The Keeping Counties Moving: Innovations in Transportation Peer Exchange was held in Chatham County/Savannah, Ga., March 23-24, 2017. Hosted by the National Association of Counties with support from the Federal Highway Administration, Chatham County and the Georgia Ports Authority, the event explored the county role in facilitating freight activities and megaregions planning to promote regional economic competitiveness, using Chatham County and the Piedmont Megaregion as a case study. Topics included the emergence of Megaregions and their connection to local economies, freight transportation planning at the state and regional levels, freight movement, supply chains and national transportation priorities. Attendees also toured the Port of Savannah. Presentations from the event are provided below.

PRESENTATIONS

The Emergence of Megaregions and the Connection to Local Economies

James Garland, Team Leader, Transportation Planning and Capacity Building, Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Dept. of Transportation

Freight Transportation Planning at the State Level: A Spotlight on Georgia

Tom McQueen, Assistant Administrator of Planning, Georgia Department of Transportation

Regional Freight Transportation Planning: Examples from the Piedmont Atlantic Megaregion

John Orr, Senior Principal Planner, Atlanta Regional Commission

Jessica Hill, Senior Planner, Centralina Council of Governments

Mark Wilkes, Transportation Planning Director, Chatham County-Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission

Critical Freight Movements: The Chesapeake Megaregion

Dr. Frederick Ducca, Senior Research Scientist, National Center for Smart Growth, University of Maryland

Thursday Luncheon Keynote Remarks

Marygrace Parker, Freight Mobility, Safety & Security Coordinator, I-95 Corridor Coalition

The Port of Savannah as an Economic Engine

Lee Beckmann, Manager of Government Affairs, Georgia Port Authority

Chris Marsengill, Senior Transportation Engineer, Moffat & Nichol

Freight Planning and Investments in a Post- Panama Canal Expansion Era

Matthew Ubben, Executive Director, Florida Transportation Commission

Ram Kancharla, VP of Planning & Development, Port of Tampa Bay, Fla.

Tom Patton, County Administrator, Crisp County, Ga.

National Priorities and the County Connection

James Garland, Team Leader, Transportation Planning and Capacity Building, Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Dept. of Transportation

NACo Legislative Update

Kevan Stone, Associate Legislative Director for Transportation & Infrastructure, NACo  

Friday Luncheon Keynote Presentation

Hon. John Mica, Congressman, Florida’s 7th Congressional District (1993-2017)

Connected Counties:  Integrating Technology into Freight Movement

Hon. Steve Brown, Commissioner, Fayette County, Ga.