NACTO Urban Bikeway Design Guide Training

Training

Whether you have never cracked open the guide, or are seeking to learn the latest, this soup-to-nuts training will start at the basics of bikeway design and finish at emerging practice, including the protected intersection.

Global Street Design Guide Training

Training

Join the NACTO Global Designing Cities Initiative team and experts from around the world for an in-depth training on the Global Street Design Guide.

Workshop: Redesigning Major Arterials for Safety

Training

Join this Vision Zero workshop to learn from cities that have tackled their most dangerous streets, wielding the entire engineering toolbox to not only reduce fatalities but to substantively transform important corridors.

Advanced Workshop: Signal Strategies for Bikes & Transit

Training

Join your peers and two leading practitioners who are moving the state of the practice in engineering: using traffic signals to protect people biking and prioritize transit.

Workshop: You’re Always On - Delivering Compelling Presentations

Training

Exhibiting executive presence, quieting nervous energy, and conveying your presentation clearly are fundamental skills that leaders require and are continually practicing to perfection.

Vision Zero Network Focus Cities Meeting

Breakout Session

This event is by invitation only.

Workshop: Bringing Racial & Social Equity into Transportation Planning

Training

This interactive workshop will provide an introduction to the roles, challenges, and opportunities for city leaders to advance racial equity within their agency/organization.

Registration Opens

Breakout Session

Pick up your badge, printed program book, and conference goodie bag!

Opening Plenary

Plenary

Kicking off the fifth annual Designing Cities conference will be Rebekah Scheinfeld, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Transportation, and Seleta Reynolds, NACTO President. We are also pleased to welcome Phil Washington, CEO of LA Metro. 

Designing Livable Streets: Community-Building, Conflict, Consensus, Compromise and Creation

Breakout Session

Hear from leaders at all levels of city government about how they are collaborating to implement innovative projects.

Mobility Pricing: The Key to Sustainable Cities

Breakout Session

What possibilities do pricing policies provide for the life of our cities?

Universal Design for Plazas, Bikeways and Shared Streets

Breakout Session

How can we provide true universal design while continuing to push the envelope on innovative design strategies?

To DOT or Not to DOT (and many other questions)

Breakout Session

Hear from cities that are thinking critically about their agency structures.

Private Partners, Public Results

Breakout Session

Learn how cities are partnering with local non-profits and private sponsors to improve public street projects.

Designing Streets for Kids

Breakout Session

A street that works well for a child is a street that works well for everyone.

Setting the Table for Transit

Breakout Session

Learn how cities are working to prioritize transit-first decisions.

Curb Appeal: Getting the Best Uses out of Your City's Most Valuable Real Estate

Breakout Session

How are cities rethinking their most valuable spaces?

Opening Reception

Breakout Session

Meet transportation professionals from cities across the country and world working towards safe, sustainable, vibrant streets.

Fun Run

Walkshop

Get your energy up by starting the second day of #NACTO17 with an enjoyable jog on a crisp Chicago morning!

Breakfast Plenary

Plenary

During his first term, Mayor Emanuel launched Building a New Chicago, an $8 billion coordinated infrastructure plan to revitalize the city’s roads, rails, and runways.

City Leadership in an Uncertain Federal Environment

Breakout Session

Hear from the leaders of transportation departments across the country about how they are setting policy agendas in today's uncertain federal environment.

Blueprint for Autonomous Urbanism

Breakout Session

Emerging revolutions in automated and connected vehicle technology have the potential to transform how billions of urban residents get from place to place.

Designing for All Ages and Abilities: High-Comfort Bike Facilities

Breakout Session

Learn the concepts behind implementing and All Ages and Abilities bike network.

So You Passed a Bond, Now What?

Breakout Session

You passed a transportation referendum - congrats! But how will you ensure that the money gets spent as promised?

Land Use: The Key to Equitable, Transit-Oriented Communities

Breakout Session

Hear how cities across the country have married land use and transportation agendas to improve community accessibility.

Visualization: Telling a Story Beyond Charts and Numbers

Breakout Session

Hear how cities are using compelling visual communication to tell a story and appeal to a wider audience.

Global Cities: Inspiring Lessons from Around the World

Breakout Session

Learn about street transformations from across the globe!

Growth Without Gridlock: Making the Case for Mobility Investments

Breakout Session

Hear how previously automobile-centric cities have made the case for investment in different forms of mobility.

Engagement: Introducing Empathy into the Public Process

Breakout Session

Hear how cities are introducing empathy into the public process.

Transit in Transition

Breakout Session

Learn how cities and transit agencies are working with new technologies and emerging mobility providers to increase mobility and access.

Transparent Data: How Public Accountability Builds Support & Produces Better Results

Breakout Session

The fully transparent public release of metrics and projects can lead to increased public support, and more effective projects on the ground.

Speed Management for Vision Zero

Breakout Session

Learn from cities that have successfully managed speed on their streets to reduce traffic-related death and injuries.

Growing Bike Share: Approaches to Funding Systems & Major Expansions

Breakout Session

How do we get the sizes of our bike share systems to match the demand?

Measuring & Building Complete Networks for Walking and Biking

Breakout Session

Learn how cities are addressing gaps in their bike and pedestrian networks.

Working with Water: Supporting a Healthy Ecology on Our Streets

Breakout Session

As cities face the hydrological effects of climate change, we need to start asking more of our city streets.

Leading Change, Cultivating Success

Breakout Session

Hear from DOT leaders across the country on their strategies for producing powerful results.

Lunch Keynote: Peter Norton

Plenary

Peter Norton is a historian who writes about people, cities, and cars. He is the author of Fighting Traffic: The Dawn of the Motor Age in the American City.

Designing a Fully Accessible City

Walkshop

Hop from one mode to the next and see why Chicago has become a national model for inclusion and access across all aspects of their transportation system.

Modernizing Transit Service in the Loop

Walkshop

Tour Chicago’s newest transit investments in the heart of downtown – the Loop Link bus improvements and the Washington-Wabash CTA Elevated Transit Station.

Grant Park - Chicago's Front Yard

Walkshop

Tour iconic Grant Park to learn about the transportation history of the park, and witness the transportation transformations that the area has gone through.

WalkShops

Walkshop

From bikes lanes to bus bulbs, City of Chicago staff and local partners will host 30+ on-the-ground tours of projects.

Chicago's Year of Public Art

Walkshop

See why 2017 is the Year of Public Art in Chicago and hear why public art is so important to creating vibrant, active spaces.

Chicago's Pedway

Walkshop

Explore Chicago's changing attitude to pedway development over recent decades through a walk along old and new segments of the City's pedway.

A Transit Legacy: Exploring the Historic Loop Elevated

Walkshop

Take a walking tour through a historical continuum of evolving CTA stations to celebrate the 125th anniversary of rail transit in Chicago.

Creating Kid-Friendly Streetscapes

Walkshop

Walk along South Chicago's "main street" and see what our streetscapes can look like when we design with kids in mind.

Data Matters: Harnessing the IoT for Smart Mobility

Walkshop

Walk along four major streets in downtown Chicago to see how the City is collecting data and directing mobility through automated systems.

From Industry to Innovation: The Rebirth of Goose Island and the North Branch Industrial Corridor

Walkshop

On this tour, learn how City officials are working to change zoning designations to encourage growth and support jobs in Chicago's quickly transitioning Goose Island and the North Branch Industrial Corridor.

Streets for People

Walkshop

From a busy corridor of Asian shops and restaurants to a bustling college campus street, see two examples of people-oriented street transformation projects on Chicago's north side.

The Chicago River: Redevelopment and Restoration

Walkshop

Wander along the Chicago River and hear how developers use riverfront sites to attract residents and employees, add open space to the waterfront, and expand the riverwalk.

The Chicago Riverwalk: Building Public Space in an Urban Waterway

Walkshop

Explore the new "Rooms" along Chicago's Riverwalk and learn how they provide continuity between the river and the city.

Bronzeville Flourishing - Rooted and Linked

Walkshop

Join CDOT and local community leaders to learn about innovative City projects that respond to local needs and support equitable access to public space in low-to-moderate income communities.

Northside Lakefront Improvements - Trail Separation Projects and North Lake Shore Drive Reconstruction

Walkshop

Enjoy a beautiful stroll along the country's busiest off-street trail, to see how trail improvement projects are providing greater separation between the many different users of the trail.

Implementing Chicago Union Station’s Master Plan

Walkshop

This tour will include an overview of Chicago Union Station's Master Plan, as well as a behind-the-scenes tour of the station's current operations and improvements.

City / State DOT Coordination: Chicago's Clybourn Ave Protected Bike Lane Project

Walkshop

Take a ride with Chicago DOT and Illinois DOT to hear how the two departments worked together to implement the first protected bike lane in Illinois on a State Jurisdiction roadway.

Protected Bike Lane Intersection Treatments

Walkshop

Walk through the Loop to see a wide variety of intersection treatments that look to eliminate and mitigate conflicts from vehicle / bike / pedestrian interactions.

Protected Bike Lanes vs. On-Street Parking

Walkshop

On this tour, come see several protected bike lane projects that were installed by removing parking, and hear about parking removal strategies, challenges and successes.

Low-Stress Bicycling in the Loop

Walkshop

Join CDOT and local advocates for a tour of the growing core of bike facilities in Chicago's downtown Loop.

Biking Through Barriers – A Tour of Bridges, Tunnels, and Bicycle Connections on Chicago’s Near South Side

Walkshop

Ride through Chicago's near south side to see and experience recent investments that improve bicycle connectivity.

The 606: Turning One Transportation Solution into Another

Walkshop

Wander through The 606 and learn about the successes and challenges of designing, funding and building the beloved trail.

Chinatown's Vision

Walkshop

Take the Water Taxi down to Ping Tom Park to explore public and private mobility projects in Chicago's still-growing Chinatown.

Beyond the Square: How Transportation and Infrastructure Improvements Have Helped Shape Lincoln Square

Walkshop

See how CDOT has prioritized infrastructure upgrades that help foster community development while retaining the historic charm of the Lincoln Square neighborhood.

Unifying Uptown Through Infrastructure and Design

Walkshop

Join CDOT and CTA to see how they've worked to promote multi-modal connectivity along diverse corridors in Uptown Chicago.

Active Neighbors Promoting Active Lifestyles - Community Involvement Initiatives in Andersonville and Edgewater

Walkshop

Explore two vibrant neighborhoods on Chicago's northside, and hear how community engagement is making the area better for walkers, bikers, and visitors.

From Forklifts to Fine Dining and Industry to Entertainment - Tour Historic Randolph / Fulton Market

Walkshop

See how transit investment has spurred incredible economic growth in one of Chicago's fastest growing neighborhoods.

Chicago's Loop - It's All About the Experience

Walkshop

Join The Chicago Loop Alliance to see the results of their placemaking initiatives in the Chicago Loop and to learn about placemaking strategies for your city.

Wicker Park Bucktown: Old and New, a Bicycle and Pedestrian Friendly Neighborhood in a Historic Commercial District

Walkshop

On this tour, learn how Chicago is working to overcome planning challenges in historic districts to create biking and pedestrian friendly streets.

Placemaking & Tactical Urbanism in West Lakeview

Walkshop

Community-based organizations can be lead innovators in enhancing the public realm. See how local organizations in Chicago's West Lakeview community have invested in projects to improve their public spaces and streets.

Meet the Cities

Breakout Session

Meet the faces behind the names of city leaders that are making a difference in urban mobility.

"Scared Mobility" reception hosted by SUMC

Please join the Shared-Use Mobility Center for a spooky "Scared Mobility" NACTO reception along the banks of the Chicago River on Halloween night.

Fun Run

Walkshop

Get your energy up by starting the third day of #NACTO17 with an enjoyable jog on a crisp Chicago morning!

NACTO Camp Breakfast

Breakout Session

Following successful NACTO Camps at Designing Cities 2014-2016, we're bringing back the format again for this year's conference - at breakfast! NACTO Camp is a participant-driven "unconference" where the breakfast table conversation topics are proposed by attendees, providing an opportunity

Microsoft City Next: Taking Transportation to the Next Level

Walkshop

Join the conversation during the Microsoft City Next WalkShop to hear from Microsoft and their City Next partners about how cloud based transit focused solutions may modernize the citizen experience.

Designing a Fully Accessible City

Walkshop

Hop from one mode to the next and see why Chicago has become a national model for inclusion and access across all aspects of their transportation system.

Modernizing Transit Service in the Loop

Walkshop

Tour Chicago’s newest transit investments in the heart of downtown – the Loop Link bus improvements and the Washington-Wabash CTA Elevated Transit Station.

Grant Park - Chicago's Front Yard

Walkshop

Tour iconic Grant Park to learn about the transportation history of the park, and witness the transportation transformations that the area has gone through.

Chicago's Year of Public Art

Walkshop

See why 2017 is the Year of Public Art in Chicago and hear why public art is so important to creating vibrant, active spaces.

Chicago's Pedway

Walkshop

Explore Chicago's changing attitude to pedway development over recent decades through a walk along old and new segments of Chicago's pedway.

A Transit Legacy: Exploring the Historic Loop Elevated

Walkshop

Take a walking tour through a historical continuum of evolving CTA stations to celebrate the 125th anniversary of rail transit in Chicago.

Creating Kid-Friendly Streetscapes

Walkshop

Walk along South Chicago's "main street" and see what our streetscapes can look like when we design with kids in mind.

Data Matters: Harnessing the IoT for Smart Mobility

Walkshop

Walk along four major streets in downtown Chicago to see how the City is collecting data and directing mobility through automated systems.

From Industry to Innovation: The Rebirth of Goose Island and the North Branch Industrial Corridor

Walkshop

On this tour, learn how City officials are working to change zoning designations to encourage growth and support jobs in Chicago's quickly transitioning Goose Island and the North Branch Industrial Corridor.

Streets for People

Walkshop

From a busy corridor of Asian shops and restaurants to a bustling college campus street, see two examples of people-oriented street transformation projects on Chicago's north side.

The Chicago River: Redevelopment and Restoration

Walkshop

Wander along the Chicago River and hear how developers use riverfront sites to attract residents and employees, add open space to the waterfront, and expand the riverwalk.

The Chicago Riverwalk: Building Public Space in an Urban Waterway

Walkshop

Explore the new "Rooms" along Chicago's Riverwalk and learn how they provide continuity between the river and the city.

Bronzeville Flourishing - Rooted and Linked

Walkshop

Join CDOT and local community leaders to learn about innovative City projects that respond to local needs and support equitable access to public space in low-to-moderate income communities.

Northside Lakefront Improvements - Trail Separation Projects and North Lake Shore Drive Reconstruction

Walkshop

Enjoy a beautiful stroll along the country's busiest off-street trail, to see how trail improvement projects are providing greater separation between the many different users of the trail.

Implementing Chicago Union Station’s Master Plan

Walkshop

This tour will include an overview of Chicago Union Station's Master Plan, as well as a behind-the-scenes tour of the station's current operations and improvements.

City / State DOT Coordination: Chicago's Clybourn Ave Protected Bike Lane Project

Walkshop

Take a ride with Chicago DOT and Illinois DOT to hear how the two departments worked together to implement the first protected bike lane in Illinois on a State Jurisdiction roadway.

Protected Bike Lane Intersection Treatments

Walkshop

Walk through the Loop to see a wide variety of intersection treatments that look to eliminate and mitigate conflicts from vehicle / bike / pedestrian interactions.

Protected Bike Lanes vs. On-Street Parking

Walkshop

On this tour, come see several protected bike lane projects that were installed by removing parking, and hear about parking removal strategies, challenges and successes.

Low-Stress Bicycling in the Loop

Walkshop

Join CDOT and local advocates for a tour of the growing core of bike facilities in Chicago's downtown Loop.

Biking Through Barriers – A Tour of Bridges, Tunnels, and Bicycle Connections on Chicago’s Near South Side

Walkshop

Ride through Chicago's near south side to see and experience recent investments that improve bicycle connectivity.

The 606: Turning One Transportation Solution into Another

Walkshop

Wander through The 606 and learn about the successes and challenges of designing, funding and building the beloved trail.

Chinatown's Vision

Walkshop

Take the Water Taxi down to Ping Tom Park to explore public and private mobility projects in Chicago's still-growing Chinatown.

Beyond the Square: How Transportation and Infrastructure Improvements Have Helped Shape Lincoln Square

Walkshop

See how CDOT has prioritized infrastructure upgrades that help foster community development while retaining the historic charm of the Lincoln Square neighborhood.

Unifying Uptown Through Infrastructure and Design

Walkshop

Join CDOT and CTA to see how they've worked to promote multi-modal connectivity along diverse corridors in Uptown Chicago.

Active Neighbors Promoting Active Lifestyles - Community Involvement Initiatives in Andersonville and Edgewater

Walkshop

Explore two vibrant neighborhoods on Chicago's northside, and hear how community engagement is making the area better for walkers, bikers, and visitors.

From Forklifts to Fine Dining and Industry to Entertainment - Tour Historic Randolph / Fulton Market

Walkshop

See how transit investment has spurred incredible economic growth in one of Chicago's fastest growing neighborhoods.

Chicago's Loop - It's All About the Experience

Walkshop

Join The Chicago Loop Alliance to see the results of their placemaking initiatives in the Chicago Loop and to learn about placemaking strategies for your city.

Wicker Park Bucktown: Old and New, a Bicycle and Pedestrian Friendly Neighborhood in a Historic Commercial District

Walkshop

On this tour, learn how Chicago is working to overcome planning challenges in historic districts to create biking and pedestrian friendly streets.

Placemaking & Tactical Urbanism in West Lakeview

Walkshop

Community-based organizations can be lead innovators in enhancing the public realm. See how local organizations in Chicago's West Lakeview community have invested in projects to improve their public spaces and streets.

Vision Zero Truck Safety Equipment Demo

Breakout Session

Join the City of Chicago's Department of Transportation and Fleet & Facilities Management to view equipment meeting the requirements of Chicago's Large Vehicle Safety Enhancement Ordinance. 

Lunch

Breakout Session

Seeing is Believing: Experiencing the Street Renaissance

Plenary

Hear from folks who are building support through visual learning and memorable experiences.

Committee Meetings

Breakout Session

Thank you to everyone who serves on NACTO working groups and committees.

Live Podcast: Third Wave Urbanism

Plenary

Join the hosts of the Third Wave Urbanism podcast, as they interview NACTO's own Skye Duncan.

More than Potholes: Capitalizing on Routine Operations to Advance Broader City Goals

Breakout Session

Hear how cities are working to get full benefits out of every street project.

Designing & Planning for Micro-Infrastructure

Breakout Session

Hear how cities are working to organize the increasing number of objects being added to our public realm.

Rapid Growth: Maintaining Access while Accommodating Construction

Breakout Session

What methods are cities using to maintain open pathways during street transformations?

Beyond Lanes on the Ground: Breaking Barriers to Cycling

Breakout Session

Why do communities of color face increased barriers to cycling, and how do we fix it?

Cities in The Driver's Seat: Automated Vehicles Today

Breakout Session

Hear from cities that have automated vehicle testing on their streets, and the policy, legislative, and legal frameworks that can guide safe use now and in the future.

Profile of a Plangineer

Breakout Session

Learn what it takes to be a well-rounded transportation leader.

Filling the Gaps: Using Consultants Wisely

Breakout Session

How can cities use consultant support productively?

Tactical Urbanism: Quick Changes on the Ground

Breakout Session

See how cities are using pop-ups to ignite permanent changes on our streets.

Closing Keynote: Christophe Najdovski

Plenary

Christophe Najdovski was appointed by Anne Hidalgo, mayor of Paris, as deputy mayor of transportation and public space in 2014.

Crowning of the next NACTO City

Plenary

Crowning ceremony for the 2018 host. See you for #NACTO18! 

Biking Through Barriers – A Tour of Bridges, Tunnels, and Bicycle Connections on Chicago’s Near South Side

Walkshop

Ride through Chicago's near south side to see and experience recent investments that improve bicycle connectivity.

Protected Bike Lane Intersection Treatments

Walkshop

Walk through the Loop to see a wide variety of intersection treatments that look to eliminate and mitigate conflicts from vehicle / bike / pedestrian interactions.

Low-Stress Bicycling in the Loop

Walkshop

Join CDOT and local advocates for a tour of the growing core of bike facilities in Chicago's downtown Loop.

Great Rivers Chicago - Reconnecting Chicago and our Rivers

Walkshop

Tour the Chicago River by boat and learn about the challenges and opportunities of the tremendous changes occurring in and around the river.

Capacity, Capacity, Capacity: Heavy Rail Investment through the Heart of Chicago's Northside

Walkshop

Tour diverse Northside neighborhoods with the CTA, and learn how CTA plans to integrate new infrastructure into their Red and Purple Modernization project.

The Englewood Line: Trail and Urban Agriculture District on a Vacant, Elevated Rail Line

Walkshop

Explore the proposed route for the Englewood Trail, the urban agriculture district, and proposed projects adjacent to the trail.

Chicago's Devon Avenue - a Multicultural Corridor

Walkshop

Explore diverse West Rogers Park on Chicago's far north side, and see the recently completed streetscape project focused on creating a more people-oriented street.

CREATE: Decongesting Chicago’s Rails – and Neighborhoods

Walkshop

Learn how the CREATE Program projects are improving freight transportation, the functionality and safety of streets, and the quality of life in neighborhoods near railroad infrastructure.

Oak Park: Frank Lloyd Wright's Urban Suburb

Walkshop

Explore Oak Park and hear from village staff regarding recent and ongoing strategies and initiatives that ensure transportation and land use decisions maintain this ‘suburbs’ urban form.

Complete, Green and Age Friendly: How Transportation Investments are Moving Evanston’s Livability Brand Forward

Walkshop

Tour Evanston via train, Divvy, and foot to learn how Chicago's nearest northern suburb embraced its mix of urban-grids and quiet neighborhoods.

Mobycon Master Class: Advanced Topics in Dutch Intersection Design

Training

This half-day master class utilizes local case studies and international best practice designs from the Netherlands to examine how various intersection types can protect all road users.

Bike Tour of the "Best Bike City" in the United States

Walkshop

Enjoy a ride around the city to see and hear about Chicago's biggest successes in building out its bike network.

Chicago's Hyde Park Neighborhood

Walkshop

Explore Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood, with visits to a transformative road diet project, a developer-funded shared street, and more!

A More Perfect Union: Transit Investments and Economic Development on Chicago’s Southside

Walkshop

On this tour, visit communities with and without rail access to downtown, and discuss ways that transportation plays a role in economic opportunities in our cities and communities.

NABSA Bikeshare ROW Summit 2017

Breakout Session

Stick around in Chicago for NABSA's 2017 Bikeshare ROW Summit!