AMPO 2025: Data, Design, and a Growing Community

For the third year in a row, Citian joined transportation planners, engineers, and policy thinkers at the AMPO Annual Conference. This program just keeps getting better. From an attendance of around 450 in our first year, it has now grown to more than 715 participants this year, making it one of the most vibrant gatherings in the transportation planning space. AMPO has truly become one of our favorite conferences to attend. Thomas Cater (Citian Account Executive) and I had the privilege of meeting one of our customers for KYOVA MPO (pictured above)!

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Providence: A Perfect Setting

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This year’s host city, Providence, Rhode Island, impressed our team. The walkable downtown, lively restaurant scene, and mix of historic charm with modern energy made it a memorable backdrop for a week of sessions and networking. One evening, we dined along the river, enjoying excellent seafood and conversation that made the conference experience even more special. The reception at Track 15 in the historic Union Station, also near the river, was another highlight and the perfect venue for connecting with colleagues.

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Planning for Better Outcomes with Better Tools

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If there was one theme that tied AMPO 2025 together, it was that good planning is about partnerships and shared goals, and today’s digital tools can make those goals more attainable than ever.

The session “AI Agents in Action: Reshaping Transportation Planning with Digital Twins” showcased how new technologies allow MPOs to model traffic flows, test climate resilience scenarios, and explore policy outcomes before anything is built. Pair that with sessions like “Complete Streets Makeovers,” which emphasize designing safer streets and reducing roadway deaths, and you get a clear picture: using data and modeling tools is not just about analysis, but about producing safer streets, fewer fatalities, and smarter investments.

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When MPOs, DOTs, local governments, and community advocates align around these shared outcomes, 21st-century innovation helps turn good plans into better places to live. Citian is well-positioned to provide MPOs with digital tools focused on safety and infrastructure performance management, enabling agencies to transition more effectively from planning to implementation.

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Why We Will Be Back

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Between a productive agenda, growing attendance, and the energy of conversations, AMPO 2025 confirmed its place on our must-attend list. It is rare to find a conference that strikes such a balance between technical rigor and human-centered outcomes. We came home inspired and energized to apply what we learned, and we are already looking forward to Sacramento in 2026.