At first, I was feeling shy. There were so many smart and cool people to meet! But, I quickly found out this was my kind of crowd—people who think deeply about how we move from place to place, and people who are excited to share and learn about exciting new ideas in the world of transportation!

Of course, I had to adapt. No climbing on displays (tempting), no hoarding snacks from the refreshment table (very tempting), and definitely no running across presentation stages mid-talk (okay, I almost did that once. Just once!)

I met planners, designers, and engineers who think about all kinds of topics, such as complete streets and walkable communities (my tiny paws appreciate you!), trains, buses, and micromobility, and exciting new technologies! There were so many fascinating conversations. I learned about smart traffic systems, sustainability efforts, and how data helps make roads safer.

During my time at TransAction, I even got to present with my friends, Ted, Courtenay, and Cate! Our session was called, “You Talkin’ to Me? Awesome Public Engagement Success Stories.”  I shared the amazing work we did with kids and teens for the NJTPA’s Long Range Transportation Plan, Connecting Communities! We talked about all the effort that went into creating our outreach activities and the great feedback we heard from our young participants!