorary Committee
Adie Tomer
Centennial Steering Committee
Brianne Eby
Centennial Institute Speaker
Emil Frankel
Centennial Steering Committee
Nuria Fernandez
Centennial Institute Speaker
Paul Lewis
Centennial Institute Speaker
Karen Price
Centennial Steering Committee
Veronica McBeth
Centennial Institute Speaker
Stephanie Pollack
Centennial Institute Speaker
Shruti Vaidyanathan
Centennial Institute Speaker
Samuel Spector
Centennial Institute Speaker
Lance Lyttle
Centennial Institute Speaker
Julie Timm
Centennial Institute Speaker
Ines Sigel
Centennial Institute Speaker
Carlos Braceras
Centennial Institute Speaker
Manu Agni
Centennial Scholar
Andy Cebula
Centennial Institute Speaker
Emily Feenstra
Essay Contest Judge
Asha Weinstein Agrawal
Centennial Steering Committee
Rhonda Allen
Essay Contest Judge
Martin Wachs
Centennial Steering Committee
Avital Barnea
Centennial Steering Committee
Phil Washington
Centennial Honorary Committee
Jonathan Hammond
Centennial Institute Speaker
Katie Donohue
Centennial Institute Speaker
Caroline Marete
Centennial Institute Speaker
Madeline Gorman
Centennial Institute Speaker
Bonnie Crawford
Centennial Institute Speaker
Bob Costello
Centennial Institute Speaker
Shaileen Bhat
Centennial Institute Speaker
Chellie Cameron
Centennial Institute Speaker
Rodney Slater
Centennial Honorary Committee
Traci Uhlberg
Centennial Honorary Committee
Jim Tymon
Centennial Honorary Committee
Thank you -
for making it possible!
Beverly Swaim-Staley
Centennial Honorary Committee
Robert Prince
Centennial Honorary Committee
Peter Stangl
Centennial Honorary Committee
Steven Higashide
Centennial Scholar
Frederick Salvucci
Centennial Honorary Committee
Janette Sadik-Khan
Centennial Honorary Committee
Leslie Richards
Centennial Honorary Committee
Frederick Peno
Centennial Honorary Committee
Norm Mineta
Centennial Honorary Committee
Debra Miller
Centennial Honorary Committee
Ray LaHood
Centennial Honorary Committee
Damian Kulash
Centennial Honorary Committee
Geraldine Knatz
Honorary Committee & Essay Judge
Thomas Deen
Centennial Honorary Committee
Larry Dahms
Centennial Honorary Committee
Mortimer Downey
Honorary Committee & Essay Judge
Anna Zivarts
Centennial Scholar
Grace Crunican
Centennial Honorary Committee
Chris Connor
Centennial Honorary Committee
William Millar
Centennial Honorary Committee
Simon Tan
Centennial Scholar
David Bragdon
Centennial Honorary Committee
Steve Van Beek
Honorary Committee & Institute Speaker
Robert Skinner
Centennial Steering Committee
Jerry Premo
Centennial Steering Committee
Jane Chmielinski
Centennial Honorary Committee
Linda O'Bryant
Centennial Steering Committee
Joung Lee
Centennial Steering Committee
Susan Binder
Steering Committee & Institute Speaker
Marjorie Dickman
Centennial Steering Committee
Jeff Davis
Steering Committee & Institute Speaker
John Clark
Cen
Rachel Aland
Centennial Institute Speaker
Cecilia Viggiano
Centennial Institute Speaker
Carol Tyson
Centennial Institute Speaker
Katherine Turner
Centennial Scholar
Bernie Arseneau
Centennial Institute Speaker
Hayden Andersen
Centennial Scholar
Polly Trottenberg
Centennial Institute Speaker
Xavier Harmony
Harriet Tregoning
Centennial Institute Speaker
Naomi Stein
Centennial Institute Speaker
Bob Fox
Centennial Institute Speaker
Dyan Wolfe
Centennial Steering Committee
Kristina Swallow
Centennial Institute Speaker
Jordan Stone
Centennial Institute Speaker
Greg Rogers
Centennial Institute Speaker
Alice Grossman
Centennial Institute Speaker
Jonathan Howard
Centennial Scholar
Connie Llanos
Centennial Institute Speaker
Andrea Hamre
Centennial Scholar
Nadine Lee
Centennial Institute Speaker
Jon Lee
Centennial Institute Speaker
Amy Johnson
Centennial Scholar
Amanda Eaken
Centennial Institute Speaker
Audrey Davis
Centennial Institute Speaker
Steven Polunsky
Centennial Institute Speaker
Marla Westervelt
Centennial Institute Speaker
Pierce Coffee
Centennial Institute Speaker
Joshua Schank
Centennial Steering Committee
Shirya Karam
Centennial Scholar
Sharing Knowledge and Best Practices Across the Industry
Project Delivery and
Eno released Saving Time and Making Cents, a groundbreaking report that helps make clear why rail transit projects cost so much and take so long to deliver in the United States compared to international peers. Through this effort Eno has uncovered that there is no one silver bullet to improving project delivery. Rather, a complex web of issues related to governance, processes, and standards delay projects.
Transit Costs
Eno’s research, comprised of hundreds of expert interviews, a project database, and case studies, identified recommendations for policymakers at all levels of government and practitioners to help deliver transit projects quicker and more cost-effectively. This report and a widely attended symposium are pushing the policy conversation forward to make demonstrable gains in tackling the systemic and growing issue.
Spotlight on the Real-World Impact
Austin, Texas is embarking on a major expansion of its public transit system, including a new downtown transit tunnel and a new light rail system. To ensure efficient delivery of this major capital program, the Austin City Council passed a resolution to explore potential streamlining of the City’s permitting procedures, citing best practices in Eno’s transit cost and project delivery report. At the request of the board of the Austin Transit Partnership (the local government corporation tasked with designing and building the city’s new light rail lines), Eno is also conducting an independent analysis of the corporation’s governance to inform the board’s decision on the best leadership model.
Other regions have sought to incorporate best practices from Eno’s project delivery research. In Seattle, Sound Transit has established a project delivery advisory group to inform the agency’s major capital expansion plans. Similarly, staff at LA Metro have summarized relevant key findings from Eno’s work and their implications for the agency’s programs in a memo to the board. Eno staff have also briefed staff at the Gateway Corporation and USDOT on the report’s recommendations and findings.
Next:
New York Case Study & Analysis of FTA Capital Cost Database
Eno is continuing to investigate governance and project delivery through various research efforts. These include an analysis of transit capital decision making and governance in 10 peer democracies, a standalone case study of governance and project delivery in the New York Region, and an in-depth analysis of the FTA’s Capital Cost Database. These research products will explore project delivery through new lenses while building off of our existing research with new findings and best practices. In addition to these formal work products, the Eno team continues to stay engaged in project delivery through conversations and briefings with agencies across the country, external media interviews, and webinars.
Most-Read BIB Coverage
Jeff Davis
January 8, 2021 – There are several specific hurdles to using budget reconciliation as a vehicle for an infrastructure bill.
Jeff Davis
August 27, 2021 – How did additional funding for public transit go from $85 billion (really $110 billion) in President Biden’s American Jobs Plan, down to $48.5 billion in the June bipartisan infrastructure “framework,” to $39.2 billion in the final bipartisan infrastructure deal?
Jeff Davis
August 2, 2021 – A gigantic, bipartisan infrastructure bill introduced last night (after 72 solid hours of waiting around) is being debated in the Senate this afternoon, with hopes that it will pass that chamber by the end of the week.
Jeff Davis
May 23, 2021 – After months of behind-the-scenes negotiations, the bipartisan leaders of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee yesterday afternoon announced that they have agreed to introduce a five-year, $304 billion highway funding reauthorization bill that the “EPW” Committee will consider at a May 26 executive session.
Jeff Davis
August 1, 2021 – After three straight days of waiting around (since the evening of Thursday, July 29), the 2,702-page bipartisan infrastructure bill, which includes a full surface transportation reauthorization bill and a $180+ billion supplemental appropriation for the US Department of Transportation, was formally offered to the Senate and released to the public today.
Jeff Davis
November 19, 2021 – After a festive November 15 ceremony, President Joe Biden signed the bipartisan infrastructure bill (the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) into law as Public Law 117-58.
Other Highlights from ETW Analysis
The leader in our field for nearly a century, government and industry leaders rely on Eno for timely research and an independent voice on policy issues. Here’s some other highlights of what they are reading.
Top Guest Op-Eds from ETW
ETW guest op-eds are a great way for leaders in the industry to share their thoughts on pressing issues of the day. Here’s the most popular in 2021:
Vice President of Policy and Strategy at Locomation and former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy at the US Department of Transportation
President and CEO, Association of American Railroads
Associate Professor of Logistics, Michigan State University
Principal Transportation Planner, LA Metro and
Mark Vallianatos
Executive Officer of Innovation, LA Metro
A good overview of the Infra bill by @EnoTrans @rpuentes & Jeff Davis. I’d recommend people spend time understanding the nuances of funding by programs, policy on programs, appropriated/future authorization. It’s not as simple as a tweet w/ the overall numbers. Details matter.
In @JDwithTW we trust. All the (transpo) news that’s fit to print.
Excellent 1-hour webinar by Jeff Davis of @EnoTrans explaining the Biden #infrastruture plan. @JDwithTW #ibtta @POTUS
It calls for new federal spending of about $550 billion, coupled w $$ to renew existing programs, which sums up to ~$1T bill. If you want to get technical on transport, suggest you check out @EnoTrans analysis from the summer — www.enotrans.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Rapid-Response-Webinar-Whats-in-the-Bipartisan-Infrastructure-Bill.pdf
Workforce
In 2021, Eno continued work on a two-year Transit Cooperative Research Program effort to evaluate the major challenges facing the transit bus operator workforce in the United States. Bus operator shortages at transit agencies across the United States are causing disruptions to operations. While recent shortages may reflect the direct and indirect effects of COVID-19 (e.g. bus operators contracting the virus or needing to miss work due to an exposure), staffing shortages and other issues facing transit bus operators long predate the pandemic. Eno’s research, comprised of an industry survey and focus group, stakeholder interviews, and case studies of transit agencies with best practices, is aimed at uncovering some of the challenges associated with recruiting, training, and retaining bus operators and identifying effective ways to address those challenges. From this research, Eno will compose a guidebook for industry practitioners.
On-Going Key Policy Initiatives
Aviation Working Group
A long-standing institution at Eno, the Aviation Working Group continues to study and put forth practical recommendations for the aviation industry. In 2021, Eno published a second installation in our series on UAS: Guiding in the New UAS Industry to Safety Excellence. The report addressed two of the urgent gaps in integrating the nascent UAS into the National Airspace System: establishing a safety culture among all users and putting in place the pieces to create a Safety Management System among commercial users. The research distinguishes between low-risk and high-risk UAS activities and recommends few changes to the existing regime for hobbyist UAS pilots and more stringent testing and licensure requirements for commercial operators. The Working Group will continue to engage on key UAS-related issues and also expand to other safety critical policy areas, such as smart and safe allocation of spectrum.
Mobility on Demand Wraps Up
Through a partnership with Los Angeles Metro, King Country Metro, and Sound Transit, Eno led a team of researchers to evaluate two mobility on demand (MOD) pilots in Los Angeles and the Puget Sound regions. MOD refers to transportation services that can be hailed in real time for an impending trip and has been touted as a potential way to deliver first-mile/last-mile connections to public transit. Eno led a research team along with the University of California-Los Angeles, the University of Washington, and the University of Oregon, to evaluate pilot projects for MOD services in the Los Angeles and Puget Sound regions. The results are captured in a series of papers that examine how, when, and why people used the service. Results indicated that while MOD service can be a tool for delivering transit services, there are several limitations including agency cost and less-than-expected use among people with disabilities and lower incomes. The final phase of this research in 2022 will to evaluate how MOD pilots functioned during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Railroad Research Program
Eno launched a standing program to look at the most pressing challenges facing the railroad industry. Made up of freight railroads, passenger railroads, shippers, and state departments of transportation, the Eno Railroad Advisory Panel helps guide and inform the research. In 2021, the program tackled the issue of safety. While freight and passenger railroads are among the safest modes of transportation in the U.S., many of the historical safety gains have leveled off or reversed course. In September 2021 Eno released Safer Railroading, a report with actionable recommendations for federal, state, local, and private sector actors to safety policy back on track.
After taking a pause in 2020 during the COVID pandemic, the Eno/MAX Program went virtual for the first time in its history in 2021. Participants in this transformational program learn based on the four pillars of the model to expand their knowledge and network for long-term career success.
How It All Fits Together to Create Change
Highlights from Sessions to Increase Participants’ Transit Industry Knowledge
This session focused on trends and issues in the transportation industry and how transit fits into the bigger picture. 
What Participants Said:
“Educational. Interactive.”
“Presentation provided very relevant information and specifically the information about how more resources devoted upfront can translate into substantial savings on the back end.”
“How community comments/suggestions can negatively or positively impact a project and the costs.”
Highlights from Sessions to Share Best Practices from Leaders and Peers
What Participants Said:
“The Presenter engaged me from the first moment she spoke. She provided information about her background and how she invested in herself focusing on her passion and drive. She mentioned teaching STEM to girls as early as 3 yrs even though her organization deals with 12-18 yr old. Volunteering and working with young girls are my passion and a light bulb went off in my head about opportunities for so many of them. I thought, “why have I been at one Agency for 20yrs…”
“The primary impact of the session was to understand the various experiences Jannet went through from the beginning of her career to reaching her current position, from the perspective of a black woman in transportation, and some lessons she hopes the MAX program participants can take back to their own agencies.”
“Fix another queen’s crown without telling the world it was crooked is a statement that really moved me. I love this discussion and the importance on being an ally that CARES.”
What Participants Said:
“I appreciated the walkthrough on the platform and discussion on the Business Case prep.”
“The expertise in the room and the opportunity to network and brainstorm together.”
Highlights from Sessions to Build Participants’ Business and Leadership Skills
What Participants Said:
“The innovation session was awesome. I enjoyed all the breakout sessions. But [Deadra Welcome] did a great job of engaging the group.”
“Great insight and information about how to innovate and that everyone can be creative.”
Helped to identify what can really be innovative when you might not think it is.”
“Innovation and creative is a collective and not individual process.”
What Participants Said:
“How to evolve your mind and your employees’ minds!”
“Being a coach is critical no matter what your role.”
“The Habit of Mind resonated with me. I enjoyed learning about the 3 Effective Coaching Mindsets.”
Highlights from Sessions to Help Build Participants’ Networks
Building Better Leaders and a Robust Leadership Network
The 2021 Transportation Senior Executive (TSE) was a part of the GameChanger series, an intensive advanced leadership program with flex scheduling to fit busy calendars. The program is designed for seasoned transportation leaders across the country preparing to take the next step in their careers. Held every Monday over a period of 5 weeks, this program was uniquely curated for individuals who are interested in refining leadership and intrapersonal skills, applying high-level strategic techniques to challenging real-world situations, and committed to emerging as powerful leaders in their organizations. Eno’s TSE program boasts a legacy of alumni who serve at the leadership helm of transportation organizations as General Managers and CEOs. The TSE program is sure to be a game-changer.In Their Own Words: What the Participants Say
“This has been an excellent program; I think the remote environment was excellently handled. In some ways, I got more from the program because it was online and gave me time to reflect privately before engaging publicly. Both Eno and New Legends teams have been amazing. Thank you!”
“Exceptional program. Definitely learned some best practices that I will be able to incorporate in my leadership style.”
“The program exceeded my expectations. Because there was so much rich material shared, I am glad we will still have access to the resources from some time. I also really appreciate that each class gave me something that I could immediately apply and begin seeing results.”
“The VIP speakers provided great insights. I felt connected to my impact group and was able to share and explore new concepts easily with them. I also really enjoyed the thought provoking homework assignments.”
“Overall, job well done. An absolutely engaging experience even in a virtual setting.”
“I really enjoyed the Executive Round tables and the strengths offered by Daniele. The advice given by the executives was specific and something that could be practiced immediately. It was nice to know how others, especially someone with Daniele’s experience, viewed my strengths.”
“It was good to see established executives speak freely and realize that they are human beings who share some of the same challenges we do.”
“The facilitators were great, engaging and attuned to the participants enhancing this virtual environment in lieu of a physical environment which we are all currently impacted due to the pandemic. Job well done!”
“The facilitators and ENO team were wonderful. The knowledge and guidance that was shared and given for personal growth was exceptional. I really felt like the information presented was for me and that the facilitators listened to what I needed to develop and grow as a leader.”
“[T]he training was excellent and i hope to attend more Eno Trainings.”
Top 3 Sessions with the GREATEST IMPACT
Who’s Got the Monkey
Zombie Outbreak & Leading People and Managing Activities (tied)
Storytelling: Leading Naked
Eno Webinar Series
Eno’s highly popular webinar series covers everything transportation, from parking to transit to issues in aviation. Thousands of professionals each year attend and learn during these webinars each year. Start the video below to see a playlist of the top 5 watched webinars in 2021.
Caroline Marete: 2021 Thomas J. O’Bryant Fellow
The Thomas J. O’Bryant Transportation Policy Fellowship offers an opportunity for an aspiring transportation specialist to hone their skills while gaining in-depth experience on policy and practice. During the focused 10-week program, one highly qualified student works in step with the policy team to contribute to research projects and cover Congressional hearings, all while gaining first-hand experience learning what policy research looks like on the ground. Last year, Eno welcomed Caroline Marete, a PhD candidate at Purdue University’s School of Aviation and Transportation Technology, who brought her knowledge and passion for aviation sustainability. As the lead researcher on our Canada case, Caroline acted as an integral part of the policy team’s research on international transit project delivery project. At the culmination of her fellowship, she combined her academic background with her policy experience, writing an ETW op-ed that looked at how to work with aviation stakeholders to minimize the environmental impact of airports.
Inside Eno: Independent and Transparent
Financials
Thanks to the generosity of a diverse and growing number of partners and members across the transportation industry, Eno continues to deliver excellent research and analysis and top-notch professional development programs. In all our endeavors, Eno focuses on our mission, is guided by our core values, and values transparency about our funding, as demonstrated by the Seal of Transparency from Guidestar. We do not seek or accept financial support that would undermine those values or compromise our commitment to remain unbiased and independent. Below is a breakdown of Eno’s program expenses and revenue for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.