See the full panel description here Central Texas is at a pivotal moment for rail. Two feasibility studies have just wrapped up examining potential passenger rail corridors — I-35 and SH 130 — while Project Connect moves forward on commuter rail investment closer to home. Meanwhile, the Texas Legislature is weighing bills that could accelerate or stall rail progress statewide. Travis County Judge Andy Brown, former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros, and Transit Forward Executive Director Ashika Ganguly will unpack where things stand, what's at stake for economic development and regional competitiveness, and what it will take — politically and practically — to move both passenger and commuter rail forward.

See the full panel description here This session will unpack the 30+ transportation construction projects and explore how public agencies and community partners are working together to reduce disruption, communicate impacts, and support the community throughout construction. The session will conclude with a live demonstration of the CTX GO app, designed to help people navigate construction and stay informed

See the full panel description here Two years in, Austin's Kidical Mass has brought hundreds of families into the streets on bikes, but this is just the beginning. This panel explores how Austin is building a youth-centered active transportation ecosystem through community organizing, nonprofit cycling education, Safe Routes to School infrastructure, and city policy. Speakers from the Parents' Climate Community, Ghisallo Cycling Initiative, the community, and Austin City Council will share what's working, what barriers remain, and how cross-sector partnership is accelerating mode shift for the next generation.

See the full panel description here Free parking has been the default employer commute benefit for decades, but it's expensive, carbon-intensive, and out of step with what employees want and cities need. This panel explores how leading employers are redesigning commute programs around multimodal mobility: transit, e-bikes, carpooling, and flexible options that drive real behavior change. Featuring data from a national employer e-bike platform, an Austin-area employer with live program results, and a transportation policy expert, the session offers a full-picture view of what it takes to shift employees out of single-occupancy vehicles, and why the results make a compelling case for action.

See the full panel description here Does your community have a parking dilemma? Do you know that parking is already taking a hit in terms of demand? How do we make smart business and community planning decisions using technology to better prepare for a more automated, less personal vehicle reality? Come find out about high-density parking technologies at work in communities nation-wide, reducing development footprints, helping to achieve LEED certification, and enabling good urban investments.

See the full panel description here Transportation demand management (TDM) is critical for promoting multi-modal travel, including carpooling, vanpooling, public transportation, or bicycling/walking. This session will highlight three key strategies, Reducing Parking Cruising, Parking Cash-Out, and Carpooling Innovations presented by Allen Greenberg from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Attendees will learn how these strategies can reduce traffic congestion, improve safety, and enhance mobility. The session aims to enhance the skills of attendees by providing insights into effective TDM practices, and the available FHWA tools to support and advance implementation.

See the full panel description and panelists This panel explores lessons from Texas university campus planning projects, including those that have advanced transit, e-micromobility, pedestrian infrastructure, and TDM strategies while navigating major infrastructure disruptions and changing travel behavior.