Fast Forward

Our Global Exchange fellowship for mid-career leaders surveys the world for bold solutions to New York City’s most intractable problems. Beginning in summer 2026, Fast Forward will explore cities taking courageous steps to reclaim streets, expand public transit, and undo the dominance of the private car. 40 Fellows from across sectors will engage leading local and global experts, travel to Mexico City to study its approaches to mobility, publish findings, and meet with local decision-makers to demand courageous public policy. 

A new mayoral administration presents a once-in-a-generation chance to reshape how New York moves. Yet we still face critical challenges: aging transit and stations are outdated, crumbling highways divide and pollute communities; more commuters face longer, costlier rides; and congested streets are unsafe for pedestrians, cyclists, and micromobility users alike. 

We know what New York City can and must do: build better buses, make streets safer and more welcoming, reconnect divided neighborhoods, and align housing growth with transit investment. The question is how to unite unlikely allies and create the momentum for a city that moves all of us better.

Fast Forward will bring together the foremost local and global mobility experts, advocates, private sector leaders, and government officials to produce bold ideas to move New York City forward.

Key Questions

Fellows will form working groups based on their interests and expertise, focusing on intersecting challenges:

Building the Best Bus: How are cities designing and delivering fast, affordable, and accessible buses to connect underserved neighborhoods?

Reclaiming the Street: How are cities reconfiguring street space to balance safety, climate resilience, freight efficiency, and vibrant public life?

Repairing Divided Communities: How are cities reworking major infrastructure like highways to confront environmental harm and reconnect neighborhoods?

Emerging Modes: How are cities deploying good design, smart regulation, and effective incentives to guide autonomous vehicles, e-bikes, and last-mile delivery?

Centering Transit in Development:  How are cities aligning housing policy and transit investment to build connected and walkable neighborhoods?

Engaging Unlikely Allies: How are cities rallying grassroots organizations, small businesses, anchor institutions, and real estate leaders to champion transit and safe streets together?

 

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Calendar

Events

Support Our Work

Lead Sponsor

We thank Global Circle members Akerman LLP, Apple Bank, Crescere Collaborative, Fogarty Finger, HKS, Jamie von Klemperer, KPF, Office for the Next Environment, Skylight, and Upside Collab.

Global Exchange is made possible with additional support from our Board of Directors, Circle Members, and company and individual members. Our programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

Global Circle members gather for events with esteemed speakers, travel together to a peer city, and connect New York’s decision-makers with their counterparts around the world. Their financial leadership enables us to offer the fellowship for free to advocates, public servants and journalists who need to be at the table. 

Members receive benefits including network building, thought leadership, nomination of fellows, and visibility. For more information about how to join this league of supporters, along with a list of support tiers and benefits, please contact Miranda Bellizia, miranda@urbandesignforum.org.

Image Credit: 1. Cameron Blaylock 2- 3. Shimpei Koseki