AASHTO Journal - MassDOT Hosts Active Transportation/Transit Conference

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is going ahead with its 2020 Moving Together Conference, now scheduled to be held virtually from November 17 through November 19 – a conference aimed at sharing “relevant transportation highlights” from current pedestrian, bicyclist, and public transportation issues.

[Above photo by MassDOT]

MassDOT said its conference is open at no cost to all transportation professionals including municipal personnel, non-profits, design consultants, public health and transportation advocates, planning and transit agencies, researchers, and public and private sector practitioners.

MBTA GM Steve Poftak (at right) with MassDOT Secretary Stephanie Pollack. Photo by Joshua Qualls/Massachusetts Governor’s Office.

The agency said in a statement that the conference will feature presentations by Stephanie Pollack, secretary and CEO of MassDOT; Jonathan Gulliver, state highway administrator for MassDOT; Jeff McEwen, division administrator for the Federal Highway Division; Steve Poftak, general manager of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority; and Jamey Tesler, registrar of the Massachusetts Registrar of Motor Vehicles. Angie Schmitt, a well-known author on the topic of sustainable transportation, will also address MassDOT’s meeting.

The conference format will focus on key areas in transportation: Safety; equity measures; mobility in a new normal; plus project development and Implementation. Each specific track will offer topic-related sessions that feature knowledgeable moderators and panelists with expertise in these respective areas, MassDOT said, with question and answer opportunities.

Session topics will address a variety of key transportation issues, including “Mobility and Multimodal Transportation,” “Shared Streets and Spaces,” “Tools for Pedestrian Safety,” and “Tools and Resources to Address Equity and Planning for a Lasting Shift.” Session presentations will also highlight newly released transportation guidance and studies such as MassDOT’s guide on roundabout design and bicycle wayfinding and the Mass Central Rail Trail feasibility study.