Events: Learn how cities are putting transit research into practice

This free, online symposium has drawn hundreds of participants every year since 2020. This year’s Symposium will take begin at 12:00 pm on Tuesday, October 25 and end at 4:30 pm on Thursday, October 27. The central theme for the symposium is “translating transit research into practice.”

As the transit industry is poised to take advantage of the largest transit and rail investment in our lifetimes, the symposium will be a platform where transit experts share insights on how evidence-based research is being, or can be, used to make the most of these opportunities in a changing environment. In addition to discussions on transit research and practice in the US, a group of international speakers will be invited to share transit insights from non-US contexts.

The Symposium, hosted by the University of Florida Transportation Institute, the California Department of Transportation, the T-SCORE University Transportation Center at the Georgia Institute of Technology, and the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), will focus on the following topics such as zero-fare transit, transit resiliency, and strategic funding for public transit, to name a few. For more information and to register, please see here.

Tuesday, October 25

Mingle with GGWash readers and writers at Wunder Garten: Join us for a special happy hour from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Tuesday, October 25 at Wunder Garten. Meet and celebrate the writers and volunteers who make the GGWash publication possible — and the readers who make that work worthwhile. Connect with everyone from Breakfast Links curators to our editor-in-chief, chat about your favorite stories, and maybe even learn how to become a contributor yourself. Register for the event here.

Learn how urban streets can be safer for pedestrians with vision disabilities: The C2SMART Center in New York City is hosting a webinar entitled “Assisting Pedestrians with Vision Disabilities in Navigating Urban Streets - Lessons Learned from the NYC Connected Vehicle Pilot Mobile Accessible Pedestrian Signal System” at 1:00 pm on October 25. Dr. Jingqin Gao, Senior Research Associate at the C2SMART Center, will present the organization’s findings.

New York City piloted connected vehicle (CV) technology to support the Vision Zero initiative and help eliminate injuries and fatalities caused by crashes. In Manhattan, 73% of all crash fatalities involved pedestrians while this figure is only 14% nationwide. As a part of the USDOT CV Pilot Deployment Program, two pedestrian-oriented applications were deployed: 1) a generalized warning to vehicles of pedestrians in the roadway based on thermal imaging detection and 2) a Mobile Accessible Pedestrian Signal System (PED-SIG) application to assist pedestrians with vision disabilities. The PED-SIG application supports cellular communications to receive localized Signal Phase and Timing (SPaT) and MAP messages broadcast by the local Roadside Unit (RSU) to provide audio alerts and haptic prompts to assist pedestrians with vision disabilities in safely crossing streets at instrumented intersections.

Volunteer participants with vision disabilities were recruited to participate in the field tests where Personal Information Devices (PIDs) were given to participants. This seminar will present how the pedestrian application was designed, deployed, and tested along with several valuable lessons learned throughout the deployment.

To register, please see here.

Thursday, October 27

Hear about the power of land banks in Spanish: Join the Center for Community Progress for a webinar entitled “Land Banking 101 en Español” at 12:00 pm on Thursday, October 27. Land banks are a powerful tool to help return vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated (VAD) properties to productive use, and can serve as a catalyst for equitable and resilient revitalization. They are often critical for combating destabilization in vulnerable communities, such as neighborhoods that have faced decades of disinvestment and racist housing policies and those impacted by climate-induced disasters.

In Land Banking 101 en Español, participants will hear from two land banks in different stages of existence: an early-stage land bank in Puerto Rico and an established land bank in Ohio. Join this webinar to:
• Learn what a land bank is and its unique powers
• Understand the challenges faced by early-stage land banks versus established land banks
• Hear strategies for success, including how a land bank can implement disaster recovery efforts or leverage partnerships to achieve the greatest impact

This Cornerstone will be presented in Spanish! English translation will also be available for all attendees.

Presenters:
• Luis Gallardo, Executive Director, Center for Habitat Reconstruction, Inc.
• Ricardo León, Chief Operating Officer, Cuyahoga Land Bank

To register and for more information, see here.

Join Georgetown University to learn about their Master’s in Urban & Regional Planning program: Georgetown University’s Master of Professional Studies in Urban & Regional Planning prepares you to solve the critical challenges facing urban communities around the world. You’ll learn from industry scholars and practitioners in the classroom while developing your skills outside of class through applied problem-solving, international travel, independent research, and networking events. Upon completing the program, you’ll have the industry knowledge and leadership skills needed to effectively and responsibly shape the communities of tomorrow. Join them for a webinar to learn about the program at 12:00 pm on Thursday, October 27. Register for the event here.