OCS Conference Funding Submission

Event Photo:

NPC 2023 Conference Slogan: 'It take a planner'

Presentation on Green and Complete Streets from NJ Transit and NJ Department of Transportation Officials

Presentation on Salt Lake City's Comprehensive Street Design

Name: Emily Speelman

Degree Program: MASTER OF URBAN PLANNING

Specialization: MUP-City and Community Planning

Conference Host Organization/Institution: American Planning Association (APA)

Conference/Competition Name: American Planning Association National Planning Conference 2023

Conference Term: Spring Conference Start Date: 2023-04-01 Conference End Date: 2023-04-04

What were your takeaways from this conference/case competition?
- There are a range of equity opportunities in infrastructure planning (health, environmental, etc).
- Telling a story is a central part of communicating your plan and working with local stakeholders.
- When doing any type of transportation or pedestrian planning, safety needs to be the beginning, middle, and end of the plan.
- Establishing multiple funding sources is critical to the planning process.
- When working with multiple agencies, it is helpful to first establish who is responsible for what elements. Sometimes, no one knows who covers what and this can be critical to making decisions.

How will your participation in this conference/case competition support your professional development?
While I now recognize how challenging it will be to become a transportation planner, I was affirmed in my decision to pursue it. I loved seeing the real-life application of the concepts and theories that I have studied for class. The conference also showed me the range of ways planners can implement pedestrian and roadway safety programs, adapting them to fit their unique city. I was also able to meet and talk with a Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Planner for Philadelphia and I hope to keep in contact with her in the future.

What are some next steps or action items this conference/case competition inspired?
Two of my favorite presentations were on transit-oriented development and comprehensive street networks in small, but growing, cities. I would like to explore these topics more, both personally and next semester. I also realized that I am not well-versed in sustainability and climate resiliency planning, so I want to take some classes on this next year. Lastly, I want to get more involved with the APA so I plan to apply for the APA Representative position on the UPSA board for 2023-24.

What are some tips or best practices that you would like to share with other Wagner students who attend a conference/case competition?
1. Sign up for a student volunteer shift. You will not only make a little money, but you will also meet interesting people you would not have otherwise.
2. Arrive early to your sessions because they will fill up quickly! Especially ones on transportation.
3. Create a schedule beforehand, but be open to attending other events.
4. Don't skip grad students presentations - there are not many, but they are worth attending.

Wagner Areas of Impact: Cities, Education, Government, Health, Housing, Inequality, Race, and Poverty, International Development, Nonprofits, Transportation