Session
Land Use for Climate Action: Strategy, Funding, Impacts
The transportation sector is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. These emissions contribute to the global climate crisis. To meet our climate goals defined under the Paris Agreement, the US must eliminate nearly all greenhouse gas emissions economy-wide by 2050. Transportation electrification and fuel efficiency alone are not enough to reduce transportation sector emissions. We must provide for a future of compact development, human-centered design and a convenient, accessible transportation system for all. The US National Blueprint on Transportation Decarbonization provides a unified federal strategy that lifts up the criticality of smart land use as a climate solution, specifically through transit-oriented development, active transportation infrastructure and innovative system planning. Hear how it works, from strategy to implementation, through federal programs and funding opportunities from the US Department of Transportation and Department of Housing and Urban Development. We’ll also highlight analysis, modelling and evaluation of impacts led by the Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
Program Note: The Tuesday afternoon session, Town Hall: Perspectives on the USDOT Blueprint For Transportation Decarbonization, is a follow up to this session, but also stands on its own
Moderator: Liya Rechtman, Policy Advisor, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC
Ann Shikany, Deputy Assistant Secretary – Transportation Policy, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC
Kera Package, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Community Planning and Development, US Department of Housing and Urban Development, Washington, DC
Christopher Hoehne, PhD Moblility Systems Research Scientist, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO
Bicycling, Walking, Micromobility, Land Use, 2024 Conference, Federal Funding, Planning, Climate Resilience, Policy, Transit-Oriented Development (TOD).
Session
Selling Good Jobs in Transit: Engaging Stakeholders in Solutions to Workforce Gender Gaps
The majority of transit riders are women. Yet, even before the pandemic, the transportation sector was composed of only approximately 15% female-identifying workers. The gender gap remains, driven by changing cultural and political environments, generational composition of the workforce, preferences in work environments and more. Who’s working to change this picture – and where? Get an overview of efforts underway to balance the gender gap in our transportation workforce. Then break into small groups to focus on “low-hanging” and long-term solutions. How can we fill roles in a gender-equitable way, especially as care-givers (often women) re-examine flexible work environments? How can we accommodate the needs of multiple generations in the workforce? How do recruitment, employee development and management need to adapt? What are we overlooking? Let’s mind – and overcome – the gender gap!
Moderator: Bridgette Beato, CEO and Owner, Lumenor Consulting, Board, WTS International, Washington, DC
Api Appulingam, Chief Development Officer, Philadelphia International Airport, Philadelphia, CA
Inez Colon, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, Chief Human Resources Officer, Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT), Pittsburgh, PA
Emmanuella Myrthil, Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), Philadelphia, PA
Alanna Strohecker, Senior Vice President, AECOM, Philadelphia, PA
Safety, Workforce Development, Women, 2024 Conference, Transit, Policy, Transit Riders.
Session
Historic Train Stations to Modern Mobility Hubs: Intentional Transformation
Next stop: Transformation. Across the United States and Canada, century-old train stations are morphing to meet present-day needs, becoming dynamic epicenters of civic life and community space, while also preserving transit operations. Take your seat and discover the intentionality behind the evolution of these modern transit hubs. See the role of community in design and development and how train stations can serve as hubs for all forms of transportation and other uses. These projects seek to preserve the historic essence and community value of the stations while reimagining how they can better serve previously underserved communities and overall vitality.
Moderator: Katie Hearn, Senior Vice President, Redgate Real Estate, Bethesda, MD
Christine Nichols, Senior Development Director, Balfour Beatty, Baltimore, Maryland
Nzinga Bryant, Senior Vice President, Transaction and Delivery Strategy Advisory Services, WSP USA, Washington, DC
Kristen Mitchell, Director, Transit Oriented Development, New Jersey Transit (NJ TRANSIT), Newark, NJ
Station Design, 2024 Conference, Economic Development, Equity, Transit, Mobility Hub, Placemaking.
Session
Unlocking Data for Equitable Transit: The Toolbox for Practitioners and Decision Makers
How are analysts using public data to better align transit service to customer needs, across modes and at local and regional scales? It takes special skill to turn raw data into real insights that lead to implementable solutions. Four unique evaluation methods illustrate how to use data to focus on specific problems your agency or community wants to solve. You may want to measure low income fare subsidies. Or evaluate gender equity in service and fares. Or assess regional mobility using location-based data How about assessing not only access to jobs, but to jobs that are important to particular populations? How can data help target investments in expanding transit? And how do customers and potential riders feel about transit – how can you know? Settle in as we parse the data to drive better decision-making.
Matthew D. Crooks, Strategic Planning Advisor, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Washington, DC
Dalia Leven, AICP, National Planning Lead, Cambridge Systematics, Inc., Bethesda, MD
Alanna McKeeman, Vice President, Senior Project Manager, Foursquare Integrated Transportation Planning, Washington, DC
Zach Hernandez, Director, Client Engagement, AlphaVu, Washington, DC
Jacqueline Nowak, Transit Planning and Analytics Lead, SRF Consulting Group, Minneapolis, MN
Women, Fare Policy, 2024 Conference, Equity, Transit, Data, Transit Riders.
Session
BRT B-Side: Agencies Getting in Tune with Street Owners and Operators
Transit agencies develop bus rapid transit (BRT) projects on streets owned or administered by the city, the county or the state. Inroads must always be made – to understand and find solutions amidst competing interests and possibly different outcomes desired. Together, let’s take a look at tensions and tradeoffs in BRT project design and the varying perspectives of street owners and operators. How can we be better partners at the BRT table? What should be “in” and “out” of a BRT project? How can negotiating be a platform for agreement from all parties about what to expect from BRT?
Moderator: Thomas Brennan, Director of Strategy, Nelson/Nygaard Consulting, Portland, OR
Haley Peckett, Deputy Director, Policy and Planning, Department of Transportation, Montgomery County, Maryland, Rockville, MD
Ashley Lickliter, P.E., Senior Vice President / Transit Practice Leader, Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc, Richmod, VA
Maribeth Feke, AICP, Director of Programming and Planning, Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, Cleveland, OH
Station Design, Design, 2024 Conference, Transit, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Corridor Planning.
Session
First/Last Mile Connections: Co-creating Solutions via Community Partnerships
C02
Sidewalks, bike lanes and crosswalks aren’t just infrastructure but symbols of a community’s identity. This recognition is part of a paradigm shift in the way transportation projects engage with communities, especially when there is a history of disparities and neglect. Let’s dig into an example of first/last mile planning that puts community and community-based partnerships first. Find out about project charters and participatory activities, such as walk and wheel (bike) audits, walking interviews and storytelling. These practices nurture trust and open pathways for those directly impacted by a project to co-create solutions. Guidelines are now in place – an a model to follow – about how to foster safe, accessible and dignified pathways to transit.
Moderator: Monica Villalobos, PhD, AICP, Senior Practice Leader, Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc, Los Angeles, CA
Allison Mannos, Senior Manager, Office of Equity and Race, Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority (METRO), Los Angeles, CA
Gemma Jiminez Gonzalez, ACT (Art, Civic Engagement and Transportation) Coordinator, Public Matters, LLC, Los Angeles, CA
Neha Chawla, Senior Manager, First/Last Mile, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (METRO), Los Angeles, CA
Project Management, 2024 Conference, First-Last Mile, Bicycling, Walking, Equity, Transit, Community.
Session
Planning for TOD by Beginning at the End
It can take many partners, a lot of coordination and a series of small miracles to turn a transit system vision into reality. In the case of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), laying the groundwork for developments that won’t be brick and mortar for 10 years or more requires partnerships between the transit agency, community, city, developers and others. But what does that look like? And what does it take? TOD experts representing different major cities have examples and stories to tell. Hear how they developed partnerships in the early stages of planning to ultimately implement the vision for TOD.
Moderator: Timothy Thornton, Principal Financial Consultant, HDR, Inc., Boise, ID
Tracie Roberson, Project Manager, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), Atlanta, GA
Tim Bates, Senior Project Manager – Transit-Oriented Development, Sound Transit, Seattle, WA
Guy Benn, Program Manager, Transit-Oriented Development, TriMet, Portland, OR
Session
Housing Now! TOD and the Housing Crisis
Liberty Ballroom
Toronto, like many fast-growing cities, faces a housing affordability crisis, with one in five households in need of some form of housing assistance. At the same time, a generational investment in rapid transit infrastructure is underway, connecting neighborhoods and opening up new opportunities for housing. To meet the need and the moment, the City of Toronto and Province of Ontario launched ambitious transit-oriented development programs. Toronto’s Housing Now program includes 22 sites at existing stations and will create 16,500 new homes, while the Province’s Transit-Oriented Communities program aims to create over 30,000 new homes across 14 new stations.
Similar to Toronto, Austin has experienced rapid growth in housing costs. To address this problem, the City passed landmark land use changes earlier this year that are tied to transformative investments in a new light rail system in Austin, and shape the explosive growth underway with a focus on affordable housing development.
Hear the details about these programs and about the challenges, from building consensus to integrating TOD into transit planning and design.
Moderator: Paul Kulig, Principal Urban Design and Transit, Global Co-Lead of Urban Design, Perkins + Will, Toronto, ON
Yunfei Zhang, M.A.Sc., P.Eng. (BC, ON), Section Lead, Network Policy Planning, HDR, Inc., Vancouver, BC
Greg Canally, Executive Director, Austin Transit Partnership, Austin, TX
Awais Azhar, Executive Director, HousingWorks / Chair, Project Connect Community Advisory Committee, Austin Transit Partnership, Austin, TX
2024 Conference, Affordable Housing, Housing, Equitable Transit-Oriented Communities, Transit-Oriented Development (TOD).
Session
Transit Rider Perceptions: Understanding and Taking Action
Transit ridership and travel behavior patterns and destinations all are changing. Some of this change predates the pandemic but post-pandemic it’s clear that reaching and understanding riders is key. Key to rebuilding ridership, to responding to changing mobility needs, to addressing inequities and to positioning transit as core to the way communities move in the future. How are different agencies designing, testing and refining their efforts to reach different subsets of riders? What methods are working – from tactical outreach to advanced data analytics to advocacy? And how are insights shaping action, to build rider trust and recalibrate service, short and long-term? Take a seat for a fascinating journey about where transit is headed next.
Moderator: Naomi Renek, Senior Advisor, Federal Policy, NYS Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) – New York, New York, NY
Alanna McKeeman, Vice President, Senior Project Manager, Foursquare Integrated Transportation Planning, Washington, DC
Jonathan Rewers, Chief Strategy Officer, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), San Francisco, CA
Tariem Burroughs, Chair of SEPTA Citizen Advisory Committee, SEPTA Citizen Advisory Committee, Philadelphia, PA
Melissa Kim, Program Manager, Strategic Planning, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Washington, DC
2024 Conference, Community Engagement, Equity, Transit, Data, Transit Riders.
Session
Wagon Road to Transitway: BRT Tradeoffs in Legacy Urban Corridors
Bus rapid transit (BRT) needs space, not just for buses to run quickly and reliably, but for stations, supportive multimodal infrastructure, stormwater treatment and other features. This space is never easy to come by, especially in “legacy cities,” where road rights-of-way were first established for carts and wagons and hundreds of years of urban development has risen up around them. Hear how three major metro areas are developing BRT in constrained, historic, urban corridors. How are they negotiating priorities and allocating limited dollars? What’s the decision-making approach when space is tight and everyone’s needs and wants can’t be met? How is future mobility finding a path?
Moderator: Joana Conklin, CPM, Manager II, Transit Development, Advancement, and Innovation, Department of General Services, Montgomery County, Rockville, MD
Phillip Cherry, Senior Project Manager, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), Boston, MA
Dustin Khuu, Assistant Director – Bus Priority, Department of Transportation, City of New York, New York, NY
Tyler Peter, Senior Transit Planner, Department of Transportation, City of New York, New York, NY
Andrew Simpson, Complete Streets District Manager, Office of Transportation, Infrastructure, and Sustainability, City of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Bicycling, Walking, Micromobility, Legacy cities, 2024 Conference, Planning, Transit, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Street Design, Sustainability.
Session
Mpact LAB Presents – Activating ETOD in HI and PA: A LAB Exercise
Equitable transit-oriented development (ETOD) is a marathon, not a sprint. But how do you even get started? Let’s explore Honolulu, HI, and Pottstown, PA, two very different places facing the same challenges of how to implement ETOD from the ground up. Come ready to listen, learn and contribute your ideas. After an introduction, split into groups for a series of lively discussions designed to engage your imagination and spark your curiosity – and help these two communities plan out their next steps. You’ll also get a glimpse of Mpact:LAB and its work to ignite place-based coalitions that work on transit, land use and community development.
Jennifer Sabas, Executive Director, Move Oahu Forward, Honolulu, HI
Howard Brown, Senior Program Officer, Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation, Pottstown, PA
Sarah Rudolf, Associate Director, Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution), Minneapolis, MN
2024 Conference, Mpact:LAB, Equitable Transit-Oriented Communities, ETOD, Building Leadership, Capacity Building, Transit, Transit-Oriented Development (TOD).
Session
Community Engagement: The Key to Advancing Equitable Infrastructure
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, passed early in the Biden Administration, unlocked historic amounts of transportation funding. It also included ambitious directives for involving communities in the planning and implementation of projects. These directives that dovetail with a growing effort among planners to center equity and repair past harms. What tools and tactics are emerging? Learn from case studies of meaningful engagement. Then divide into groups to design engagement for typical transportation projects. What metrics will you use? Are you thinking about historical and cultural context? How about client and project team relationships? Dive in, especially if this is new to you.
Moderator: Marisa Denker, Chief Executive Officer, Connect the Dots, Philadelphia, PA
Rochelle Brahalla, Chief of Staff, Transit Development, Department of Transportation, City of New York, New York, New York, NY
Anne Krassner, Senior Program Manager, Department of Transportation, City of New York, New York, New York, NY
Jessica Stanton, Principal, Stanton Global Communications, Bend, OR
Shoshana Akins, Manager, Public Participation Planning, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), Philadelphia, PA
2024 Conference, Community Engagement, Equity, Federal Funding, Transit, Data.
Session
Improving Bus Stops: First impressions to Lasting Appeal
Bus riders are the most loyal and reliable customers for transit. And the bus stop is the front door, the first impression. Recognizing this, agencies around the country are focusing more intently on the bus stop experience. Hear about the factors that go into developing and prioritizing investments for bus stops, from Americans with Disability Act (ADA) compliance to social equity and more. Learn how to navigate the complicated environment around who owns and maintains stops and the keys to ensuring successful coordination between cities, transit agencies, advertising agencies and private property owners. Hop on board to understand what leads to lasting appeal.
Moderator: Carl Green Jr., Director, Civil Rights Division, Regional Transportation District (RTD), Denver, CO
Corentin Auguin, Manager of Special Projects & Analysis, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), Atlanta, GA
Sara Moulton, Transit Planner, Regional Metropolitan Transit Authority of Omaha (METRO), Omaha, NE
Lance Oishi, Contract Administrator, Bureau of Street Services, City of Los Angeles, California, Los Angeles, CA
Bus, ADA, Bus Stops, 2024 Conference, Equity, Transit Riders.
Session
First Class For Everyone: Transforming Commuter Rail into Regional Rail
For a long time, North America’s commuter rail systems followed a tried and true model: provide reliable, high-quality, amenity-rich service to the legions of white-collar commuters heading to office jobs. Even before the pandemic and work from home trends took a bite out of the 9-5 commute, some commuter systems were envisioning a different model. And now, more systems are taking similar steps, figuring out everything involved in making a switch to a regional rail framework. The goal is to use much of the same infrastructure to serve a wider cohort of riders, to see the rail system as part of a more equitable regional connectivity solution for all kinds of trips during the day and on weekends. That’s a huge but exciting pivot. It requires rethinking a lot, from capital investment plans to service plans, and fare structures to the basic understanding of potential riders and their needs. Hear from three systems at different stages of making the pivot. The shift from first class for commuters to service for everyone is on-going story.
Moderator: James “Abe” Zumwalt, Economist & Planner, David Evans and Associates, Inc, Seattle, WA
Isaac Greenfelder, Rail & Transit Operations & Planning Leader, Sound Transit, Seattle, WA
Melissa Flores Saxe, PMP, Sounder South Project Development Director, Sound Transit, Seattle, WA
Jody Holton, AICP, Chief Planning & Strategy Officer, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), Philadelphia, PA
Michael Muller, Executive Director of Commuter Rail, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), Boston, MA
Regional Rail, Fare Policy, 2024 Conference, Transit Riders.
Session
Participatory Budgeting: Give the People What They Want
When it comes to budgeting public money, every dollar comes into question. What if taxpayers could provide input on how their money was to be spent? What if diverse stakeholders could come together and agree on how to jointly achieve the public’s goals? What if there was a way to build consensus before spending the taxpayers’ money? It’s actually happening. Get the story and insights from agencies that are engaging the public and stakeholders in participatory budgeting to align expenditures with the desires of taxpayers and a vision of the future.
Moderator: George Fotinos, Chief Financial Officer, Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO), Houston, TX
Elaine Clegg, Chief Executive Officer, Valley Regional Transit, Meridian, ID
Janneke Strause, Associate Transportation Planner, Transportation Agency for Monterey County, Salinas, CA
Steve Crosley, Transit Integration Program Manager, King County Metro Transit, Seattle, WA
Session
Town Hall: Local Perspectives on the USDOT Blueprint For Transportation Decarbonization
Find a good seat for a Town Hall with USDOT and other industry leaders focused on the Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization. Speakers will take questions about discretionary grant programs and discuss the federal role in accelerating decarbonization outcomes, addressing equity disparities and providing incentives for carbon-friendly growth. Hear on-the-ground insights from state and local climate advocates and coalitions as well as audience members who represent the perspectives of future federal climate grant applicants. The floor will be open for you to share your experiences, too.
Program note: This Town Hall is a follow-up to the Tuesday morning session, Land Use for Climate Action, but also stands on its own.
Ann Shikany, Deputy Assistant Secretary – Transportation Policy, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC
Muhammed Patel, Midwest Transportation Advocate, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Chicago, IL
Breanna Horne, CHMM, ENV SP, WEDG, WELL AP, Director of Resilience, STV Incorporated, New York, NY
Adelee Le Grand, AICP, Senior Vice President Mobility+Engineering, Intellectual Concepts, Atlanta, GA
Corrigan Salerno, Policy Manager, Transportation for America, Washington, DC
2024 Conference, Equity, Federal Funding, Climate Resilience, Policy.
Session
Riding Together: Forging TOD and TOC Partnerships
Maybe you’re working on a transit-oriented development (TOD) master plan. Or you have a transit corridor where you want to integrate TODs with different stations and neighboring communities and commercial districts. You’re likely working with different levels of government, plus the private sector, plus local nonprofits to develop a vision. How do you bring these various stakeholders together, especially when there are various levels of expertise and experience. Dig into specifics of stakeholder alignment. It’s the bricks and mortar of making a TOD plan into a fully integrated transit-oriented community (TOC).
Moderator: Georg Josi, PhD, PE, Partner, DIALOG, Edmonton, AB
Matthew Pearce, Principal Engineer, Mott MacDonald, Vancouver, BC
Sheba Ross, Global Practice Director, Cities & Communities, HKS, Atlanta, GA
Rennie Elliott, Senior Project Manager, Sound Transit, Seattle, WA
Station Design, Businesses, Project Management, Community Development, Capacity Building, Corridor Planning, Transit-Oriented Development (TOD).
Session
Growing the Next Generation of Transit Riders
Students making the transition from childhood to their teenage years are developing world views and habits that can last a lifetime. Recognizing this, transit agencies and community organizations are engaging with young people, helping them to become more independent and capable transit users as well as advocates for transit within their communities. Learn the specifics of different initiatives and hear from a youth advocate for transit. No homework but plenty of key take-aways about how to engage with a diversity of students and with schools, as well as ways to cultivate program champions.
Rachel DeCordoba, Program Manager, King County Metro Transit, Seattle, WA
Theresa Thompson-Nix, Program Manager, Move Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN
Asher Polsky, Student, Lower Merion School District, Philadelphia, PA
Facilitator: Eric Tunell, Senior Urban Planner, Arcadis, Los Angeles, CA
2024 Conference, Community Engagement, Transit, Transit Riders.
Session
Downtowns and Cities Post-Boom: What Will They Look Like?
City life has transformed. Remote work, e-commerce, delivery services and streaming media bring daily needs to our doors. Yet, this convenience, fed by technology, is taking a toll – and not only on retail and restaurant districts, which depend on in-real-life interactions. Studies show that isolation is affecting our mental health and social fitness, as well as perpetuating divisive social trends. How are large and mid-size cities countering these trends? Let’s look at approaches to creating healthy and vibrant places through station activation, small business support and synchronization of technology with human social contact. Are these the seeds of renewed commercial districts and downtown revitalization? Let’s talk – IRL!
Moderator: Cassie Branum, Principal / Global Urban Design Practice Chair, Perkins + Will, Atlanta, GA
Art Pearce, Director of Policy Planning and Projects, Portland Bureau of Transportation, City of Portland, Portland, OR
Clint Randall, Vice President of Economic Development, Center City District, Philadelphia, PA
Health, 2024 Conference, Urban Place Management, Businesses, Downtowns, Placemaking.
Session
Community-Led Urban Design: Implementing in Sync with Transit Projects
Urban and landscape design offer creative approaches to bringing community vision into transit projects. Learn about ways to do this within the constraints of a typical infrastructure project, which has stringent functional requirements and procurement processes along with pressure for speedy delivery. Several examples from around the country demonstrate success in a variety of settings, urban and suburban. All are based on recognizing how transit corridors shape communities and that each location has a distinct identity to those who live there. See how inventive engagement, design and placemaking can shift perceptions about transit, limit adverse impacts and heal communities – on time and in scope!
Krista Nightengale, Managing Director, Better Block Foundation, Dallas, TX
Klaudia Biala, Senior Associate Architecture and Urban Design, SvN Architects + Planners, Toronto, ON
Jeffrey A Fahs, PLA, ASLA, OALA, LEED AP, Vice President – Director of Landscape Architecture, HDR, Inc., Chicago, IL
Shannon Simms, ASLA, Associate Principal/Landscape Architect, Mayer/Reed, Inc., Portland, OR
2024 Conference, Project Management, Design, Transit, Placemaking.
Session
The Power of Community: Case Studies for Building a Sustained Action Base
Transportation project timelines and cycles present challenges for authentic community engagement. How do you build the sustained relationships necessary to really hear and understand community needs and views, especially those of under-represented, low income, non-English-speaking or BIPOC segments of the population? Three case studies offer different pathways. In one location, an existing Ambassador program focused on new immigrants and asylum seekers – a group for whom transit access is crucial. Another location changed work pipelines to determine, design and develop projects with input from under-represented communities. And in a third location, with a history of underinvestment and lack of trust, a “Slow Engagement Pilot” sought to build relationships outside of project cycles. Consider how these approaches might help tap the power of community in your locale.
Moderator: Rosanne Lubeck, Principal, Drive Engineering, Philadelphia, PA
Tariq Moore, Community Liason, Do Moore Good, Philadelphia, PA
Theresa Carr, AICP, Senior Principal, Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc., Boston, MA
Thom Stead, Assistant Manager, Office of Mobility, Analysis and Planning, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), Philadelphia, PA
Project Management, 2024 Conference, Community Engagement, Equity, Transit.
Session
It’s Not Just a Dream: The Joys and Struggles of Realizing a Transit-Oriented Vision
Odds are you’ve been part of the process of creating goals and visions for transit-oriented communities around existing and new transit lines. How often does the vision get bogged down? When zoning or other requirements to implement the vision are not actually developed or adopted? Or when politics or other unforeseen circumstances get in the way? Is there hope? Let’s get some perspective, drawing on the experiences of the past 35+ years about the steps necessary to realize the transit-oriented vision. Hear about tools and strategies, along with some relatable stories. One fundamental to realizing the vision: creating an environment that sees taking transit as a joyous experience not an arduous trek. Are you ready?
Moderator: Ryan Kelley, Community Development Manager, Hennepin County, Minneapolis, MN
Rick Williams, Partner / Architect-Urban Designer, Van Meter Williams Pollack, San Francisco, CA
Megan Reineccius, Associate II, Opticos Design, Inc., Chicago, IL
Kersten Elverum, Community Development Director, City of Hopkins, Minnesota, Hopkins, MN
Project Management, Zoning, 2024 Conference, Planning, Transit, Transit-Oriented Development (TOD).
Session
Building Focused Coalitions – Moving Transit Forward
Philadelphia North
Coalitions evolve in response to common concerns and interests. For transit coalitions, what does that look like? Let’s hear about two advocacy efforts focused on improving transit riders’ access and experience as well as preserving transit service. The aspirations of these coalitions align with those of transit agencies: both want riders and communities more invested in transit. How could agencies and advocates work better together? Let’s dig into specific campaigns and find the lessons to keep advancing the goals of accessible and safe transit-oriented communities.
Moderator: Sarah Rudolf, Associate Director, Mpact, Minneapolis, MN
Connor Descheemaker, Coalition Manager, Transit Forward Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Chloe Mohr, AICP, Principal Planner, Montgomery County Planning Commission, Norristown, PA
Anne Dicker, President, Board of Directors, West Mount Airy Neighbors, Philadelphia, PA
Lauren Alden, Director, Liberty Resources, Inc, Philadelphia, PA
Kwanesha Clarke, Independent Living Specialist, Liberty Resources, Inc, Philadelphia, PA
Safety, Bicycling, Walking, ADA, Funding, Bus Stops, 2024 Conference, Community Engagement, Transit, Transit Riders.
Session
Tales from Two Cities: Empowering Communities with Resources to Achieve ETOD
Actually delivering equitable transit-oriented development (ETOD) takes intentionality. Let’s see what that means by looking at the specifics of programs in two cities. In one, a new grant program focused on partnerships with local cities and community-based organizations (CBOs) includes several features: updating city policies to implement ETODs, bolstering CBO capacity to take on affordable housing development, addressing barriers that have limited equitable engagement and improving the public realm around transit. In the other city, a new grant program targets pre-development costs. It pairs these funds with technical assistance for developers of color working on projects in historically disinvested neighborhoods. Listen to these experiences and take home lessons about how to change the story of ETOD in your community.
Moderator: Emily Laflamme, Senior Analyst, Center for Neighborhood Technology, Chicago, IL
Melissa Cerezo, Transit-Oriented Communities Program Manager, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), San Jose, CA
Adriano Rothschild, Transportation Planner, Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc, San Jose, CA
Jessica Nepomiachi, Director of Special Projects, IFF, Chicago, IL
Phil Beckham, Managing Director, P3 Markets, LLC, Chicago, IL
Public Space, Affordable Housing, Funding, Equitable Transit-Oriented Communities, 2024 Conference, Community Development, ETOD, Capacity Building, Transit, Placemaking, Transit-Oriented Development (TOD).