TransportationCamp DC is where transportation enthusiasts get together to share their ideas and map out new possibilities. As cities across the country work to reconnect communities divided by harmful infrastructure, pedestrian fatalities continue to rise, and new technology presents opportunities and challenges for the future of transportation, TransportationCamp is as important as ever.

An annual “unconference,” TransportationCamp is a time for advocates, practitioners, business leaders, professionals, students, and anyone else who might call themselves a “transportation nerd” to gather, share their ideas and perspectives, and take stock of where we’re going and how we got here.

At TransportationCamp, attendees steer the conversation by submitting, voting on, and facilitating breakout sessions on topics of their choice. Whether you’re interested in methods to reduce transportation emissions, bridge divides, or make our streets safer for all, join TransportationCamp to be part of the conversation!

This year’s keynote speaker: Jarrett Walker

“Let’s think about transit” is the slogan for Jarrett Walker’s transit planning firm, but it’s an apt way to describe what he’s always up to. Whether through his tremendous book Human Transit (revised and updated in 2024), his popular training courses for redesigning transit networks, or his frequent blog posts, he is always aiming to help others step back and take a fresh look at public transportation and consider how we can do it better. We’re excited to welcome Jarrett as this year’s keynote speaker for TransportationCamp DC, where he’ll be helping us think about transit: what makes a successful network? What agencies or cities are doing the best work in the US right now? What are the structural and bureaucratic obstacles that get in the way of providing more and better transit?

We are excited to have Jarrett kick off TransportationCamp DC! Read more about Jarrett below.

Jarrett Walker is an international consultant in public transit network design and policy with 33 years of experience planning public transit networks, including the planning for many of the ridership-increasing network redesigns in the US, as well as for successful projects in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Jarrett is a known innovator in describing transit issues to the public, in building values-based policies and standards, and in running interactive design processes for transit plans. His training programs range from executive workshops to two-day intensive courses. His book, Human Transit: How Clearer Thinking about Public Transit Can Enrich Our Communities and Our Lives, has become a widely used reference book helping both leaders and advocates understand public transit issues. It was also updated and expanded in 2024 to address new issues such as the post-pandemic transition, planning for diversity, and the need to push back against many tech industry fantasies about “disrupting” public transit.

View the final 2026 session schedule

Frequently asked questions about TransportationCamp DC

1. Why is it called an unconference? At TransportationCamp, every attendee has the opportunity to lead the conversation. Attendees submit topics for 50-minute breakout sessions and get to vote on what they want to discuss in sessions throughout the day, giving participants the power to create the experience they want to have.

2. Who should come to TCamp? Everyone! Advocates, practitioners, Complete Streets Champions, politicians, business leaders, and students are all welcome to join and learn from each other.

3. How do I submit sessions? Attendees will submit their session proposals the morning of Camp and have the opportunity to vote on what they would like to discuss. Come with your idea ready to go.

4. What do I need to know about leading a session? Sessions are fairly informal and often feel more like a conversation, so we recommend a casual, engaging, and inclusive approach. Each breakout room will have a projector and a connection to easily hook up your laptop and share your presentation. You can present on your own, but you can also propose something a little more assembled in advance, such as a panel with 2-3 speakers, potentially developed in partnership with a few other individuals or organizations.

5. What’s the schedule like? Expect a full day from 9-5. The room should open around 8:30 for networking and to propose breakout sessions until about 9:45 a.m. There’s a keynote (see speaker above) around 10 am, and then starting at 11, there are five concurrent 50-minute breakout periods across 9-10 different rooms, with a break for lunch after period 2. There’s typically a closing reception or happy hour (6 p.m. until) somewhere nearby in the District.

If you have other questions about TransportationCamp DC, contact us at tcampdc@smartgrowthamerica.org.