March 20, 2026
DVRPC staff will be presenting during several sessions at the 2026 NJ TransAction Conference.
TransAction 2026, the annual New Jersey transportation conference and expo, is taking place April 14 - April 16, 2026, at Harrah’s Resort & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey. Look for the DVRPC table in the expo hall, and find DVRPC staff presenting at the following sessions:
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
11:15 am - 12:15 pm: Steering the Future: How Transportation Leaders Are Shaping Ethical and Responsible AI (Room: Wildwood 23)
AI is reshaping transportation whether we’re ready or not, and the real test is adopting it responsibly. This dynamic panel brings together innovators from firms of all sizes, complemented by a public agency perspective, to unpack the must-ask questions around governance, ethics, risk, and quality assurance. With insights from NJDOT’s Bureau of Research, Innovation and Information Transfer (BRIIT) on advancing structured AI pilot initiatives, and insights from DVRPC’s Associate Director of Data and Technology, attendees will gain both strategic perspective and practical guidance to help their organizations chart a confident, ethical path through the rapidly evolving world of AI.
Speaker: Michael Ruane, Associate Director of Data and Technology
11:15 am - 12:15 pm: Before the Train Pulls In: Multimodal Planning for the Glassboro-Camden Line (Room: Wildwood 25)
How do we plan for the areas surrounding major rail transit investments before they’re built and operational? Join us as we explore strategies to incorporate community priorities, local transportation conditions, and geographic context into multimodal planning for two proposed Glassboro-Camden Line stations: Glassboro and Sewell. Learn how early, thoughtful planning can shape transit-supportive development, enhance connectivity and safety, and create vibrant, accessible communities.
Speakers: Jen Farris, Transportation Planner, Office of Transit, Bicycle, and Pedestrian Planning, and Chris Mulroy, Transportation Planner, Office of Transit, Bicycle, and Pedestrian Planning
2:40 - 3:40 pm: Catching Up with the MPO Executive Directors (Room: Wildwood 8-9-10)
This session brings together New Jersey’s three MPOs: the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA), the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), and the South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization (SJTPO). The executive directors of all three MPOs will address common issues, opportunities, and challenges regarding transportation planning in the state.
Speaker: Ariella Maron, Executive Director
5:00 - 6:00 pm: Using High Injury Networks to Advance Safer Streets (Room: Wildwood 12-13)
This session features agencies that have created a High Injury Network (HIN) as part of a safety action or Vision Zero plan and are now putting those networks to work. Panelists will share how their HIN’s are guiding next steps for prioritizing interventions, demonstrating how a data-driven HIN can be used to move from plan to action—from identifying priority corridors for further study to directing investments to improve safety through project implementation.
Moderator: Kevin Murphy, Office of Safe Streets Manager
5:00 - 6:00 pm: A Showcase of Regional Travel Models in New Jersey: Current and Anticipated Future Applications Room: Wildwood 23
In this session, a representative from each MPO in New Jersey will give a high-level overview of their regional travel demand model (TDM), including what type of model it is (4-step vs. Activity-Based), the modeling platform/software (CUBE, TransCAD, Replica, etc.) used, area covered, number of TAZs, etc. Panelists will showcase unique attributes/features of their respective TDMs. Panelists will also touch upon where their models are headed in the future. The session will conclude with Q&A and discussion, in which panelists will discuss the challenges of modeling/models in general, including the costs of data and model development and maintenance, the credibility of model results, and the increasing emergence of “big data,” “Location-Based Services,” and other types of data which is adding to the complexity of models and model development.
Speaker: Matt Gates, Associate Director, Travel Trends and Forecasts
Thursday, April 16
8:45 - 9:45 am: Understanding Freight Growth and Congestion on US 322 in Gloucester County (Room: Wildwood 4)
This session will present initial findings from DVRPC’s US 322 Freight Corridor Study, which examines how rapid industrial growth and planned highway improvements are reshaping freight and passenger travel along a critical goods-movement corridor in Gloucester County, New Jersey. The presentation will describe how regional travel modeling, local traffic operations analysis, and land use reviews were combined to understand existing bottlenecks, future truck demand, and the potential impacts of new development through 2050. Attendees will also be introduced to a range of potential strategies and investments aimed at relieving congestion on the county-owned segment of US 322 while supporting freight activity and reducing community impacts.
Speakers: Dan Farina Jr., AICP, Senior Freight Transportation Planner, and Kelsey McElduff, Principal Transportation Engineer
10:45 - 11:45 am: Regional Government Meeting Local Needs: Engagement & Design Support for Communities (Room: Wildwood 25)
DVRPC will provide an overview of the Supporting Communities program, which helps municipalities identify granular transportation needs, develop planning solutions, provide technical assistance, and pursue funding. Through a case study in Woodbury, NJ that highlights DVRPC's engagement and planning work, we'll share insights about engaging with municipalities, connecting with residents to hear their needs, and designing short-term and long-term solutions.
Speakers: Shoshana Akins, Manager, Public Participation Planning, and Will Parker, Transportation Planner, Office of Transit, Bicycle, & Pedestrian Planning
12:00 - 1:00 pm: Designing Stakeholder Workshops That Deliver Value for All (Room: Wildwood 4)
Workshops are a valuable forum for generating ideas and understanding priorities, but their success depends on producing insights that are meaningful for your organization. This session shares practical guidance and tips utilized by the DVRPC’s Public Participation Task Force for the annual Unified Planning Work Program Workshop, including considerations for promotion, facilitation materials, and leading group discussions that generate relevant feedback. Walk away with approachable strategies for hosting stakeholder workshops that are both effective and welcoming!
Speakers: Alyssa Driscoll, Senior Project Coordinator, and Lillian Drake, Public Participation Planner