The Seattle Times event series, LiveWire – Conversations that Spark Insight, will present “Gridlocked: Driving solutions to our region’s traffic jams” on Thursday, October 29, 6:30 p.m. at the University of Washington’s Kane Hall.

The Seattle Times LiveWire event series features meaningful discussion about vital issues impacting our region and its people. The events bring together local and national experts for provocative conversations on key topics moderated by Seattle Times journalists.

This fourth Seattle Times LiveWire event, “Gridlocked: Driving solutions to our region’s traffic jams,”

will feature local and national leaders in a conversation exploring why the greater Puget Sound region continues to be rated among the worst in the nation in traffic congestion and creative ideas to turn its transportation problem around.

Seattle Times journalist and opinion writer Thanh Tan will moderate a discussion about the region’s current traffic and transportation woes and the dire need for innovative problem solving as this fast-growing region accommodates new residents as well as the economic imperative for the movement of goods. Joining Thanh will be Bryan Mistele, CEO of INRIX, Seattle-area technology company working to transform how people and commerce move across the world’s transportation networks; City of Seattle’s Director of Transportation Scott Kubly; the University of Washington’s Mark Hallenbeck, a nationally recognized transportation engineering researcher and recipient of the 2013 Washington State section of the Institute for Traffic Engineer’s Lifetime Achievement Award; and Jarrett Walker, international consultant in public transit network design and policy, and author of “Human Transit: How Clearer Thinking about Public Transit Can Enrich Our Communities and Our Lives.”

Microsoft has partnered with The Seattle Times as the presenting sponsor for the first four LiveWire events. Also partnering on the series as principal sponsor is the University of Washington, and the Sabey Corporation as major sponsor. Event sponsors include Sound Transit and Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT). For information on LiveWire sponsorships, contact Seattle Times Director of Strategic Partnerships Suzanne Canino, at 206.652.6374 or at scanino@seattletimes.com.

LiveWire events are free to the public, though tickets are required. Learn more and register at livewire.seattletimes.com.

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