OTP26 Day 2 Session 3: C. Balducci, G. Nance, A. Mercedes Rinck - How Access Becomes Policy

How Transportation Policy Actually Gets Made Policy in Practice Description In this policy plenary, Claudia Balducci, Greg Nance, and Alexis Mercedes Rinck translate values, data, and lived experience into the realities of governance. The discussion surfaces how decisions are shaped by timing, budgets, jurisdictional boundaries, and institutional constraints rather than data alone. Panelists emphasize that decision ready evidence must align with how governments actually operate. Data must connect to funding cycles, procurement pathways, and accountability structures. The conversation clarifies what kinds of narratives, metrics, and coordination are credible within policy environments and how coalitions can engage effectively. Connection to Theme Connecting people and places requires translating evidence into decisions within real institutions. The freedom to reach depends on aligning data with governance, timing, and accountability. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and framing 06:39 How decisions actually get made 31:23 What counts as credible evidence 37:38 Collaboration 49:31 What policymakers need next What is this: The Taskar Center’s OpenThePaths convening is an annual two-day gathering focused on nondrivers’ freedom to move through the world, and on how shared stewardship of pedestrian and transit data enables communities and helps practitioners realize better more accessible built environments. learn more: https://tcat.cs.washington.edu Tags transportation policy, accessibility, public decision making, urban planning, governance, equity, mobility, OS-CONNECT