That's a Wrap! Lessons Learned From (Almost!) Completed 2024 Transportation Elements

Session 8C | Friday | 8:30 AM – 9:45 AM (PT)

About the Session

Do you want to learn how to create a transportation element that is responsive, resilient, and equitable? Do you want to hear from experts who have successfully navigated the complex and evolving landscape of transportation planning? Do you want to hear lessons learned on how to engage your community and meet state and regional requirements? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this session is for you! Join us for a panel discussion with the City of Shoreline, City of Woodinville, Puget Sound Regional Council, and the Department of Commerce. They will share their insights and experiences on how to plan for the future of transportation, especially in light of the recent legislation updates, and renewed efforts to plan for equity and climate resiliency. Whether you are working on a transportation element, reviewing one, or just interested in the topic, this session will provide you with valuable information.

About the Moderator

Emily Alice Gerhart, AICP

Associate, Fehr & Peers

Donald L. Elliott, FAICP, is a Senior Consultant with Clarion Associates, LLC, a national land use consulting firm. Don has assisted over 70 U.S. and Canadian communities in updating plans and regulations related to housing, zoning, sustainability, fair housing, and land development. He teaches a graduate level course on Land Development Regulation at the University of Colorado at Denver and is a former member of the Denver Planning Board. He is the author of A Better Way to Zone (Island Press 2008) and co-author of The Rules that Shape Urban Form (APA 2012) and The Citizen's Guide to Planning (APA 2009). He was also one of the authors of the 2022 APA Equity in Zoning Policy Guide. Don has a bachelor's degree in Urban Planning and Policy Analysis from Yale University, a law degree from Harvard Law School, and a master's degree in City and Regional Planning from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.

About the Speakers

Nytasha Walters

Transportation Services Manager, City of Shoreline

Nytasha Walters has decades of experience leading and managing innovative, complex, and often controversial multi-modal transportation projects for the City of Shoreline, Sound Transit, WSDOT - including creation updates of master plans, multi-modal corridor planning, tolling, high-capacity transit and capital projects. Nytasha is currently the Transportation Services Manager for the City of Shoreline, where she is responsible for managing the creation of and funding for over $200 million in transportation mobility projects, as well as advising on strategic project delivery. In this position, she is focused on how to plan, invest and implement transportation programs and projects that effectively address climate change, mobility, social inequities, and safety concerns at the local and regional level. Nytasha received a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Michigan and a master's degree in public administration from the University of Washington and is also a graduate of the University of Washington’s Foster School of Businesses Environmental Management Program.

Liz Underwood-Bultmann

Principal Planner, Puget Sound Regional Council

Liz Underwood-Bultmann, AICP is a Principal Planner in the Growth Management division at the Puget Sound Regional Council. Liz's work focuses on implementation of VISION 2050, the region's long-range growth plan, including certification of local comprehensive plans, countywide coordination, and regional centers. Liz has an MA in Geography from the University of Washington and a BA in Geography and English from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

Ted Vanegas

Senior Planner, Washington State Department of Commerce

Ted Vanegas is a senior regional planner for Growth Management Services at the Department of Commerce and is the transportation specialist for the Growth Management Services team. Prior to working for the Department of Commerce Ted served as Land Use Review Manager for Clark County after moving to the Vancouver area from Boise, Idaho. In Idaho Ted worked as a city planner, and managed the city of Boise’s historic preservation planning program. He also worked for the Idaho Transportation Department as the statewide bicycle and pedestrian planner, and as a regional service planner for Valley Regional Transit in Boise. Ted has an MA degree in applied historic research with an emphasis in Urban History from Boise State University.

Asha D’Souza

Public Works Director, City of Woodinville, PE

Asha D’Souza leads the Public Works Department for the City of Woodinville where she has been serving since 2017. Under her leadership, the department delivers multi-million dollar capital improvement projects, engineering services and operation & maintenance of critical infrastructure such as roads, stormwater system and all the open space and parks within the City. Prior to working for the City, Ms. D'Souza worked for 16+ years in Arizona for civil engineering consulting firms primarily focusing on water, sewer and reclaimed water master planning for projects ranging in size from 2 to 20 acres. Ms. D'Souza has her Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering and Master of Business Administration.

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