City Of Austin: Join Austin Transportation's Next Smart Mobility Workshop!

Press release from the City of Austin:

You’re invited to join Austin Transportation's next Smart Mobility Workshop. Register to the FREE event below to learn how the Smart Mobility Office uses public-private partnerships to solve mobility challenges in Austin.

• Date: Wednesday, September 29, 2021
• Time: 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
• Location: Online Webinar - register here

The September workshop highlights two emerging mobility solutions, SPACES, TAPCO, & Siemens that are currently deployed pilots in Austin.

You will learn about SPACES, a mobile payment platform for gated parking facilities, that is being tested at Austin City Hall. This phone number-based technology does not require an app and allows drivers to enter, park, and pay using their phones while reducing the need for contact with public surfaces.

Also, learn how TAPCO and Siemens has teamed up with the Smart Mobility Office to test their Connected Vehicle Pedestrian Crosswalk Warning System at Rosewood Avenue and Angelina Street, and at Rosewood Avenue and Navasota Street. Through this pilot, the City can evaluate TAPCO and Siemens technologies and the ability to enhance the safety of Austin’s roadways and mid-block crosswalks.

Presenters will include:

About Jerry Skillet: Jerry Skillet is the SPACES Executive Chairman and Co-Founder. Jerry has over 35 years of experience as an industry executive and innovator. Jerry provides SPACES with strategic guidance and visionary leadership. Prior to SPACES, Jerry was CEO of Citizens Parking, one of the largest parking companies nationwide. Jerry was a long-time member of Central Parking System’s executive management team. He was also the Founder and CEO of M/One, which launched multiple award-winning technology companies.

About Mike Long: Mike Long has lead Product Management at TAPCO for four years and brings 20+ years of new product development and marketing experience to the organization. Mike introduced the TAPCO Connected Vehicle Interface to the traffic industry at the 2019 ATSSA Convention & Traffic Expo, where it won an Innovation Award in a new product competition judged by a panel of public transportation officials. Mike obtained his MBA from Marquette University and is a long-time resident of Milwaukee.

About Alex Payson: Alex Payson has been the policy and research lead for the Smart Mobility Office (SMO) for the last four years, focusing on the impact of state and local regulations on new and emerging mobility technology. Within the Office's Pilot Program, she also serves as the project manager for innovative parking and curb space pilots, exploring the intersection of technology and asset management. Alex holds a Master’s of Global Policy from the University of Texas at Austin.

About Joseph Mckenzie: Joseph Mckenzie joined the SMO team in 2018 and worked on projects in the private sector for over 13 years. Joseph has experience in Project Management, Project Controls Applications, CV, IOT & Edge Deployments. He is passionate and glad to be a part of the cutting-edge field of emerging technology and exploring new ways to increase pedestrian safety. The potential to enhance safety through video recognition, LiDAR, edge processing and C-V2X communications is extremely promising and can help achieve the goals of the Vision Zero initiative.

In collaboration with area partners, Austin Transportation Department leads our community’s Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries on Austin streets, the achievement of a 50/50 commute type split by 2039 as established in the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan, and actively seeks innovative solutions and piloting technology that can decrease the use of single-occupancy vehicles and improve safety through Austin Transportation Department's Smart Mobility Office. For details, please visit AustinTexas.gov/Transportation.

This press release was produced by the City of Austin. The views expressed here are the author’s own.