On an exceptionally sunny day in early June, the PacTrans Workforce Development Institute (WDI) hosted a field-based training course focused on Active Transportation and ADA Design. Regional transportation professionals from TENW, City of Tukwila, City of Bellevue and more, gathered in Redmond, WA, to explore best practices in active transportation planning, design, and implementation, with a focus on creating transportation facilities that are connected and welcoming for all users.
A big thank you to Chris Breiland and Adrian Engel from Fehr & Peers for teaching the course and leading participants on through downtown Redmond. The course combined classroom learning with real-world observation, allowing participants to review ADA requirements, discuss design considerations, and examine how transportation facilities function from the perspective of their users. Participants highlighted the value of seeing concepts applied in the field, including identifying different levels of stress experienced by people navigating the built environment.
The impact of this hands-on learning was reflected in the course evaluations, with 100% of survey respondents indicating that the course helped them gain new skills they will use in their organizations. Participants shared that the combination of classroom instruction and field observation was especially valuable in connecting policy, design standards, and the lived experience of transportation users. Trainings like these help build a transportation workforce prepared to design and deliver infrastructure that works for everyone. As communities continue to evolve, we invite the conversation: What is your organization doing to move beyond compliance and advance inclusive, accessible transportation design?