| | Good morning! Today, several of our teammates and I are presenting at the 2024 Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (AMPO) Planning Tools and Training Symposium in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This biannual event serves as a platform to educate emerging transportation planning professionals embarking on careers within MPOs of varying sizes. Our team aims to disseminate insights on a range of MPO technical matters, offering peer-to-peer training on navigating the current landscape of planning tools and applications. We take pride in sharing our nationally recognized best practices, delivering hands-on training, and furnishing resources that can benefit the wider MPO community. Our sessions encompass diverse subjects, from "Transportation Grants: When to Hold’Em, When to Fold’Em" to the " Broward MPO. Transportation Resiliency Framework Study and Application." Personally, I'll be involved in the "Mock Board Meeting," a simulation challenging aspiring transportation planners to present amidst public hearings, engage with unique public feedback, address governing board members' comments, and respond to peer evaluations. This immersive exercise aims to equip future professionals with the realism needed for MPO endeavors. We're not alone in this endeavor; esteemed organizations like the Federal Highway Administration, North Central Texas Council of Governments (Dallas), Puget Sound Regional Council of Governments (Seattle), Atlanta Regional Commission, Tahoe MPO (Lake Tahoe), and others are also contributing to the symposium. Our participation in the 2024 AMPO Planning Tools and Training Symposium represents a unique and invaluable opportunity to engage with, learn from, and contribute to the wider community of transportation planning professionals. Through sharing our experiences, insights, and best practices, we not only help to foster a collaborative environment but also reinforce the importance of ongoing education and peer-to-peer training in adapting to the evolving challenges and opportunities within our field. As we wrap up our presentations and reflect on the collective wisdom shared here in Albuquerque, we are reminded of the profound impact that informed, innovative planning can have on the development of resilient, efficient, and inclusive transportation systems. It's an honor to stand among such distinguished peers and contribute to the important work of shaping the future of metropolitan planning organizations nationwide.
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