The 15th Annual BBA Business Summit brought together industry experts, community leaders, and interested business owners and residents for an in-depth discussion of what transportation innovation will mean for Burlington.
Keynote speaker Jeff Olson of Alta Planning and Design called on the nearly 100 attendees at the offices of VEIC, to consider the ways in which building infrastructure that supports active mobility can improve the overall quality of life in a community.
Mayor Miro Weinberger also spoke at the event, reiterating his commitment to expanding transportation across a variety of different modes. As well as focusing on supporting options that are in line with Burlington’s community values.
BBA Executive Director Kelly Devine made the case for a robust transportation plan that goes beyond simply providing parking and to look forward to how Burlington can best meet technological changes in transportation.
“I’ve asked all of you to come here today, to discuss a topic I think is a critical piece of being able to grow the Burlington economy.” said Devine, who asked the group to think about what the future of Burlington will look like from a transportation perspective.
Following the speaker presentations, attendees broke into groups to discuss some the beliefs and perceptions of transportation, and solutions to help overcome some of the challenges. This was followed by a panel discussion, featuring Kelly Devine and Jeff Olson, as well as Jim Barr of the UVM Transportation & Parking Services and Charlie Baker of Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission.
To cap off the day, a community dialogue was held at Citizen Cider on Pine Street, where attendees were able to meet with Keynote Speaker Jeff Olson, as well as hear from Hotel Vermont General Manager, Hans Van Wees, and Seventh Generation Manager of Mission Impact, Christopher Lyon about what active transportation has meant for their businesses.
Thank you to everyone who attended on Thursday, as well as our speakers and our many sponsors. The video footage can be watched at www.cctv.org and at youtube via the link below thanks to our media partner, Channel 17.