SPRING IS HERE!
We’re wishing everyone in the YPT-NYC community sunnier walks, more comfortable bike rides, less bundled-up public transit trips, open-air ferry rides, and more enjoyable mobility in the days ahead. Join us on Earth Day, April 22, by sharing a transportation-related photo showing how you celebrate with #YPTNYCEarthDay2021. Show some love to Mother Earth and share with our community how transportation can be earth-friendly and fun!
Maravilla, Guadalupe, Planeta Abuelx. Sculpture. 2021. Socrates Sculpture Park.
https://socratessculpturepark.org/exhibition/planeta-abuelx/
This month we feature an exhibit called ‘Planeta Abuelx’ by Guadalupe Maravilla, commissioned by Socrates Sculpture Park, and opening on May 15. The website explains that the title, which in English means Grandparents Planet, expands on the idea of “Mother Earth” as intergenerational, non-binary, and inclusive. The installation is an homage to our elders’ ancestral knowledge of the curative properties of nature, passed down through generations, to encourage communal healing.
YPT-NYC APRIL EVENTS
Game Night
Thursday, April 15 at 6:30 p.m.
Click here to register.
You asked, and we answered! YPT-NYC is very excited to introduce our first virtual game night. We will be using the platform backyard.co to enjoy a variety of popular games. We hope you can join us on Thursday, April 15 at 6:30 p.m.
RSVP will close on April 15 at 5:00 p.m., and an event link will be sent to attendees shortly thereafter.
YPT-NYC UPCOMING EVENTS
Congestion Pricing, a Conversation with Sam Schwartz
Tuesday, May 4, 2021 at 6:30 p.m.
Click here to register.
Join YPT-NYC for a conversation with Sam Schwartz, a.k.a. “Gridlock Sam,” on New York City’s congestion pricing plan. Mr. Schwartz, former New York City traffic commissioner and CEO of Sam Schwartz Consulting, has been an advocate for congestion pricing for over a decade. Mr. Schwartz has kept the topic front and center in public discourse, creating his own congestion pricing plan proposal and forming a broad coalition of supporters through the Move NY campaign. Mr. Schwartz recently served on the New York State’s congestion pricing task force and helped to formulate the current plan. Mr. Schwartz will share the latest updates on congestion pricing and its role in New York City’s COVID recovery.
RSVP will close on May 4 at 5:00 p.m., and an event link will be sent to attendees shortly thereafter.
Virtual Speed Networking
Wednesday, May 19 at 6:00 p.m.
Registration link will be in May Newsletter.
Stay tuned for our Virtual Speed Networking event on May 19, 2021. This event will take place on Zoom at 6:00 p.m. Similar to speed dating, recent graduates and early-career transportation professionals will be paired with experienced transportation professionals in breakout rooms in ten-minute intervals. This is a great networking experience for all and we hope you’ll participate!
Our May newsletter will contain the registration link for this event, and all who register will receive the event link approximately two weeks before the event.
RECENT YPT-NYC EVENTS
Author Talk
YPT-NYC’s Author Talk featuring Kyle Kirschling, Senior Director at NYCT, was a success! Kyle discussed his paper “An Economic Analysis of Rapid Transit in New York, 1870-2010” and guided YPT’ers through the origins of the New York City Subway system. Kyle discussed the reasoning behind the subway’s original operations, including challenges with city density, geography, mainline track configuration, and local versus express service. The event concluded with a productive Q&A session. Participants left with a deeper appreciation of the subway system both past and present.
YPT-NYC MEMBER PROFILE
Ben Rosen-Filardo (they/them), Transportation Engineer at Sam Schwartz Engineering
Ben is a transportation engineer with a passion for improving transportation systems through data-driven analysis. They graduated from MIT in 2018 with a degree in Civil & Environmental Engineering. Ben has worked at Sam Schwartz Engineering since 2015, when they started as an intern. While not at work, they knit & crochet, rock climb, and volunteer as an operator at Trans Lifeline.
Q&A
What is your favorite YPT-NYC event and why?
The tours! My favorite so far has been BookOps.
What sparked your passion to work in the transportation industry?
I was one of those kids who was obsessed with infrastructure and transportation from an early age. I loved my BRIO train set and could happily pass the time on a long drive with a game of Auto Bingo. In middle school, I was gifted Kate Ascher’s The Works. The whole book is incredible, but I found myself reading the transportation section over and over. It sounds kind of silly, but from then on, I knew I wanted to be a transportation engineer.
What are you working on that you’re most excited by?
Right now, Sam Schwartz Engineering is gearing up to help a city transform a downtown thoroughfare to prioritize transit riders, cyclists, and pedestrians. I’m excited to support this effort by giving stakeholders access to real-time traffic data to evaluate the impact of the project.
What career advice would you give to other YPT’ers interested in your career path?
Find opportunities to learn on the job! In my current position, I’ve been able to grow my coding and data analytics skills immensely. I now can work with transportation data on a scale that was previously quite intimidating. I’ve accessed these opportunities by being as forthcoming as possible with my supervisors about what excites me and finding mentors in the company who are supportive of my continued growth.
YPT-NYC LINKEDIN
Use the YPT LinkedIn group if you are #OpenToWork!
Our LinkedIn group is a great way for members to share information about yourself as a job seeker, connect with others, or share job opportunities!
WE CAN’T DO IT WITHOUT YOU!
Young Professionals in Transportation – New York City (YPT-NYC) is an official 501(c)(6) non-profit organization that provides benefits to its members through professional development, fellowship, and networking. YPT-NYC’s members keep the Greater New York City region moving while providing a space for growing skills, sharing knowledge, and expanding professional networks. Check your membership status here, or join here. Being an active member is $20 for the year and allows us to provide our membership with impactful programming.
Young Professionals in Transportation – New York City (YPT-NYC) is the local chapter of Young Professionals in Transportation International, a nonprofit coalition of organizations, which helps professional development, fellowship, and networking for young professionals in the transportation field. YPT-NYC’s members keep the Greater New York City region moving while providing a space for growing skills, sharing knowledge, and expanding professional networks.
YPT-NYC 