TrailLink 2007 Agenda:

Wednesday, August 8, 2007
8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.    Pre-conference activity:  Successful Trail-Building Strategies Workshop
 
5–9 p.m.    Kick-off event
Dinner buffet at the Portland Zoo (opening remarks)

7 p.m.    Band performs at Portland Zoo

Thursday, August 9, 2007
Making the Case: Trails, Biking and Walking are Essential to Communities

8–9 a.m.    Registration/buffet breakfast

9–10:15 a.m.    Opening plenary

• Keynote:  King County (WA) Executive Ron Sims: Active Transportation Builds Vital Communities
• Charge to conference: RTC President Keith Laughlin

10:30–11:50 a.m.    "Making the Case" Workshops I:  State of Knowledge 

Concurrent Workshop Tracks:

• Mobility—Biking, walking and trails form a trifecta of active transportation, working in tandem with transit systems and smart growth to reduce traffic congestion. Workshops in this theme will arm attendees to make the case that active transportation is an essential part of the transportation system in their communities
• Public Health—An obesity epidemic fueled by sedentary lifestyles has created new urgency for providing close-to-home opportunities for physical activity. Sessions within this theme will address designing communities with physical activity and active transportation in mind as a positive way to improve public health.
• Economy—Rail-trails create economic vitality in the towns and neighborhoods through which they pass. These sessions delve into the contribution of trail systems to community economic development as well as household finances.
• Climate—Trails provide a variety of environmental benefits such as open space and clean air.  These sessions will focus on the hot emerging climate change debate, exploring the potential to reduce greenhouse gasses through active transportation by substituting human energy for fossil fuels.  This link provides another reason and opportunity to invest in trail systems.

12–1 p.m.    Buffet Lunch

1:10–2:30 p.m.    "Making the Case" Workshops II:  New Partners (workshop tracks remain the same, with new panelists and speakers)

2:50–4:10 p.m.    "Making the Case" Workshops III:  Elevator Speech (workshop tracks remain the same, with new panelists and speakers with the exception of "Climate" which is replaced by "Family and Community")

• Family and Community—Quality of life; providing a safe place to learn to ride a bike; spending time with family away from the TV; making connections with your neighbors; fostering pride. These are all benefits of trail access and development in the community. A single session on this topic will explore how trails and active transportation build community.

4:30–5:30 p.m.    "Making the Case Plenary" Session:  Constructing an Active Transportation Messaging Strategy

5:30–6:30 p.m.   Alta Planning + Design Happy Hour; sign-up to have dinner with an affinity group; discover active transportation options to access local restaurants.

6:30–7:30 p.m.    Dinner on own, or join one of the two guided walking tours to the Pearl District or the Waterfront.

Friday, August 10, 2007
Championing Active Transportation: Bringing the Case for Active Transportation to Your Community… and to Congress

8–8:30 a.m.    Breakfast buffet

8:30–9:20 a.m.    Lessons from the Non-motorized Pilot Project communities

9:30–11 a.m.    Break-Out Sessions

• Regional break-outs to identify and develop strategic centerpieces for community-based active transportation systems
• Issue break-outs for those interested in topic over place, to explore strategies for using their issue to promote active transportation

11:10 a.m.–12 p.m.    Share the Best Ideas

12–12:20 p.m.    Conclusions and Next Steps: Organizing for Action

12:30–1:30 p.m.    Lunch & Closing Plenary

• Closing remarks: Congressman Earl Blumenauer

2–5 p.m.    Mobile Workshops

• See why Portland is a model for active transportation. Tour trails and other urban design features that make Portland successful in shifting trips to walking and biking. Choose between bus, cycling, walking or streetcar options.