San Francisco, California | January 28-29, 2026

The Autonomous Vehicle Public Transit Association (AVPT) Annual Conference brings together leaders from public transit agencies, technology providers, research institutions, and policy organizations to explore the evolving role of automated vehicle technology in public transportation. The conference focuses on advancing the integration of autonomous mobility solutions into transit systems through collaboration, knowledge sharing, and real-world implementation insights.

Sessions and discussions highlight key topics such as automated transit deployments, accessibility and rider experience, safety considerations, policy development, and the workforce implications of emerging mobility technologies. The event provides a forum for transportation professionals to exchange ideas, showcase innovative projects, and examine how automated vehicle technologies can support more efficient and accessible public transit systems.

The PLUM Catalyst submitted a session proposal for the conference that was selected for the program: “Co-Designing Accessibility: Human-Driven Design for Inclusive Automated Mobility.”

Engagement Strategist & Accessibility SME Sarah Birdwell and Director of Research & Social Impact Allanté V. Whitmore, Ph.D. attended the conference on behalf of The PLUM Catalyst. During the session, Sarah moderated the panel discussion, while Allanté served as a panelist, sharing insights on inclusive design, community engagement, and the importance of centering lived experience when developing automated mobility solutions.

https://web.cvent.com/event/f66a2cbe-43c9-46e7-ac00-e46e421d5c93/summary

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Conference Highlights

The session “Co-Designing Accessibility: Human-Driven Design for Inclusive Automated Mobility” sparked an engaging and thoughtful conversation about the role accessibility must play in the development of emerging mobility systems. A key takeaway from the discussion was that accessibility cannot be treated as an afterthought or a compliance checkbox. Instead, it must be integrated upstream as a design mindset that shapes how transportation systems are developed from the start.

The panel brought together perspectives from research, design, and community engagement, highlighting how lived experience and human-centered design approaches can lead to more inclusive automated mobility solutions. Attendees were highly engaged throughout the session, asking thoughtful questions and continuing the conversation afterward.

The strong response underscored how important this topic is as the industry continues to explore automated transportation. The conversation will continue at the **ITS America Conference & Expo in June, where we look forward to building on the momentum and bringing more voices into the discussion.