StreetTalks are back and we are talking about buses! Yep, buses. LivableStreets believes that Metro Boston's buses can and should be better. Imagine saving two weeks on your commute every year . . . Dedicated bus lanes, signal priority, and other techniques that prioritize people on buses are essential ingredients to making this a reality. 

Join us for a conversation with transportation experts on improvements already being planned for our bus system as well as an exploration of bus innovations being implemented globally. 

 There are three ways to register: 

• FREE for LivableStreets Members
• $10 for non-members
• Become a member today and get in to this StreetTalk and other LivableStreets member events for free!

Speakers 

David Block-Schachter is the Chief Technology Officer at the MBTA and focuses his efforts on applications that improve the customer experience for all MBTA riders. He was formerly the Chief Scientist and CTO at Bridj, and has held positions as the Director of Research and Analysis at the MBTA and as a Research Associate at MIT.  David has a Bachelor's degree from Columbia University and a Master of City Planning, a Master of Science in Transportation and a Ph.D from MIT.  He is a regular rider of the 69 bus, and the Green and Red Lines. 

Mary Skelton Roberts is a senior program officer for Climate, focusing on transportation and land use—two critical levers for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Prior to joining Barr in 2009, Mary was a consultant specializing in problem-solving and dispute resolution of complex corporate, environmental, and public-policy issues. She currently serves on the national boards of Hispanics in Philanthropy and the Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities. Mary holds a master’s degree in city planning with concentrations in consensus-building and environmental policy and planning from MIT. She also holds mediation and facilitation accreditations from the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School and from the Center for Dispute Resolution in London, England, where she served as lead faculty. 

Stacy Thompson (moderator) is the Executive Director of LivableStreets Alliance, a non-profit advocating for innovative and equitable transportation solutions that provide safe, affordable and enjoyable options benefiting all people in Metro Boston. Stacy oversees LivableStreets’ programs including Vision Zero and the Emerald Network and is responsible for ensuring overall programatic and operational excellence for the organization. Previously Stacy served as the Director of Events & Sponsorship at Ceres, where she developed the strategy focus, content, and communications for Ceres' major events. She also worked for the Office for Peace and Justice at the Archdiocese of Chicago where she collaborated with community partners to organize educational forums and supported a broad array of social justice initiatives. She has a Master of Arts in Social Justice from Loyola University, Chicago and a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Education from Saint Vincent College. 

Monica G. Tibbits-Nutt, AICP, LEED AP BD+C is the Executive Director of the 128 Business Council. Working in regional planning and transportation, Monica’s areas of specialty are transportation planning, urban design, and sustainability. Her work experience includes public sector transit planning at both the MBTA Advisory Board and as Executive Director of TransitWorks. She received a Masters of City and Regional Planning from the Ohio State University in Columbus and a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Sociology from the University of Southern Indiana. She serves on the MassDOT Board of Directors and the Fiscal and Management Control Board that currently oversees the MBTA. She is also a gubernatorial appointee to the Board of the MAPC serving on the Legislative Committee, as well as former Vice-Chair of the RTAC. She is an active member of the American Institute of Certified Planners and a LEED Accredited Professional in Building Design & Construction with the U.S. Green Building Council.