Transportation conference kicks off in Austin

The National Association of City Transportation Officials kicked off its fourth annual traveling conference Wednesday at the JW Marriott hotel. Austin Mayor Steve Adler greeted the 650 attendees with a few words about how Austin’s transportation network ties with its affordability concerns. “Mobility and transportation is where our fundamental answers to those challenges need to come from,” he said. “So, the work that you’re doing here, the work that you’re doing all over is so important to help our city find the directions and the ways to go.” Janette Sadik-Khan, the chair of the organization and former commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation, set the scene for the conference. “We’re really here to teach one another, to learn from one another and to share ideas that can work from coast to coast and (share) strategies that promote walking and biking and transit and safer streets,” she said. After a few other presentations about new transportation initiatives in cities such as New York and Los Angeles, attendees sat in on panel discussions – one of which this reporter participated in – on topics ranging from transit systems to pedestrian networks. The main conference will continue through Friday, with some activities on Saturday as well. Sadik-Khan will join the Downtown Austin Alliance for a reception and keynote presentation on Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m.