April 15, 2024
From May 7-10, 1,000 transportation officials, planners, and practitioners will gather in South Florida for the 2024 NACTO Designing Cities Conference. Built around the themes of safety, climate, equity, sustainable growth, and regional collaboration, the 2024 Designing Cities Conference will be meaningful time of relationship building and idea sharing as cities present innovative steps they’ve taken to make their communities safer, more accessible and more resilient.
While the annual NACTO conference holds a gold mine of insights for all transportation professionals who attend, it’s primarily geared toward building peer connections between cities. It’s easy to feel like you’re alone in the challenges your city is facing, so it can be an energizing experience to connect with passionate transportation leaders in other cities who are working through similar obstacles.
First NACTO Designing Cities Conference in the Southeastern United States
Miami-Dade County provides a unique backdrop for the 2024 Designing Cities Conference. Miami-Dade was actually the first US county to join NACTO back in 2016. It’s an exciting region to showcase in the transportation space, with major investments in rail projects, quick build, and safety initiatives, and Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is a strong example of collaboration with and support of local transportation agencies.
At the same time, NACTO recognizes the region has a complex political landscape and some attendees may have questions about traveling there. On the conference website, NACTO lists a number of steps they are taking to provide safe and comfortable spaces for all attendees.
WalkShops
One of the activities that the NACTO Designing Cities Conference is best known for is WalkShops, during which local staff and community members lead mobile tours of the host city. Through these WalkShops, you’ll have the opportunity to view the impressive lineup of quick build projects that Miami-Dade has been implementing to shape safer streets for people who walk and bike.
There are many great WalkShops to choose from at the 2024 conference. We’d love to see you at one of ours:
- Benazir Portal will lead a tour through the neighborhood of Wynwood, renowned for its vibrant arts scene, eclectic street art, trendy eateries, and unique atmosphere.
- Chris Romano and Jessica Josselyn will take participants on Tri-Rail (South Florida’s commuter rail) to Wilton Manors, home to one of the largest LGBTQ populations in the country.
- If you’re interested in biking the Causeway, one of Miami’s most scenic waterways, you have two options: the “interested but concerned” edition led by Alek Pochowski and Brandon Kelley, and the “strong and fearless” edition led by Conor Semler along with Anna Racz and Gaby Serrado of Miami-Dade County.
Making the Most of NACTO Designing Cities 2024
If you’ll be attending this event, here are our top suggestions for making it a meaningful experience.
1) Come ready to learn. The Designing Cities Conference has a high caliber of speakers and session topics. From maximizing grant funding to climate infrastructure, the lineup of sessions is sure to get your wheels turning on ideas for your community.
2) Take advantage of WalkShops. We know it’s tough to rally for a walking tour after a full day of conference activities, but you’ll be glad you did. This is not only a great way to get inspired about your work; it’s also an excellent and easy way to network, which is where so much of the conference value lies.
3) Check out the fun activities! Conference organizers have provided many ways to meet new people and experience the city, including neighborhood dinners, dancing lessons, and morning fun runs. Enjoy your time in beautiful South Florida!
Let’s Connect at the 2024 Designing Cities Conference
We’ve long admired the immense thought and planning that goes into the Designing Cities Conference, and this year we’ve had the privilege of experiencing the process firsthand as we work alongside Miami-Dade County to support NACTO in organizing conference events and activities. If you’re planning to attend the conference, we’re confident you’ll come away with renewed energy for the work you’re doing in your city.
And we’d love to connect with you there! Jessica Josselyn, Caitlin Mildner, Radu Nan, Brandon Kelley, Caitlin Tobin, Alek Pochowski, Conor Semler, Jennifer Musselman and Kelly Fearon will be participating in the conference, with several other members of the Kittelson team who will be there to lead WalkShops and volunteer. We welcome the opportunity to meet you in Miami!