Registration is open until June 10, 2025. On-site registration will be available on a first-come, first served basis.
9:00 – 9:30: INTRODUCTION AND OPENING KEYNOTE
Speakers:
- Speakers to be named soon!
9:45 – 10:45: SESSION TRACK 1
Designing Safe Roads for All Users: Approaches to Traffic Calming and Placemaking
Design plays a critical role in making streets safer and more accessible—but it doesn’t always have to be complex or costly. This session will focus on practical design strategies that create safe environments for pedestrians through traffic calming measures and placemaking. Speakers will share real-world examples and lessons from across Texas and the United States, highlighting how small-scale design interventions can lead to meaningful improvements in pedestrian safety and walkability.
Speakers:
- Krista Knightengale, Executive Director, Better Block
- Rebecca Byford, Senior Engineer, Toole Design
Shade, Walkability, Community Connectivity, and Safety
This session explores how natural and built shade play a critical role in walkability, comfort, and safety—especially in underserved communities. This session will share contrasting pedestrian experiences in areas with and without adequate shade infrastructure, highlighting how design decisions impact daily mobility. Presenters will share local perspectives that illustrate community-driven approaches to making walking safer and more sustainable—even under the Texas sun.
Speakers:
- Andi Rodriguez, Vice President of Cultural Placemaking, Centro San Antonio
- Emmanuel Nunez, Director, A Tale of Two Bridges
Enhancing Pedestrian Safety in the Alamo Area through Regional Coordination
This session highlights how the San Antonio region is advancing pedestrian safety and connectivity through aligned efforts in jurisdictions throughout the region. Speakers will explore how the San Antonio’s Vision Zero plan coordinates with regional initiatives in Seguin and Bexar County that expand multimodal infrastructure in exurban areas. Presenters will discuss data-driven strategies, design innovations, and local partnerships that are helping to create a safer and more connected future for all road users.
Speakers:
- Murray Meyers, Transportation Administrator, City of San Antonio
- Art Reinhardt, Director of Public Works, County Engineer, Bexar County
- Melissa Reynolds, Director of Engineering and Capital Projects, City of Seguin
- Harley Hubbard, Transportation Planner, RS&H
11:00 – 12:00: SESSION TRACK 2
Identifying Pedestrian Safety Needs through Trust Building and Community Buy-In
Effective pedestrian planning goes beyond technical design—it requires deep community trust, inclusive outreach, and culturally relevant engagement. This session will explore how agencies and advocates are building meaningful connections with the public to shape safer streets. Speakers will discuss strategies in community engagement, public education, and marketing that foster local ownership, elevate underrepresented voices, and ensure long-term buy-in. This conversation will offer lessons in listening first and designing with, not for, the community.
Speakers:
- Paola Aguirre Serrano, Partner & Urban Designer, Borderless Studio
- Tom Marks, Chief Safety Officer, VIA Metropolitan Travel
- Jonathan Gurwitz, Executive Vice Preseident, KGB Texas Communications
Building Political Will to Improve Pedestrian Safety: Advocacy, Allies, and Action
Improving pedestrian safety requires more than good planning—it demands coordination, persistence, and strong political support. This session will examine how advocates, agency staff, and community leaders are working to build momentum for safer streets. Speakers will discuss effective strategies for engaging policymakers, forming cross-sector coalitions, and translating community needs into actionable policy. Speakers will share their experiences navigating the political landscape to advance pedestrian safety in Texas.
Speakers:
- Jay Blazek Crossley, Executive Director, Farm&City
- Joey Pawlik, Executive Director, ActivateSA
Enhancing Safety for Pedestrians of All Abilities: Barriers and Best Practices
This session will explore how pedestrian safety and infrastructure can better serve people of all abilities, highlighting inclusive design, accessibility standards, and community engagement practices. With insights from practitioners and advocates, the discussion will examine barriers faced by individuals with disabilities and showcase strategies to build truly inclusive streets. Speakers will share best practices for planning, policy, and implementation that help guide efforts toward more accessible, people-centered mobility systems.
Speakers:
- Suzette May, Vice President, Mobilize Waco
- Michael Bryant, Director, Civil Rights Division, Texas Department of Transportation
1:00 – 2:00: FORUM KEYNOTE
Proven and Promising Strategies to Increase Pedestrian Safety
Rebecca Sanders, PhD, RSP-2B, Founder and President, Safe Streets Research and Consulting
Pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. have increased alarmingly over the last fifteen years, reaching a 40-year high of over 7,500 pedestrians killed in 2022. Research indicates that multiple factors have contributed to the increase, which primarily occurred in dark conditions, underscoring the complexity of this crisis and the need for a comprehensive and multi-pronged approach to address it. In this presentation, Dr. Sanders will present key findings from recent research exploring patterns in pedestrian fatalities and serious injuries, followed by highlights from forthcoming guidance to improve pedestrian safety specifically at night. The presentation will conclude with examples of successful efforts to improve pedestrian safety in various contexts.
2:15 – 3:15: SESSION TRACK 3
Innovative Pedestrian Safety Analysis to Improve Decision Making: Case Studies from Texas
In this session, we’ll hear how cities in Texas have developed new and innovative approaches to collecting and analyzing data to inform smarter and safer decisions for pedestrians. Speakers will share the methodologies developed to identify safe pedestrian crossing points and how to prioritize locations for intersection daylighting.
Speakers:
- Joel Meyer, Transportation Safety Officer, City of Austin
- Nan Jiang, Data Science Lead, Toole Design
Behind the Curb: How Development Review Shapes Pedestrian Safety and Accessibility
Take a behind-the-scenes look at how pedestrian and accessibility policies are implemented through the development review process. This session will explore how cities, counties, state agencies, and private developers collaborate—or sometimes collide—when it comes to ensuring safe, connected, and accessible pedestrian pathways. From curb ramps to crosswalks, learn how planning decisions, policy enforcement, and project approvals shape the pedestrian environment we walk through every day.
Speakers:
- Alma Turgeon, Project Manager, CDS Meury
- Diego Levya, Traffic Services Manager, CDS Meury
Placemaking in Motion: How Public Art Enhances Access and Pedestrian Safety
This session explores the integration and intersectionality of public art into pedestrian safety and planning efforts. It will examine how design interventions such as murals and installations can reinforce safety goals, influence user behavior, and support broader planning strategies. The discussion will focus on practical applications of art in highlighting pedestrian risk areas, enhancing visibility, and contributing to a safer walking environment.
Speakers:
- Jodi House, Principal, TBG Partners
- Samantha Whitney, Principal, Director of Urban Design, TBG Partners
- Philip Hiatt Haigh, Executive Director, TBG Partners