Global Road Voices

1x04 Rethinking Freight for a Sustainable Future

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0200

PIARC’s fourth podcast episode is now live!

It focuses on Sustainable Freight — exploring how road transport can evolve to reduce its environmental impact while ensuring efficiency and reliability.

Hear from leading experts:
• Patrick Malléjacq, Secretary General of PIARC
• Olivier Quoy, CEO of Atlandes (motorway company) and Chair of PIARC Technical Committee 2.3 “Sustainable Freight”

They share insights on the challenges and opportunities of greener freight transport, innovative solutions, and how international cooperation can drive a more sustainable future for the sector.

Learn more about PIARC’s work on sustainable freight: https://www.piarc.org/en/

Available on:
[YouTube] (with video and subtitles in English; French and Spanish coming soon)
Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Amazon Music

1x03 Road Safety: Trends, Challenges, and Solutions

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0200

PIARC’s third podcast episode is now live. It focuses on road safety in practice. Hear from leading experts:

• John Milton, USA, Chair of PIARC Technical Committee 3.1 "Road Safety"
• John Barrell, UK, Member of the Committee 3.1 "Road Safety"
• Miguel Caso Flórez, Spain, PIARC Technical Director (moderator)

They discuss real-world insights on policy implementation, technical challenges, and how to foster a safety culture globally.

Road Safety Manual: https://roadsafety.piarc.org/en

Available on:
[YouTube] (with video and subtitles in English; French and Spanish coming soon)
Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Amazon Music

1x02 Paving the Way to Net Zero: PIARC’s Global Push for Decarbonization

Fri, 02 May 2025 11:00:00 +0200

In this episode of Global Road Voices, host Nadia Lappa (Technical Advisor for Decarbonisation) speaks with leading experts Fabio Pasquali (Strategic Theme Coordinator for Decarbonization) and Jan Pettersson (Chair of the Technical Committee 3.5) to unpack one of the most urgent issues facing the transport sector—decarbonization. With roads accounting for a quarter of global CO₂ emissions, this conversation explores how countries are tackling the transition to net zero, the role of international collaboration, emerging technologies like Electric Road Systems, and what’s needed to turn bold climate commitments into real-world impact. Recorded just ahead of PIARC’s first-ever International Conference on Road Decarbonization in Vienna in May 2025, this episode offers insights into the innovations, policies, and partnerships shaping a sustainable transport future.

Useful links: Electric road systems: a solution for the future?, Technical Report, https://www.piarc.org/en/order-library/29690-en-Electric%20road%20systems:%20a%20solution%20for%20the%20future

1X01 Christos Xenophontos

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 17:00:00 +0200

The changing role of transport agencies: Why adaptation is key?

Transport agencies around the world are evolving— but why is change necessary? In this episode, PIARC Secretary General Patrick Malléjacq sits down with Christos Xenophontos, Chair of PIARC Technical Committee 1.1 Performance of Transport Administrations and representative of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (USA), to discuss the future of transport governance.

Drawing on insights from the PIARC Technical Report “Envisioning the Transport Agency of the Future – State of Knowledge”, they explore how transport agencies can embrace research and innovation to drive economic growth and sustainable development. The conversation highlights how the sector is responding to rapid technological, environmental, and societal changes, with a special focus on the role of Artificial Intelligence in transportation networks. Finally, they emphasize the importance of a skilled workforce in bringing transport policies to life.

Useful links:
Envisioning the Transport Agency of the Future, Technical Report https://www.piarc.org/en/order-library/45224-en-Envisioning%20the%20Transport%20Agency%20of%20The%20Future%20–%20State%20of%20Knowledge
Evaluating the Transformation of Transport Administrations, Technical Report https://www.piarc.org/en/order-library/31283-en-Evaluating%20the%20Transformation%20of%20Transport%20Administrations%20-%20Technical%20Report