NCTCOG to Highlight Education, Workforce Development in Virtual Meeting for Automated Transportation
Arlington, Texas – The next virtual public meeting involving the Automated Vehicle 2.1 planning initiative will feature a panel discussion on education and workforce development at 6 p.m. Feb. 24. Leaders in these fields will discuss what emerging transportation technologies mean for younger workers and the potential for new careers in North Texas. The discussion will focus on challenges and opportunities related to preparing students for careers associated with these technologies. The panel will additionally feature a greater emphasis on education and engagement with the region’s educators. Register for the meeting here.
Preparing for the younger generations’ emergence into the workforce starts early and will require innovative and accessible resources for educators. Part of the discussion will highlight such resources, including a high school lesson plan created by the AV2.1 team. The lesson plan is designed to drive excitement and encourage students to consider their role in envisioning the future of travel.
AV2.1, also called Connecting North Texas Communities with Emerging Transportation Technologies, is in the planning phase of NCTCOG’s AV2.0 program. The initiative will help community leaders plan for the future of transportation in the region by providing decision-makers with the data and tools necessary to assess emerging transportation technologies entering the market and design infrastructure to meet community needs. A key aspect of AV2.1 is educating the public about new transportation technologies, which include:
• Connected vehicles
• Automated vehicles
• Electric and shared vehicles
• High-speed rail and hyperloop
• Delivery robots and drones
• Air taxis
This will be the second AV2.1 virtual public meeting. The first was held in August 2021, with a discussion of existing transportation needs in the region and an explanation of how the project’s results will help shape the future. AV2.1’s next project phases include:
• February 2022-April 2022: Identify best practices and funding opportunities
• April 2022-June 2022: Inform guidance and prepare a final report
For details on AV2.0 and how to participate in the planning for the emergence of new technologies, visit www.connectntxfutures.org. For more information and questions, contact ConnectNTX@nctcog.org.
About the North Central Texas Council of Governments:
NCTCOG is a voluntary association of local governments established in 1966 to assist local governments in planning for common needs, cooperating for mutual benefit and coordinating for sound regional development. NCTCOG's purpose is to strengthen both the individual and collective power of local governments and to help them recognize regional opportunities, eliminate unnecessary duplication and make joint decisions.
NCTCOG serves a 16-county region of North Central Texas, which is centered on the two urban centers of Dallas and Fort Worth. Currently, NCTCOG has 238 member governments including 16 counties, 169 cities, 22 school districts and 31 special districts. For more information on the NCTCOG Transportation Department, visit www.nctcog.org/trans.
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