Forkenbrock Memorial

PPC - Public Policy Center

David J. Forkenbrock Memorial

David J. Forkenbrock, who was born in Thief River Falls, Minn., came to the UI in 1978 and became a nationally recognized transportation researcher and prominent faculty member for 30 years,serving as professor in the departments of Urban and Regional Planning and Civil and Environmental Engineering. He also served as chair of Urban and RegionalPlanning, chair of the Faculty Senate budget committee, and head of a campus-wide effort to improve interdisciplinary research.

As a result of his research, the UI Public Policy Center in 2005 received a four-year, $16.5 million federal grant to test his mileage-based approach to financing public roads. Forkenbrock developed the study, which uses data gathered by Global Positioning System receivers embedded in vehicles, as an alternative method (to declining fuel tax revenues) of paying for highway maintenance.

Forkenbrock's many years of service to the UI and his vision in founding the Public Policy Center resulted in a center that brought together researchers from a variety of fields and disciplines to impact policy at the local, state and national level through sound academic scholarship. Following his retirement, he continued to serve as a professor emeritus.

Memorial Guestbook

Publicly viewable guestbook entries for David J. Forkenbrock:

Name:	Pete Damiano
Date:	1/29/2008
Comments:	We would like to please invite your comments, stories or remembrances regarding your interactions with Dave, a great friend, mentor and colleague to many. Professionally, I personally will be forever indebted to Dave for taking a chance on hiring this dentist, recently graduated from a research grad program, to begin the Health Policy Research Program at the Center. I hope he never regretted that decision and will continue to work to keep his legacy alive in the activities of the PPC. Personally, I have many fond memories of good times shared with Dave and Dorie. He so enjoyed sharing time with children, especially his grandchildren. His natural genuineness and courage during the battle with Lymphoma can be lessons for us all.

Name:	Stan Peterson
Date:	4/25/2008
Comments:	I had the privilege to meet Dave in 1978 and have worked with him on numerous projects over the past 30 years. I was a greenhorn, and Dave instantly took on the role on being my "older brother". He dedicated extra time and energy to mentor me. I learned a tremendous amount from him--a phenomenal amount about transportation; but more importantly about dedication, family, stewardship, and true friendship. I will always remember "ole Fork", and I will try to live life and conduct work much as he taught me. His laugh was contagious; his intelligence unsurpassed; and his caring never ceased. The last time I saw Dave, he gave me such a big bearhug it was actually hard for me to breathe. In my mind I believe that, at that moment, Dave was passing-on his role as my "big brother" to me. I only hope that I can carry forward his inspiration, and become a brother/mentor to others. I really, really love Dave--and miss him greatly.

Please use the space below to share your memories of David or to express condolences.

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