Laura Rogers | The Ray

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Presentation Description

This presentation will focus on how environmentally preferred design elements incorporated into transportation infrastructure projects can positively benefit the life cycle economics of the project. Understanding the economic benefits of implementing environmentally preferred design elements is paramount for industry stakeholders to build safer, more resilient, and more sustainable infrastructure.

Transportation infrastructure projects have traditionally posed environmental challenges, yet the integration of environmentally preferred design elements offers a transformative approach. This presentation will showcase how environmentally preferred design strategies, ranging from material selection to nature-based solutions, yield tangible economic benefits across project life cycles. By making upfront investments in sustainable design elements, projects realize long-term savings through reduced operational and maintenance costs and enhancing the capability to reuse and recycle materials and structural elements for future use. Additionally, the incorporation of environmentally preferred design elements can stimulate economic growth by attracting investments and workforce development, thereby fostering local economies and enhancing community resilience.

This presentation will delve into real-world examples demonstrating how environmentally preferred design elements not only safeguards natural resources but also unlocks pathways for inclusive economic prosperity. This presentation aims to empower policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders with actionable insights to embrace environmentally preferred design elements as a catalyst for transformative infrastructure development, steering us towards a greener and more prosperous future.

Speaker Biography

Laura Rogers is the Deputy Director at The Ray, responsible for the development and execution of operational policies for the organization, and transferring and scaling the sustainable technologies demonstrated on The Ray Highway to transportation agencies nationally and internationally. A skilled transportation infrastructure professional offering 18 years of experience in environmental program management, energy, sustainability, innovation, and regulatory compliance in the nonprofit, federal, state, and private sectors.

At The Ray, Laura is responsible for driving the organization's net-zero transportation mission forward, managing every aspect of day-to-day operations. Leverage public-private-philanthropic partnerships (P4) to support over 50 transportation agencies in 31 states to advance their pursuit of sustainable infrastructure through technology transfer, connections to private sector technologists & experts, connections to peer transportation agencies, traditional & innovative financing mechanisms, data analysis, technical assistance, procurement assistance, project organization & facilitation, policy analysis, and public awareness & promotion.

Prior to joining The Ray, Laura worked for 14 years in the federal, state and private sectors in the areas of environmental program management, sustainability, energy, and regulatory compliance. Most recently, Laura led the energy, sustainability and environmental stewardship policies and programs at Maryland Department of Transportation Headquarters. Laura holds a BS of Justice Studies from Arizona State University, and is a Certified Climate Change Professional (Association of Certified Climate Change Officers).

Co-presenters

Mike Arellano
Texas Department of Transportation

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