Welcome

Plenary

Welcome remarks from Austin Mayor Steve Adler

Opening Session

Plenary

Welcome remarks from Janette Sadik-Khan, Chair of NACTO, followed by Best Of NACTO City Projects 2015

The Global Street Design Guide and Best Practices from Across the Globe

Breakout Session

The new NACTO Global Street Design Guide (GSDG) is a timely resource that sets a new global baseline for designing streets and public spaces, while redefining the role of streets in a rapidly urbanizing world.

The Peoples' Perspective on Transportation

Breakout Session

Transportation is crucial to creating a strong, livable city, yet the public discourse on mobility solutions can be fraught with misunderstanding and divisiveness. What is driving this and how can transportation leaders be more effective in their efforts to communicate

Zoning for Complete Streets

Breakout Session

How are cities using zoning, development review, and other local regulations to help create a safe, convenient, multi-modal transportation network?

Building Safe Pedestrian Networks through Corridor Redesign

Breakout Session

In this session, learn from cities about Vision Zero efforts to redesign corridors for safety.

Complementing Transit Systems with Shared Mobility

Breakout Session

This session will feature city leaders paired with industry thought leaders to discuss the impacts of shared use on transit systems and mass mobility.

Active Transportation Programs Coast to Coast: How North American Cities are Meeting the Demand for Walking and Bicycling

Breakout Session

How do America's biggest cities apply public resources to improve walking and bicycling?

Department of Yes!

Breakout Session

Officials from New York, Seattle, and Austin, discuss application-based programs, an effective strategy to harness neighborhood excitement for change and build partnerships with community stakeholders.

Making The Fiscally Conservative Case for Investing in Multimodal Urban Streets

Breakout Session

Learn how to communicate the connection between a city’s long-range fiscal health and a transportation strategy that prioritizes investments in safe, walkable streets in the central core.

Workshop: Making the Case for Complete Streets: The Power of Images

Breakout Session

Learn how New York City Department of Transportation launched an initiative in 2007, Official Project Imagery, to document street transformations.

Opening Reception

NACTO Events

An opportunity to meet transportation officials, staff, and practitioners from NACTO member cities across North America

Night Lights: Creative illumination strategies for the city at night

Breakout Session

An interactive demonstration exploring different types, qualities and characteristics of light to understand why some light makes us anxious while other types of light seem more beautiful and make us feel calm or happy.

Thursday Fun Run

Walkshop

Join us for this enjoyable jog for some fresh air and exercise, while taking in some of Austin’s most inviting activity assets and popular urban design elements.

Breakfast

Breakfast will be available in the Ballroom from 8:00-8:45am

Welcome

Plenary

Welcome Remarks from NACTO President and SFMTA Director Ed Reiskin, and Austin Transportation Director Rob Spillar

Commissioners' Panel

Plenary

A panel conversation of major city transportation leaders

Strategies for Successful Transportation Ballot Measures

Breakout Session

This session will examine the trend of ballot box finance for transportation investment and the hallmarks of successful campaigns.

Building Productive Partnerships between State and City DOTs

Breakout Session

In this session, representatives from state DOTs will discuss their approaches to cooperation across what are too-often siloed levels of government.

Making it Happen: Gaining Public Support to Turn Action Plans into Action

Breakout Session

After laying the vision and groundwork for change, how are cities scaling up their innovative transportation projects?

Where Next for Bike Share?

Breakout Session

This panel brings together operators and policy makers to discuss the future of bike share in the U.S.

Planning for Growth: Transportation Demand Management

Breakout Session

This session will focus on Transportation Demand Management tools, data collection methodology, and policy approaches to reduce vehicle miles traveled and shift trips to more sustainable travel modes.

Designing Public Spaces: Buskers, Benches, and Barbecue

Breakout Session

In this session, learn from experts at Gehl Architects about their approach to designing public spaces, and hear from experts from Somerville, New York City, and Austin about their public space projects.

Harnessing Big Data for Transportation Decision-Making

Breakout Session

This session will highlight an emerging partnership in the Austin region between the City and The University of Texas, the role of the private sector, and the debate on big data versus little data.

Designing Streets for Transit

Breakout Session

This session will preview the forthcoming NACTO Transit Street Design Guide, a detailed resource developed by practitioners from city transportation departments and transit agencies across North America.

Lunch & Keynote

Plenary

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter will deliver keynote remarks about the power of thoughtful transportation policy to transform a city.

Gehl Studio People First Design Walkshop

Breakout Session

Public space is what connects our cities and places together. Whether we walk, drive, take the bus or bicycle, we encounter an element of public space daily. Streets and sidewalks are 80% of urban open space, but typically this space

How to get people out of their cars: Austin’s Alternative Mobility Options

Walkshop

Join RideScout on a tour of Austin’s multimodal solutions, including discussion on the impact of BRT, mobile bus ticketing, and ways mobile applications can assist mode-shift efforts.

Tejano Walking Trail (Thursday)

Walkshop

This East Austin tour will share the story of a nearly six-year community effort to complete the Tejano Walking Trail, highlighting the rich heritage of the surrounding, traditionally Hispanic community.

Festival Streets: Planning for SXSW and more (Thursday)

Walkshop

See the Austin Convention Center area and learn about the cross-departmental "one stop shop" for street event permitting and planning.

SoCo: Iconic South Congress (Thursday)

Walkshop

Walk south across the river to South Congress Avenue, a favorite people place for visitors and Austinites. A Public Works project manager and engineer will tell the story of the South Congress Improvement Project.

Sidewalk Cafes: Permitting for People Places (Thursday)

Walkshop

Stroll along the sidewalk cafes and food trailers of Downtown Austin, and stop for a snack, as you learn about the new way sidewalk cafes are being permitted by Austin Transportation Department.

Seaholm: From Power Plant to Urban Neighborhood (Thursday)

Walkshop

Take an insider's tour through the Seaholm District—a redevelopment project that repurposes a 1950s Art Deco power plant and industrial area into a vibrant walkable neighborhood where people work, live, shop and play.

Project Connect Gateway: Downtown Multimodal Terminal Station (Thursday)

Walkshop

Tour the site of the Downtown Station, the terminus for the existing MetroRail Red Line. Learn about the debate over how to balance transit-station goals with the needs of the existing street network.

Guerrilla Wayfinding (Thursday)

Walkshop

Tour participants will help install temporary signage that encourages walking and shows foot-times between major Downtown Austin attractions.

Great Streets: Second and Third Street (Thursday)

Walkshop

Come walk through the handsome results of Austin's Great Streets Program, a nationally recognized program to enhance and elevate the pedestrian realm.

Green Streets (Thursday)

Walkshop

Come walk the streets of Austin with Public Works and Office of Sustainability City staff at the forefront of green innovation and technology.

Downtown Parks and Passageways (Thursday)

Walkshop

This tour will highlight how parks and transportation planning can come together to influence the shape of a place and the traffic flow, economy, and civic culture of a community.

Butler Hike and Bike Trail (Thursday)

Walkshop

The tour will discuss the fascinating history of the Butler Trail, recent improvement projects, and how it functions today for both recreational and transportation purposes.

Art in the Streetscape (Thursday)

Walkshop

Learn about challenges and solutions for working in the streetscape and how public art can enhance the pedestrian experience and be integral to creative placemaking.

Public Art Meets Green Infrastructure: Great Public Spaces (Thursday)

Walkshop

Tour Austin’s fascinating mash-up of public art and watershed protection! This walking tour includes stops at public art as cultural markers and attractive green infrastructure.

Partnering with Neighborhoods: Better Streets, Better Places (Thursday)

Walkshop

See a variety of Neighborhood Partnering Program (NPP) projects, winner of a 2015 American Planning Association Leadership in Sustainability Award.

Transforming Mueller: New Neighborhood, New Street Network (Thursday)

Walkshop

Tour the street network created for Mueller, a new mixed-use, multi-modal, inner-city neighborhood being created on the site of the former 700+ acre Mueller Municipal Airport.

MetroRail Red Line (Thursday)

Walkshop

Take a TOD tour on the MetroRail Red Line, Austin’s "starter" commuter rail line. Agency staff will discuss how they are expanding service with additional track, more rail cars, better connectivity, and more.

Water Quality and Development on Lady Bird Lake: A Kayak Tour (Thursday)

Walkshop

The tour provides a unique perspective (from a kayak!) on the environmental challenges Austin is facing while creating an active and accessible urban waterfront.

MetroRapid BRT (Thursday)

Walkshop

Hop on a MetroRapid, Austin's bus rapid transit system, which opened last year. Explore station types, pedestrian and bicycle features, rapid development changes, and a downtown transit priority treatment.

Reconnecting an Urban Waterfront and Boardwalk Trail (Thursday)

Walkshop

Come bike along Lady Bird Lake on the City’s beautiful new Boardwalk - built partly over the river and partly on land - to glose a gap and create a continuous 10-mile hike-and-bike trail.

Bike South: All Ages and Abilities (Thursday)

Walkshop

Learn how bike facilities in Austin are connecting communities and encouraging family-friendly cycling through the use of thoughtful and innovative design.

Bike North: University District (Thursday)

Walkshop

Cycle to see 15 of Austin's best protected bicycle facilities, designed for all ages and abilities, in the downtown and University of Texas at Austin area, all in 7 miles.

Bike East: Lance Armstrong Bikeway, Butler Trail, and the Boardwalk (Thursday)

Walkshop

This cycling tour showcases many of East Austin’s innovative bicycle trails and pathways, including those found on the Lance Armstrong Bikeway, Butler Trail, and the Boardwalk.

Bike Detection System (Thursday)

Walkshop

Take a behind-the-scenes look at advanced bike detection for signal actuation -- a first-of-its-kind system that uses Smartphones for virtual detection.

Austin Bike Share System (Thursday)

Walkshop

Tour the stations along Austin’s innovative bike share system by bicycle with City of Austin and Bike Share of Austin representatives.

Meet the Cities

Breakout Session

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

Bold Moves to Get People Moving: Public and Private Collaborations that Work

Breakout Session

Learn how Austin’s Transportation Department began a culture of collaboration many years ago and how different actors in the mobility community have worked to continue this today.

Exploring Global Streets, Pecha Kucha Style

Breakout Session

7 presenters from various corners of the world will showcase projects from their local contexts, sharing their experiences and discussing the challenges they faced while shaping improved street environments.

The Future of Transportation Funding and Financing

Breakout Session

How are cities using value capture in transit corridors, public-private partnerships, impact fees, and developer agreements to invest in walking, bicycling, and transit? This session showcases funding models that could work in your community.

Project Evaluation: Tools for Measuring Success and Building Support

Breakout Session

Cities are using data to ensure that infrastructure changes and culture changes keep pace with each other, employing creative new ways to measure project success and leveraging data in how they engage stakeholders.

What's Mine is Yours: Planning, Designing, and Implementing Shared Streets

Breakout Session

City staff will share lessons learned around operations, design and maintenance and the political challenges faced both with internal stakeholders and the neighborhoods impacted by this new type of street.

Beyond Protected Bicycle Lanes - The Role of All Ages and Abilities Networks

Breakout Session

Hear from U.S. cities that are leading the movement to meet urban mobility demand through the planning and implementation of all ages and abilities networks, setting the stage for rapid mode shift.

Preventing Crashes and Saving Lives: The Role of Automated Enforcement

Breakout Session

Experts from four cities will examine legislative efforts, public communication strategies, and best practices for safety camera implementation.

Changing Behavior and Achieving Mode Shift Goals

Breakout Session

Panelists discuss strategies to change the perception of car ownership and the single-occupancy vehicle trip, and efforts to increase shared use mobility as a convenient, attractive transportation choice.

Tackling Congestion through Corridor Redesign

Breakout Session

Hear from cities that have transformed constrained streets, and found they could unlock new capacity by reallocating space to biking, walking, and transit.

Complexity + Ambiguity: An Intersection Design Workshop

Breakout Session

Learn from NYC DOT's experience redesigning intersections for legibility and safety, and apply these techniques to a complex intersection in Austin.

Shifting Gears: A Roadmap to Safer Streets and Smarter Cities

NACTO Events

Community Keynote: Janette Sadik-Khan, Chair of NACTO

Friday Fun Run

Walkshop

Join us for this enjoyable jog for some fresh air and exercise, while taking in some of Austin’s most inviting activity assets and popular urban design elements.

Breakfast

Breakfast will be available in the Ballroom from 8:00-8:45am

Welcome Remarks

Plenary

Welcome Remarks from Gregory Fenves, President of the University of Texas at Austin

Transit Track

Breakout Session

Capital Metro and the City of Austin have invited national leaders in transit from three cities for a vibrant discussion of how Austin can make its streets great for transit.

NACTO Camp

Breakout Session

A participant-driven “unconference”

What's new with the Green Lane Project

Breakout Session

Leaders from the PeopleForBikes Green Lane Project and representatives from leading cities will provide a fast-paced update.

Cycling for Everyone: Lessons from the Dutch Cycling Embassy’s work in NACTO Cities

Breakout Session

In this interactive session, meet several of the ‘Ambassadors’ of Dutch cycling expertise and learn how the ThinkBike workshop has catalyzed innovative bicycle network planning and design in U.S. Cities.

Lunch

To-go lunches will be available before the afternoon's Walkshops

Tejano Walking Trail (Friday)

Walkshop

This East Austin tour will share the story of a nearly six-year community effort to complete the Tejano Walking Trail, highlighting the rich heritage of the surrounding, traditionally Hispanic community.

Festival Streets: Planning for SXSW and more (Friday)

Walkshop

See the Austin Convention Center area and learn about the cross-departmental "one stop shop" for street event permitting and planning.

SoCo: Iconic South Congress (Friday)

Walkshop

Walk south across the river to South Congress Avenue, a favorite people place for visitors and Austinites. A Public Works project manager and engineer will tell the story of the South Congress Improvement Project.

Sidewalk Cafes: Permitting for People Places (Friday)

Walkshop

Stroll along the sidewalk cafes and food trailers of Downtown Austin, and stop for a snack, as you learn about the new way sidewalk cafes are being permitted by Austin Transportation Department.

Seaholm: From Power Plant to Urban Neighborhood (Friday)

Walkshop

Take an insider's tour through the Seaholm District—a redevelopment project that repurposes a 1950s Art Deco power plant and industrial area into a vibrant walkable neighborhood where people work, live, shop and play.

Project Connect Gateway: Downtown Multimodal Terminal Station (Friday)

Walkshop

Tour the site of the Downtown Station, the terminus for the existing MetroRail Red Line. Learn about the debate over how to balance transit-station goals with the needs of the existing street network.

Guerrilla Wayfinding (Friday)

Walkshop

Tour participants will help install temporary signage that encourages walking and shows foot-times between major Downtown Austin attractions.

Great Streets: Second and Third Street (Friday)

Walkshop

Come walk through the handsome results of Austin's Great Streets Program, a nationally recognized program to enhance and elevate the pedestrian realm.

Green Streets (Friday)

Walkshop

Come walk the streets of Austin with Public Works and Office of Sustainability City staff at the forefront of green innovation and technology.

Downtown Parks and Passageways (Friday)

Walkshop

This tour will highlight how parks and transportation planning can come together to influence the shape of a place and the traffic flow, economy, and civic culture of a community.

Butler Hike and Bike Trail (Friday)

Walkshop

The tour will discuss the fascinating history of the Butler Trail, recent improvement projects, and how it functions today for both recreational and transportation purposes.

Art in the Streetscape (Friday)

Walkshop

Learn about challenges and solutions for working in the streetscape and how public art can enhance the pedestrian experience and be integral to creative placemaking.

Public Art Meets Green Infrastructure: Great Public Spaces (Friday)

Walkshop

Tour Austin’s fascinating mash-up of public art and watershed protection! This walking tour includes stops at public art as cultural markers (Stevie Ray Vaughan and Willie Nelson statues) and attractive green infrastructure (the gorgeous landscape bio-filtration system at the

Waller Creek: A Revitalizing Downtown Corridor (Friday)

Walkshop

Waller Creek is at the center of plans for the largest urban creek corridor revitalization in the nation, to feature a chain of parks connected by urban trails for biking and walking.

Partnering with Neighborhoods: Better Streets, Better Places (Friday)

Walkshop

See a variety of Neighborhood Partnering Program (NPP) projects, winner of a 2015 American Planning Association Leadership in Sustainability Award.

Transforming Mueller: New Neighborhood, New Street Network (Friday)

Walkshop

Tour the street network created for Mueller, a new mixed-use, multi-modal, inner-city neighborhood being created on the site of the former 700+ acre Mueller Municipal Airport.

MetroRail Red Line (Friday)

Walkshop

Take a TOD tour on the MetroRail Red Line, Austin’s "starter" commuter rail line. Agency staff will discuss how they are expanding service with additional track, more rail cars, better connectivity, and more.

Water Quality and Development on Lady Bird Lake: A Kayak Tour (Friday)

Walkshop

The tour provides a unique perspective (from a kayak!) on the environmental challenges Austin is facing while creating an active and accessible urban waterfront.

MetroRapid BRT (Friday)

Walkshop

Hop on a MetroRapid, Austin's bus rapid transit system, which opened last year. Explore station types, pedestrian and bicycle features, rapid development changes, and a downtown transit priority treatment.

Reconnecting an Urban Waterfront and Boardwalk Trail (Friday)

Walkshop

Come bike along Lady Bird Lake on the City’s beautiful new Boardwalk - built partly over the river and partly on land - to glose a gap and create a continuous 10-mile hike-and-bike trail.

Bike South: All Ages and Abilities (Friday)

Walkshop

Learn how bike facilities in Austin are connecting communities and encouraging family-friendly cycling through the use of thoughtful and innovative design.

Bike North: University District (Friday)

Walkshop

Cycle to see 15 of Austin's best protected bicycle facilities, designed for all ages and abilities, in the downtown and University of Texas at Austin area, all in 7 miles.

Bike East: Lance Armstrong Bikeway, Butler Trail, and the Boardwalk (Friday)

Walkshop

This cycling tour showcases many of East Austin’s innovative bicycle trails and pathways, including those found on the Lance Armstrong Bikeway, Butler Trail, and the Boardwalk.

Bike Detection System (Friday)

Walkshop

Take a behind-the-scenes look at advanced bike detection for signal actuation -- a first-of-its-kind system that uses Smartphones for virtual detection.

Austin Bike Share System (Friday)

Walkshop

Tour the stations along Austin’s innovative bike share system by bicycle with City of Austin and Bike Share of Austin representatives.

Self-Driving Vehicles: Policy and Technology Considerations

Breakout Session

In this session, learn about technological advances, city regulations, and policies to align self-driving vehicles with shared mobility and Vision Zero goals.

Texas Transportation Round Up: Delivering Mobility, Safety and Community in the Lone Star State

Breakout Session

Hear how transportation leaders from the largest cities in Texas are keeping their citizens moving safely through innovative strategies such as managed lanes, shared mobility, bus rapid transit, rail, bicycle networks and more.

Vision Zero From Below: Creating the Political Climate for Change

Breakout Session

Hear from advocates and community groups that are re-framing controversial issues and cultivating a foundation for change.

Transit Innovation Hour: Pecha Kuchas

Breakout Session

In an energizing session, learn about 7 innovations in transit from 7 different speakers.

Defining and Measuring Success: Lessons from LOS Reform

Breakout Session

There is a growing recognition that LOS is too narrow a measure of a project's true impact on mobility networks; learn about reforms to traditional Level of Service metrics.

Bold Transportation Visions: Move Seattle and Go Boston 2030

Breakout Session

Officials from opposite coasts present innovative long-range transportation planning efforts to make their cities more active, more connected, and more engaged: Move Seattle and Go Boston 2030.

Streets as Ecosystems: Innovative Approaches to Long-Term Improvements

Breakout Session

How are cities integrating trees, bioswales, rain gardens, and landscaping to treat streets as ecosystems and integrate nature into city life?

Protecting People Biking and Walking through Intersections

Breakout Session

Hear from cities that are raising the bar for designing safer and more accessible intersections for active users.

Closing Keynote: Great Streets, Great City

Plenary

How can we elevate our cities by creating streets that are not just transportation corridors, but also beautiful and memorable places?

Seaholm: From Power Plant to Urban Neighborhood (Saturday)

Walkshop

Take an insider's tour through the Seaholm District—a redevelopment project that repurposes a 1950s Art Deco power plant and industrial area into a vibrant walkable neighborhood where people work, live, shop and play.

Art in the Streetscape (Saturday)

Walkshop

Learn about challenges and solutions for working in the streetscape and how public art can enhance the pedestrian experience and be integral to creative placemaking.

Water Quality and Development on Lady Bird Lake: A Kayak Tour (Saturday)

Walkshop

The tour provides a unique perspective (from a kayak!) on the environmental challenges Austin is facing while creating an active and accessible urban waterfront. Examine how ongoing capital projects and waterfront development have impacted Austin’s lakes and creeks, as well

Walnut Creek Trail Bicycle Ride (Saturday)

Walkshop

Come bike Austin’s signature Urban Trail and learn about what it took to make the Southern Walnut Creek Trail a reality.

Bicycle Infrastructure: Austin's Greatest Hits (Saturday)

Walkshop

Save your bike touring for Saturday and see it all! This 3-hour tour route will showcase a string of Austin's best bicycle infrastructure work over the last five years--painted and protected lanes, trails, bicycle signals and more.

East Austin Bicycle Tour (Saturday)

Walkshop

Save East Austin for Saturday, and cover a lot of ground by bicycle. Join us on this tour to hear how East Austin's transformation has affected the lives of Austinites, for better or worse.