How to Get Things Done in Cities: Bridging the Public-Private Divide

Originally aired October 20, 2015

Co-hosted by SSF and Island Press, this session examines the revolution in urban transportation — set off by startups across the U.S. and internationally — and why some cities embrace innovation while others struggle to build the political will, public support, and capital needed for large-scale change. Experienced municipal and private sector leaders discuss how public and private actors can collaborate to create sustainable, efficient transportation systems, and why collaborative economies will continue to drive change in urban environments.

Speakers

Harriet Tregoning (Moderator)

Director, Office of Community Planning and Development, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Harriet Tregoning leads the Office of Community Planning and Development at HUD, helping regions, cities, counties, and towns build diverse and prosperous economies through quality of place, economic opportunity, fiscal stability, transportation choice, and affordability. She previously led HUD’s Office of Economic Resilience and served as Director of the District of Columbia Office of Planning — one of the most influential urban planning roles in America.

Gabe Klein

Former DOT Director, Chicago and Washington D.C.; Author, Start-Up City

Gabe Klein is the former DOT Director under Mayor Rahm Emanuel in Chicago and former Director of the District DOT under Mayor Adrian Fenty. In Washington, he launched Capital Bikeshare — the first large-scale bikeshare system in the U.S. — and in Chicago launched Divvy, now the largest bikeshare system in America. He is the author of Start-Up City: Inspiring Private and Public Entrepreneurship, Getting Projects Done, and Having Fun (Island Press).

Robin Chase

Co-Founder & Former CEO, Zipcar; Co-Founder, Veniam

Robin Chase is a transportation entrepreneur and co-founder and former CEO of Zipcar, the largest carsharing company in the world. She also co-founded Buzzcar (peer-to-peer carsharing in France), GoLoco (online ridesharing), and Veniam — a vehicle communications company building the networking fabric for the Internet of Moving Things. She is a leading thinker on how collaborative, platform-based economies can reshape urban mobility and reduce carbon emissions.

Ed Reiskin

Director of Transportation, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA); President, NACTO

Ed Reiskin was named Director of Transportation of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency in 2011, overseeing Muni, parking, traffic engineering, bicycle and pedestrian safety, accessibility, and taxi regulation. Muni is one of the oldest public transit agencies in America and the largest in the Bay Area, carrying more than 200 million riders per year. He serves as President of the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO).