The era of driverless vehicles is just around the corner. How can we leverage this technology to help create the kinds of cities we want to live and work in?

The Conference Board of Canada will be holding the 2nd annual Automated Vehicles 2017 April 19 and 20 in Toronto. Building on the success of last year’s conference, which laid the foundation for key issues, opportunities, and challenges, this year’s event will take the conversation to the next level; beyond fundamentals and scenarios to strategies for achieving desired outcomes.

To ensure a positive driverless future, we need to start planning now

A key message that emerged at our last event was that AV technology should be used as a tool to help realize a shared-vision for the kinds of cities we all want to live and work in. The technology is moving fast, with many companies working to make automated vehicles commercially available by 2020. Without a doubt, the time to start planning for AVs is now.

Gain practical insights from national and international experts and leaders

At this event you will hear experts from across Canada and abroad share their insights on how to proactively manage the transition to a transportation sector that includes AVs, while at the same time understanding key impacts on cities and the importance of a shared-vision for our cities.

This 2nd annual transportation conference will bring together industry experts, government leaders and strategic thinkers with expertise on AVs as they relate to planning, policy and practice. The event will offer a variety of insights, and consider implications for industry, all levels of government and the Canadian public at large.

This conference will ask and address some of the most pressing issues around AVs, including:

• What is the role of AVs in creating sustainable and complete communities?
• What policy actions are needed at all levels of government?
• How will the technology affect Canadians’ lifestyles and mobility choices?
• What is the future of mass public transit?
• How can we further a shared mobility system to reduce traffic congestion and emissions and prevent zero-occupancy vehicles from being the new normal?
• What is the role of partnerships between government and industry?
• How might city size play a role in AV preparedness?
• What are the opportunities and challenges for planners around AVs and social exclusion?
• How can we maintain the priority for active transportation in the face of on-demand, driverless mobility services?
• How will our changing parking needs present opportunities and challenges for cities?
• What is our workforce transition management plan?
• What are the implications for goods movement strategies and plans?
• How can we manage the arrival of AVs without going back to car-centric planning?

Join us April 19 and 20 to discuss the impacts of AVs on cities and the role of the planning profession in managing the arrival of this disruptive technology.

This is your chance to explore key issues, network with your peers, and have your say on how we can strategically use the technology as a tool to help realize a shared vision for the kinds of cities we want to live and work in.