"The Curb in 2030" — future-readiness as a leadership test

Wednesday, September16, 1:45 PM, Room: Columbia 3

The curb is the most contested piece of public right-of-way in every city and on every campus — and the demands on it are about to multiply. Rideshare pickups, last-mile delivery, micromobility, autonomous shuttles, predictive occupancy, and open data standards are reshaping how people move and how revenue flows, whether your community is ready or not.

By 2030, curb policy will look less like ticketing and signage and more like a dynamic, data-driven marketplace. This session is not a technology talk. It is a leadership conversation for elected officials, city managers, parking directors, university trustees, campus transportation leaders, and finance officers in communities of every size — from small main-street towns to large metros to flagship universities. We will step back from day-to-day tactics and confront one strategic question: is your curb system built to absorb what is coming, or will you be renegotiating it under pressure in four years?

Attendees will leave with a practical framework for assessing future-readiness across five dimensions: data foundation, pricing flexibility, payment and compliance infrastructure, equity and public trust, and interoperability with emerging mobility providers. Results from cities will anchor the discussion, and a live audience poll will show where the room actually stands today.

The session closes with a short self-assessment and three concrete moves every leader, regardless of budget, staff size, or political climate, can make this quarter to position their community for the decade ahead. Whether you manage fifty spaces or fifty thousand, the curb in 2030 will reward leaders who treat today's decisions as platform choices, not patches. Come ready to think big, share candidly, and leave with a sharper sense of what "ready" actually looks like for you.

Learning Objectives

  • Evaluate your own curb future-readiness across five critical dimensions

  • Articulate how emerging forces will reshape curb demand, revenue, and policy by 2030

  • Apply three concrete, low-risk actions this quarter

Zach Earles (Passport)

Zach Earles is an Account Executive at Passport, where he partners with municipalities, universities, and operators across the Mid-Atlantic to modernize parking and mobility programs.

With a background in product consulting and deep experience in enforcement, permitting, and payments, Zach helps organizations streamline operations, improve compliance, and deliver better customer experiences. He has led strategic initiatives and deployments in cities such as Charlotte, Raleigh, and other cities in the Carolinas, bringing a practical, data-driven approach to curb management.

Zach is known for translating complex operational challenges into scalable, user-friendly solutions

 

Caitlyn Parker (City of Raleigh)

As the Parking Manager for the City of Raleigh, I oversee the management and administration of on-street and off-street programs, including regulatory enforcement and stakeholder engagement.

In addition, I play a role in strategic planning to support economic development, operation, and future program growth.