Conference attendees are invited to participate in an IntelliConference, OnTrackNorthAmerica’s breakthrough method of stakeholder engagement. This facilitated dialogue will be preceded by two rounds of an efficient call and response online interaction in the two weeks (30 minutes each week) leading up to the conference. The subject of this inquiry-based dialogue is stakeholder engagement itself. While experiencing an IntelliConference firsthand you will have an opportunity to contribute your own observations and thinking about the challenges and opportunities of stakeholder engagement. The IntelliConference methodology is designed to generate collective intelligence efficiently and enjoyably, while averting all of the usual pitfalls of online interaction and disjointed in-person meetings. Learn how to fuse online and in-person engagement in this learn-by-doing public involvement methodology session.

• Michael Sussman, OnTrackNorthAmerica
• Moderator: Karen Pawloski, Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District (OH)

Learn about new trends and real-life practical applications from regional planning and economic development organizations. Presenters will discuss one transportation model based upon economic modeling and forecasting, as well as land use allocation modeling from a regional sustainability project, along with how GIS was used to support analysis of a region’s bicycle route planning efforts, a statewide effort to coordinate plans across transportation and community and economic development programs, among other models where GIS and other technologies have improved planning and analysis.

• Pat Steed, Central Florida Regional Planning Council
• Tom Buck, North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission
• Eric Ghahate, North Central New Mexico Economic Development District
• Moderator: Karyl Fuller, Isothermal Planning and Development Commission

Learn from rural and small metropolitan transportation professionals about innovative project designs, interesting planning studies, and beneficial technical assistance provided to local communities in this plenary showcase. These panelists are rethinking the roles of regional transportation planning organizations to plan and implement transportation improvements that delivery mobility improvements and community and economic development benefits.  This fast-paced panel will provide many inspirational practices to adapt and adopt.

• Welcome: Stacy Morrison, Tennessee Department of Transportation
• Gena McCullough, Bi-State Regional Commission (IL/IA)
• Jennifer Tinsley, Lower Savannah Council of Governments (SC)
• Elijah Sharp, New River Valley Regional Commission (VA)
• Mari Brunner, Southwest Regional Planning Commission (NH)
• Julio Portillo, River Valley Regional Commission (GA)
• Robby Cantrell, North Central Alabama Regional Council of Governments

Hear how communities have successfully made the case for investment in transit and initiated new service to improve mobility in rural and small metro places, and participate in an engaging, interactive discussion on the return on investment of transit in meeting mobility needs and community and economic development outcomes.

• Moderator: Don Masisak, Coastal Regional Commission
• JD Dillard, Southern Georgia Regional Commission
• Chris Zeilinger, Community Transportation Association of America

Working together on data collection, analysis, stakeholder outreach, and more, states, regions, and the local entities they serve can come to a deeper understanding and new solutions for their region’s transportation and development issues.

• Ronda Allis, Minnesota Department of Transportation
• Daniel Currier, Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission
• Moderator: Krishna Kunapareddy, Boonslick Regional Planning Commission (MO)

In addition to discussion association business, the attendees heard a presentation from Susan Howard, NADO Director of Government Relations and Legislative Affairs.

During the reception, award winning organizations will host a table and talk with attendees about their work. One of the highlights of the conference, the reception allows for targeted networking and learning about transportation topics.  The 2016 Excellence in Regional Transportation Awards recognize the outstanding work of regional organizations on a diverse set of planning, programming, and project delivery related to several modes of transportation.

Learn from practitioners about regional planning studies that incorporate multiple modes, involve extensive public and stakeholder engagement, and grapple with complex environmental and other issues. Panelists will discuss planning processes and mobility concerns arising at the large-scale regional level, as well as for a corridor within a rural community.

• Ann Stroobant, Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments (NC)
• Stacy Morrison, Tennessee Department of Transportation
• Jonathan Russell, Tennessee Department of Transportation

Learn about the stakeholder-developed Toward Zero Deaths National Strategy, and how the multi-disciplinary strategy is being deployed to improve safety for drivers and passengers, vulnerable road users, vehicles, infrastructure, improved safety management, and a supportive safety culture. Also find out how road diets are a proven method of improving transportation infrastructure to improve safety outcomes.

• Brian Roberts, National Association of County Engineers
• Jessica Rich, Federal Highway Administration, Tennessee Division
• Moderator: Jeannette Wierzbicki, Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association

With limited funds available for investment and increasing mobility and maintenance needs, attendees will learn from different regions about efforts to prioritize projects from different modes and funding streams, starting with collecting appropriate information in project proposal forms to allow for prioritization.

• Larry Mattson, Yakima Valley Conference of Governments (WA)
• Annette Fiedler, Southwest Regional Development Commission (MN)
• Katie Caskey, Minnesota Department of Transportation
• Ronda Allis, Minnesota Department of Transportation
• Moderator: Chris Whitaker, Region XII Council of Governments (IA)

Collecting and analyzing safety data can help regional planners to understand trends and contributing factors and perform several types of analysis to plan for and improve transportation safety performance. Hear about methods for using safety data, share information about your own experiences in an interactive discussion, and learn from expert trainers and from your peers.

• Nicole Waldheim, Cambridge Systematics
• Danena Gaines, Cambridge Systematics
• Moderator: Falguni Patel, Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments

Transportation is rapidly changing as workforce, demographics, available technology, and transportation demands evolve. The keynote speaker will discuss how trucking intersects with other modes of transportation, the emergence of new patterns and services, the effects of transportation policy, and an outlook for the future of transportation and freight mobility.  This presentation will shed light on private sector perspectives on transportation demands and solutions.

• Dave Manning, President of TCW and Second Vice Chair of the American Trucking Associations
• Moderator: Tom Reinauer, Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission

The workshop will provide an introduction to a suite of tools that Rural Transportation Planning Organizations may use to gain insight into some of the most important consequences of economic development initiatives: Community Viz®; photo-realistic visualizations of streetscapes; and an integrated land-use/travel-demand model. Presenters will discuss how we applied the tools to a rural area in Mississippi experiencing growth in both automobile manufacture and heritage-based tourism. Workshop participants will see how higher density, pedestrian/bike friendly development can be achieved in small towns. Workshop participants will learn how the land-use/travel-demand model works and how different tools can work together.

• Brian Morton, Center for Urban and Regional Studies UNC-Chapel Hill
• John Poros, Carl Small Town Center, Mississippi State University

Learn about the fundamentals of freight data and connections between freight and land use. Also, find out about the designation of freight corridors and how to plan for them in this interactive session that will build attendees’ freight planning skills.  The session will be led by expert trainers from the Federal Highway Administration’s Office of Freight Management and Operations.

• Crystal Jones, Federal Highway Administration

Learn about the planning and implementation challenges and successes of Complete Streets projects in Chattanooga that make the roadways safer for all users, including bicyclists and pedestrians. This workshop will occur by bicycle, and attendees should be comfortable riding.

Through this facilitated discussion session, learn from your peers about their challenges and successes in regional transportation planning practice related to a variety of topics. Often one of the top-ranked sessions at the conference, the Conversation Café allows attendees to pick their highest priority topics and learn ideas to adapt from peers.

• Rural transportation safety: Steve Albert, National Center for Rural Road Safety
• Health in transportation: Gena McCullough, Bi-State Regional Commission
• Inclusion of elderly and disabled individuals in planning: Rachel Beyerle, Easterseals Transportation Group
• Aligning transportation plans with other regional plans: Mary Rump, East Central Iowa Council of Governments
• Bicycle and pedestrian planning: John Devine, Northeast Georgia Regional Commission
• Productivity tips and tricks: Jason Ray, Southwest Missouri Council of Governments
• Local consultation in statewide planning: Jessica Blankenship Bray, Cumberland Valley Area Development District (KY)
• Freight transportation: Terri Sicking, KYOVA Interstate Planning Council (WV)
• Forming an Effective Regional Transportation Committee: Erica Anderson, Land of Sky Regional Council (NC)
• Regional Transit and Coordination: Robert Hiett, Three Rivers Regional Commission (GA)

Six months into implementing the 2015 authorization Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act), learn about programmatic changes, implementation of the regulations still coming out of the previous Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21^st Century and the FAST Act, and implications for the future of the funding and implementation of the federal surface transportation programs and other transportation-related program areas. This session will feature speakers from federal agencies implementing the new laws and be moderated by NADO’s own expert government relations staff.

• Jessica Rich, Federal Highway Administration, Tennessee Division
• Ken Petty, Federal Highway Administration
• Crystal Jones, Federal Highway Administration
• Moderator: Susan Howard, NADO