The AMPO Planning Tools and Training Symposium is tailored to the requirements of MPOs as well as the challenges associated with meeting such requirements and structured to meet the needs of small, medium, and large MPOs. The symposium brings together MPO staff and practitioners to share information on a variety of MPO technical issues and provides peer-to-peer training for the MPO community to discuss challenges, opportunities, and implementation strategies with regard to current planning tools and applications. The goal of the symposium is to share good practices; provide practical training; and develop materials that can be shared across the MPO community.

The symposium takes place over the course of two and a half days and consists of multiple roundtable sessions. Attendance is capped to allow for smaller sessions and greater ease of networking. The sessions are divided into two tracks: MPO 101 and MPO Deep Dive.

• The MPO 101 track is aimed at staff with less experience at MPOs or who are interested in a refresher. Sessions focus on MPO core products, operations, and engagement with key stake holders.
• The MPO Deep Dive track is for seasoned MPO professionals and provides peer-to-peer exchange and training opportunities to discuss the state of the practice, innovation, the thorny issues that MPOs often encounter.

Attendees may choose sessions from either track throughout the Symposium.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:

The AMPO Planning Tools and Training Symposium brings MPO staff and practitioners together to share information on various MPO technical issues and provides peer-to-peer training for the MPO community to discuss challenges, opportunities, and implementation strategies regarding current planning tools and applications. The goal of this symposium is to identify and share good practices, provide practical training, and develop materials that can be shared across the MPO community.

All fees in U.S. Dollars. You acknowledge that by registering for and attending this AMPO event, you agree to adhere to the cancellation policy noted below, the AMPO Code of Conduct and Anti-Harassment Policy, and Liability Waiver/Be Well Statement.

Non-Members include: Non-AMPO Member MPOs, and public and private sector partners.

Speaker rates: These are available for all speakers/session leaders through March 23.

Optional Add-On Events and Fees

Please note: Mobile tours have limited capacity and may sell out prior to the Symposium. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to sign-up for these add-on events.

• Monday, April 20, 2026: Town Branch Commons Corridor Tour: $15
• Tuesday, April 21, 2026: Vulnerable Road User Safety Assessments in Lexington: $15

Mobile tours include tour content and if applicable, transportation. Attendees may register for only one mobile workshop tour due to limited capacity.

WHAT’S INCLUDED FOR MEMBER/NON-MEMBER/SPEAKER-MODERATOR:

Full conference registrations include all sessions, admittance into the exhibit area, two continental breakfasts, two lunches, all refreshment breaks, and one evening event.

PLEASE READ PRIOR TO REGISTERING ONLINE:

To receive the Member Rate when registering online and paying by credit card, members must be logged into their AMPO account at time of registration and have their membership paid in full. If the member fee does not show when registering, STOP and exit the registration process. Contact Jessica O’Keefe to check on your membership status. Any refunds for the difference between member/non-member fees are subject to a processing fee of $50.

REGISTRATION / PAYMENT OPTIONS:

• ONLINE WITH CREDIT CARD: AMPO accepts Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. Credit card transactions have a 3.5% processing fee added to the fee.
• CHECK (AMPO MEMBERS ONLY): If you would like to pay by check, payments should be received 30 days after invoice. All check payments must be received by Friday, April 3, 2026. If payment is not received by April 3, then your registration will be canceled. Payment by check will not be available as a payment option after March 6. A 3.5% processing fee is added to the fee for pay-by-check.
• GROUP REGISTRATIONS: If you are registering 10 or more people, contact events@ampo.org for assistance.

CANCELLATION POLICY:

Registrations, cancellations, and refund requests must be submitted in writing to events@ampo.org. All cancellation requests for registrations received on or before Friday, April 3, 2026, are subject to a $100 cancellation processing fee for conference registrations and $25 cancellation processing fee for paid mobile tours; approved refunds will be processed after the meeting takes place. There will be no refunds of any kind after Friday, April 3, 2026. Refunds will not be provided for no-shows. Substitutions within the same event/conference will be accepted without penalties. The difference between member and non-member price will be charged if a non-member replaces a member. Substitutions will be accepted with a written request to events@ampo.org. For all inquiries regarding cancellations, refunds and substitutions, please contact the AMPO Events Department at events@ampo.org. By submitting a completed registration you acknowledge that you have read and understand the cancellation policy. Please note failure to receive a confirmation letter before an event will not be grounds for a refund or credit.

IMPORTANT:

AMPO reserves the right to postpone or cancel an event if the number of registrants is insufficient; due to acts of God; or any other reason beyond AMPO’s control. In this event, we will notify all registrants by email and credit the full registration fee towards another AMPO meeting, product or service. However, any costs incurred by the registrant, such as hotel cancellation or airline penalties, are the responsibility of the registrant. Confirmation emails are automatically sent by the registration system shortly after registration is completed. However, if you have not received a confirmation email two business days after registering, contact the AMPO Events Department at events@ampo.org. Please note failure to receive a confirmation letter before an event will not be grounds for a refund.

ACCESSIBILITY:

Registrants who require accessibility assistance to participate or have special dietary requirements should submit their request during the registration process. Due to the lead time to facilitate some requests, AMPO asks for these requests to be submitted at the earliest opportunity. Contact events@ampo.org for any questions regarding accessibility.

MEDIA POLICY:

AMPO event photographers and videographers will be present during the event and the photos they take and videos they record may be used as part of future promotional materials and any other purpose that AMPO deems fit. By attending the 2026 AMPO Planning Tools and Technical Symposium you give AMPO permission to use your likeness in AMPO materials.

MOBILE WORKSHOP 1: Town Branch Commons Corridor Tour

Led by Brandi Peacher, Complete Streets Coordinator – City of Lexington

• Start/end time: 9:00 – 11:00 AM
• Date: Monday, April 20, 2026

Join us for an immersive, guided walking tour of the Town Branch Commons Corridor, a transformational urban multimodal corridor and linear park reconnecting downtown Lexington to surrounding neighborhoods and regional trails. This award-winning project integrates buried infrastructure, historic waterways, green infrastructure, multimodal transportation, and public space design into a single cohesive vision creating a safer, more vibrant, and economically catalytic corridor. Participants will explore project phasing, partnerships, community engagement, and implementation strategies that position Town Branch Commons as a replicable model for corridor delivery and sustainable urban development.

Key Learning Objectives
Participants will gain insight into how MPOs and partner agencies can:

• Understand the planning and design processbehind creating a multi-modal corridor that balances transportation, recreation, and environmental goals.
• Identify strategies for integrating green infrastructure(e.g., stormwater management, native landscaping) into urban transportation projects.
• Evaluate approaches for enhancing connectivitybetween downtown areas and regional trail systems.
• Discuss funding mechanisms and partnershipsthat enabled the implementation of a large-scale corridor project.
• Analyze the role of public engagement and equityin shaping corridor design and programming.
• Apply lessons learnedto future projects involving linear parks, complete streets, and multi-modal networks.

This tour is designed for MPO staff, planners, engineers, and partner agencies interested in scalable, real-world approaches to multimodal corridor delivery and civic infrastructure transformation.

This tour involves walking and some light physical activity, including climbing stairs. Participants should be able to comfortably walk for short to moderate distances without difficulty.

• Price: $15
• Capacity: This tour is limited to 35 attendees

MOBILE WORKSHOP 2: Vulnerable Road User Safety Assessments in Lexington

Led by Adam Hedges, P.E. – HRD and Mikaela Gerry, AICP, Vision Zero Coordinator – Lexington Area MPO

• Start/end time: 1:30 – 3:30 PM
• Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2026

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) has a focus on improving safety for Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs) throughout KY. As part of that initiative, and since Lexington has a high number of VRU related crashes, HDR is leading VRU focused Road Safety Assessments in Lexington. This is a multi-disciplinary approach to identify deficiencies and improvement opportunities to increase safety for vulnerable users. This mobile tour will outline the overall project, progress to date, and feature hands-on experience at several locations visited as part of the assessments to provide a glimpse into the process. (Participants should be prepared to walk outdoors during the session and bring appropriate PPE).  This tour provides participants an on the ground opportunity to compare and contrast with the road safety audit workshop being conducted on Monday afternoon as part of the MPO 101 Track.

This tour involves walking and some light physical activity, including climbing stairs. Participants should be able to comfortably walk for short to moderate distances without difficulty.

• Price: $15
• Capacity: This tour is limited to 35 attendees

Exhibitor Program Sponsor

Additional Sponsor Opportunities

Hilton Lexington/Downtown
369 W Vine Street
Lexington, KY 40507

In order to book a room at the group rate, an attendee must be registered first. For your budget planning purposes, the AMPO group rate will be $209 per night plus applicable taxes. Booking within the AMPO group block includes complimentary guest room Wi-Fi, complimentary airport shuttle service between Lexington Bluegrass Airport and Hotel and complimentary self-parking. A small block of rooms within the AMPO main block at the prevailing GSA per diem rate will also be available. Booking links to secure your room at the group rate will be included in your registration confirmation email. Beware of unauthorized solicitations from third parties offering you a group rate. These third parties are not affiliated with AMPO.

The Hilton Lexington/Downtown offers a prime downtown location with easy access to Rupp Arena, Central Bank Center, and the University of Kentucky, making it an ideal home base for events, campus visits, and city exploration. Guests enjoy a well-rounded suite of amenities, including an indoor pool and a fully equipped fitness center, along with multiple on-site dining options such as Triangle Grille, the Big Blue Martini Bar, and a Starbucks for quick mornings or casual meetings. With flexible meeting and event spaces, complimentary airport shuttle service, and walkable proximity to downtown dining and entertainment, the hotel is a reliable and comfortable choice for both business travelers and leisure guests visiting Lexington.

MEETING VENUE

Unless otherwise noted, all AMPO 2026 sessions will take place at the Hilton Lexington Downtown. Mobile tours will depart from the hotel lobby.

PLATINUM SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS

EXHIBITORS