Ms. Jarice Rodriguez is the Chief of Paratransit Operations and Mobility Services at the Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW), where she leads one of the nation’s largest paratransit programs and is advancing the modernization of mobility services, including ADA-accessible paratransit and on-demand microtransit. Her work focuses on integrating universal design principles with emerging technologies to deliver accessible, seamless journeys, improve operational efficiency, enhance the customer experience, and expand equitable mobility options for all. With a strong background in transportation engineering and innovation, Ms. Rodriguez has led transformative initiatives through DTPW’s Office of Innovation and Mobility Services. Her experience includes deploying autonomous delivery robots, leading the AV Shuttle pilot at Zoo Miami, integrating autonomous vehicle technologies into microtransit services, and partnering with platforms such as Uber to manage demand and improve service reliability. She also led the implementation of the USDOT-funded SMART Curb Program, transforming traditional loading zones into smart, data-driven curb spaces through advanced sensing technologies, CDS, and updated regulations. Her portfolio includes managing regional efforts such as the County’s Shared Mobility and Connected & Autonomous Vehicle (CAV) Plans. Currently, she is leading the deployment of the NaviLens QR code–based wayfinding and navigation system at Miami-Dade’s largest transit hub, enhancing real-time navigation for diverse users, including individuals with disabilities. Prior to joining Miami-Dade County, Ms. Rodriguez was a faculty member at Florida Atlantic University where she focused on climate change and transportation resiliency research and worked with the City of Miami on transit and multimodal initiatives. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico, completing both Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Transportation Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.