On Tuesday, April 21, 2026, the NJDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Resource Center hosted the eighth New Jersey Complete Streets Summit. This year’s event, centered on the theme “Every Journey Safer,” was a resounding success, bringing together more than 250 planners, engineers, students, municipal leaders, and advocates from across the state.
Attendees gathered to share ideas, exchange best practices, and explore how they can work collaboratively to support safer travel for all road users throughout New Jersey. Summit highlights included sessions on modern approaches to advancing Complete Streets, Safety Action Plans, Transit-Oriented Development, inclusive mobility, and connected greenway networks.
Welcome & Opening Remarks
NJDOT leadership kicked off the Summit with Assistant Commissioner Eric Powers, who shared how his path into urban planning started not in a classroom but in The Sims, one of the best-selling video game series of all time. In SimCity, changing the built environment was as simple as a click. He contrasted that with the real world, where designing roadways to serve everyone takes collaboration, persistence, and thoughtful planning. His remarks underscored a simple truth: when we design streets that work for all people, we build communities where everyone can thrive.
Newly appointed NJDOT Commissioner Priya Jain then took the stage and spoke about the many ways transportation shapes daily life, from how people reach jobs, schools, and services to how communities stay connected and resilient. She emphasized that Complete Streets are essential to creating places that are vibrant and safe for everyone who uses them. Commissioner Jain also highlighted New Jersey’s Vision Zero commitment to eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2040, noting that safer street design is a cornerstone of achieving that goal.
Keynote
This year’s keynote was presented by Veronica O. Davis, Vice President of Planning, Engagement & Urban Design at AtkinsRéalis. During her presentation, Ms. Davis challenged attendees to rethink how transportation decisions are made, drawing on themes from her book, Inclusive Transportation: A Manifesto for Repairing Divided Communities. She highlighted how ill-defined processes and limited engagement can lead to key voices being ignored. She pointed out that those most affected but least heard become the silent suffering, and she emphasized the need for more inclusive, community-centered approaches to plans and projects.
Blending humor with insight, Ms. Davis encouraged the audience to move beyond framing transportation as a battle between modes and instead focus on designing systems that work for everyone. She closed with a call to action, urging practitioners to lead with empathy, act boldly, and better serve the diverse needs and perspectives of all road users.
See the presentations, awards, and photos on the NJ Bike Ped website.