By Mohsin Abbas / The Santiago Times Staff
SANTIAGO — Hundreds of representatives from around 20 nations are expected to attend the MOBILIZE Summit, from June 28-30, in Chile’s capital city.
For three days in June, more than 200 urban transport and development planners, practitioners, and officials, world-class researchers, and NGO representatives will convene in Santiago to share opportunities, challenges, and study the example of Chilean capital as an international best practice in pedestrian, cycling, public transit, and policy.
The summit is to be held at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.
Speakers will include Dr. Philipp Rode, Executive Director of LSE Cities at The London School of Economics; Laura Ballesteros, Undersecretary of Planning for the Secretariat of Mobility of Mexico City; Shin-peiTsay, Executive Director of the Gehl Institute; and Manuela Lopez Menendez, Secretary of Public Works for the Transport Ministry of Argentina.
MOBILIZE is an annual summit organized by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy(ITDP), a New York-based NGO with offices in Mexico City and Rio de Janeiro, as well as India, China, Indonesia, and Kenya. The summit aims to elevate the winner of the annual Sustainable Transport Award.
MOBILIZE spotlights the achievements of the winning city and gives transport professionals and researchers from around the world an opportunity to experience the city as a learning lab with lessons on how to get world class projects implemented.
“MOBILIZE brings together leading thinkers and city shapers for a capacity building opportunity using Santiago as a learning laboratory. Santiago was chosen this year for implementing strategic projects that focus on improving walking conditions as a top priority,” said Michael Kodransky, Chair of the STA Committee and Head of MOBILIZE.
“Walking infrastructure and access to transit stations are a big concern for cities all over the world. Santiago has made walking, cycling, and public transit in the city center a key component of improving quality of life and easing congestion. We’re thrilled to be working with the city and region to showcase Santiago’s great progress to the world. The lessons and challenges from Santiago will surely resonate with other municipalities.”
2017 will be the second annual MOBILIZE Summit. The first was held in 2016 in Yichang, China by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) in co-operation with VREF and the City of Yichang.
