Before the Intersections conference in Nashville last week, some people might have been scratching their heads at the idea of a conference bringing together artists with transportation experts to talk about building safer, Complete Streets. But once the conference started, everyone—no matter their background—seemed to key in on how much they could learn from each other and what they could accomplish together. Here are a few personal reflections from our staff about Intersections: Creating Culturally Complete Streets.
Mae Hanzlik, program associate
I had the honor of witnessing the joyful reunion of two of the authors of San Antonio’s Complete Streets policy. Neither Marita Roos, nor Arrie Porter, knew the other would be attending Intersections, and as soon as they saw each other, the room was filled with smiles, hugs, and reflections. Marita later told me that she thinks it’s time for San Antonio to consider updating the policy they wrote by using our new Complete Streets policy framework. This encounter not only highlighted the dedication I saw from many attendees who have contributed to our progress over the years, but also their ability to critique our systems to ensure that constant improvement is at the forefront.