The 2023 GIS-T Symposium held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma from April 11 to 14, and the 2023 Virginia Land Conservation and Greenways Conference held in Harrisonburg, Virginia from April 25 to 27, were two significant events attended by HRTPO staff.

At the GIS-T Symposium, HRTPO staff attended sessions highlighting ESRI Enterprise, Roads and Highways, and other topics related to equity, virtual public engagement, and data analysis/visualization.  These sessions provided valuable insights into how technology can be used to improve transportation planning and decision-making.  HRTPO staff also had the opportunity to network with other professionals in the field, share their experiences, and learn from others.

HRTPO staff also presented during the Urban Trails: Regional Trails Cultivating Connection session at the Virginia Land Conservation and Greenways Conference.  HRTPO staff discussed the importance of regional trails and highlighted the Birthplace of America Trail/Virginia Capital Trail Extension (BoAT/VCTE).  The session focused on the need to continue growing the connections between locality stakeholders, advocacy groups, and communities.  HRTPO staff also had the opportunity to attend other sessions and learn about the latest advances in land conservation, greenways, and regional trails.

Overall, attending these conferences was a great opportunity for HRTPO staff to build their skills, learn about the latest advances in technology and transportation planning, and share ideas with other professionals in the field.  These experiences will help HRTPO staff to serve the organization better and continue to improve transportation planning and decision-making in the region.