The 2026 AMPO Annual Conference brought together metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) from across the country to explore transportation challenges, share insights and discuss data-driven solutions.
For INRIX, the event provided a valuable opportunity to connect with transportation planners to better understand their evolving needs and demonstrate how data can support smarter transportation decisions.
Why Attend AMPO
AMPO is an important event for INRIX because it attracts transportation planning professionals from across the United States. Unlike some national transportation conferences that draw more regional audiences, AMPO provides opportunities to engage with MPOs representing a wide range of communities and transportation priorities.
MPOs rely on accurate, actionable data to guide transportation investments and prepare for future changes. With dedicated federal planning funding and diverse project needs, many agencies are actively seeking data solutions to support their work.
For INRIX, the conference offered particularly meaningful conversations with prospective partners, providing insight into upcoming projects and opportunities to support their planning efforts.
Key Themes: Safety, Freight, and Border Crossings
Several themes emerged throughout the conference, with strong interest in roadway safety, freight data, and border crossing analysis.
MPO representatives were particularly interested in how transportation data can help them better understand freight movement, identify congestion and improve regional mobility. Origin-destination (O/D) and traffic volume data also generated significant interest, as agencies look for better ways to understand travel patterns and anticipate future transportation needs. O/D and volume data were of keen interest for regions anticipating significant population growth over the coming decades.
These discussions highlighted the importance of flexible data solutions that can address the unique challenges facing different regions.
Learning and Connecting with MPOs
One notable conference session focused on household travel surveys conducted for the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). The session offered insights into how agencies collect and use travel behavior data to support transportation planning.
Another highlight was the strong representation from MPOs across the Southeast, particularly Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Engaging with agencies from these states provided valuable perspectives on regional transportation priorities and emerging data requirements.
Looking Ahead
The 2026 AMPO Annual Conference reinforced the importance of collaboration between transportation agencies and data providers. For INRIX, the biggest takeaway was the opportunity to build meaningful connections with transportation stakeholders nationwide and gain a deeper understanding of their evolving data needs.