Message From Our Executive Director, Greg Stuart | |
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The Broward MPO designed a three-part workshop series called "Think Like A Planner" to expose Broward students to the endless opportunities within transportation. This school year, Think Like A Planner kicked off with 7th and 8th-grade students at New Renaissance Middle School. Community outreach comes in many forms, tasking these students with hands-on activities and real-world challenges such as conducting a walking audit and working as a team to present their recommendations on making the area safer for all modes of transportation, all have a lasting impact. The overall feedback from both students and teachers was very favorable and the Broward MPO looks forward to growing the program to reach more students in the future. To learn more about the Broward MPO's educational outreach efforts click HERE.
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Broward MPO Staff Attends COMTO Meet and Greet with New Tri-Rail Executive Director | | |
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The Broward MPO team had a great time welcoming new Tri-Rail Executive Director David Dech to South Florida last week at an event hosted by COMTO’s Fort Lauderdale Chapter! The Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) is the leading national advocate for employment diversity, inclusion, and contracting opportunities in the multi-modal, multi-billion-dollar transportation industry. Their mission is to eliminate barriers to maximum participation for minority individuals, veterans, people with disabilities and certified businesses through leadership training, professional development, scholarship and internship funding, political advocacy, partnership building and networking opportunities. Click the button below to learn more about COMTO. | |
Safe Streets Summit Call for Presenters | |
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The Safe Streets Summit is returning to Broward County for its 10-Year Anniversary. The two-day conference will be held at the Diplomat Hotel in Hollywood, Florida from February 2-3, 2023. We are now seeking conference presenters! In addition to bringing national speakers and leaders to speak on innovative transportation efforts, this year, we are also accepting proposals for exciting and dynamic speakers who can help illustrate Complete Streets in action through real-life examples. In order to be considered, all submissions must clearly align with the "Back to the Streets" 2023 conference theme. The deadline to submit a conference proposal is October 28, 2022. Click HERE to submit your proposal today.
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Broward MPO Think Like a Planner Workshop Series Kicks Off at New Renaissance Middle School | |
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Broward MPO staff kicked off day one of the three-part Think Like A Planner workshop series at New Renaissance Middle School. During the interactive session titled, "MPO 101", 7th and 8th-grade students were introduced to the field of transportation and provided with an overview of planning careers, a review of resumes, and an introduction to basic terms and concepts used in planning. Students learn about MPOs why they exist, what we do at the Broward MPO, and how it affects their lives present day and future. The program will span over the next several weeks and during that time students will have an opportunity to use transportation planning software to redesign streets used in their daily commute and conduct a walking audit of the Cypress Creek Mobility Hub where they will be exposed to real world application of the terms they will be introduced to in sessions prior.
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Comcast RISE Investment Fund
Applications Now Open
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The Comcast RISE Investment Fund application period is now open, and Broward County and Miami Dade County are on the eligible list! 100 small businesses owned by women and people of color, including Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, and Asian Americans, will be awarded a $10,000 grant! If you know a small business that could benefit, please encourage them to apply by Oct. 16 at www.ComcastRISE.com. To date, Comcast RISE has awarded $16 million in grants to 1,600 businesses across the U.S. | | |
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The Broward MPO team is headed to the 2022 AMPO Conference this month and we're shining a spotlight on our presenters like Jad Salloum. Keep reading to learn more about Jad and his work.
Tell us what you do for the MPO?
My job title is Government Relations Transportation Planner. My main concern is anticipating, analyzing, and helping to guide the MPO through federal and state transportation policy changes, and the local political context. This has included coordinating with national MPO partners and groups to advocate for reforms and policy change in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, submitting comments during the federal rulemaking process for new USDOT programs, and analyzing and coordinating with our local stakeholders to prepare and apply for new grant programs.
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How did you get involved in the transportation industry?
While studying social sciences and geography at FIU, cities and the people that lived in them always fascinated me. I found myself particularly interested in the urban streetscape and the intersection of the social, environmental and the urban. These convictions precipitate all of urban planning, but the transportation sector seems to me to be the most dynamic and poised for change in order to positively impact our community. That ultimately led me to pick this field.
What’s one thing you enjoy most about the work you do?
The part of my work that I enjoy the most is tackling large problems and being in the room where decisions to address them are actually made. Working with our local governments to address the issues of our time is a privilege and a responsibility, and one I value.
You’re headed to AMPO this month to present. Tell us what you’re presenting about.
I will be presenting on the use of tools like Survey123 and ArcGIS in the planning process. By utilizing web-GIS technology, we can better understand the conditions on the ground without needing to be their for extensive amounts of time. We can consistently collect all of the data necessary to understand the problems in the built environment and then go back to the office and quickly contextualize them with a vast selection of other data. It’s the coupling of the real and the digital, the on-the-ground with the in-the-cloud. Ultimately it leads to better plans, better recommendations to city councils, and better investments to improve our streets for the residents of Broward County. Click HERE to learn more about the 2022 AMPO Conference.
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The Next Episode of Our "Let's Talk Transportation" Podcast Available on October 15 | |
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Join us on the next episode of "Let's Talk Transportation" for a discussion with City of Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis. In this episode, which drops on October 15, we talk about the city's growth and infrastructure plans, including the City's desire for a tunnel under the New River as part of the next commuter rail project, and the need for smart traffic signals. Mayor Trantalis was first elected mayor of Fort Lauderdale in 2018 and was re-elected in November 2020. His 2018 election represented the largest victory in city history for a candidate running for a first term as mayor. The 2020 election was also by landslide proportions and featured the largest turnout ever in a city race. Mayor Trantalis previously served on the City Commission representing District 2 from 2003 to 2006 and from 2013 until his ascension to the mayor's office. He twice served as vice mayor: from 2005 to 2006 and from 2016 to 2017. He represents the city on the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization, the county Tourism Development Council, the Broward Workforce Development Board, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance and the Florida League of Mayors. Click HERE to learn more!
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Save the Date:
2023 State of the Region Awards
February 2, 2023
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The State of the Region Awards is back! Save the date for this exciting event happening on February 2, 2023, at the Diplomat Resort in Hollywood, starting at 6:00 p.m. We look forward to seeing you there, as we honor the best in transportation and mobility. Click HERE to learn more about sponsorship opportunities.
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MPO Committee Meetings Happening This Month | |
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1. Complete Streets Advisory Meeting: October 10 at 2:00 p.m. Click HERE to participate.
2. MPO Board of Directors Meeting: October 13 at 9:30 a.m. Click HERE to learn more.
3. Local Coordinating Board: October 17 at 2:00 p.m. Click HERE to learn more.
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