CELEBRATING INDEPENDENCE!
Between barbecues, fireworks, working from home, and/or returning to our offices this month, we reflect on the meaning of independence and what that means for us personally, for members of our professional community, and for the New York City region.
At its best, transportation provides us with the independence to access our jobs, friends, family, school, groceries, health services, and more. For many, insufficient transportation options limit independence. We are reflecting on mobility throughout our region, and where there is seamless connectivity as well as where there may be harder to reach areas or mobility challenges. Connect with us on social media with your thoughts and ideas!
YPT-NYC JULY EVENTS
Outdoor Happy Hour
Pier 5 Picnic Area at Brooklyn Bridge Park, July 22nd at 6:00 p.m.
Join YPT-NYC for a casual happy hour at the Pier 5 Picnic Area in Brooklyn Bridge Park on Thursday, July 22nd at 6:00 p.m. Come hang out and connect with some fellow YPT’ers. YPT will provide some drinks and snacks, but please feel free to bring anything else you would like for yourself (or to share). No fear — there will be bathrooms nearby!
Sign up here!
In-Person Subway Tours
Tour highlights:
- See how the subway and railroads continue to influence the planning and development of the NYC region of 20+ million people.
- Learn about the history of the NYC subway as well as the PATH subway and the country’s busiest commuter railroads.
- Discover today’s challenges, from governance to climate change, and learn about tomorrow’s possibilities for the region’s built environment.
- Explore how the subway operates and learn about some of the technology keeping it moving 24/7.
- Experience the design of new, old, and abandoned stations and uncover secrets hidden in plain sight.
Sign up is via Airbnb below:
Downtown Manhattan: Saturday, July 17th, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Midtown Manhattan: Saturday, July 24th, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Queens and Manhattan: Saturday, July 31st, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Registrants will receive details through Airbnb after signing up. Please feel free to attend one or all of the tours. Since there is a 10 person limit for each tour, kindly cancel if you’re no longer able to attend. Note that the price for YPT members is $1 (minimum to cover Airbnb’s insurance fee). Also, please bring a MetroCard with 1 loaded fare (or a device with OMNY contactless tap capability). Tours visit areas open to the public and do not access any restricted areas.
Transportation Research Forum NY: NJT “While You’ve Been Away” Virtual Presentation
Friday, July 23rd at 1:00 p.m.
Kevin S. Corbett, President & CEO of New Jersey Transit, will be discussing what NJT has done in terms of capital projects, technology advances, customer experience enhancements, and improvements in service, safety, and reliability to prepare the system for customers’ return as we emerge from the pandemic. Please RSVP to yptnyc@gmail.com before 7/23 and you will be emailed the access information from the Transportation Research Forum.
TransportationCamp PHL Summer Gathering (In-Person)
Saturday July 24th
Itching to get back out and explore? Maybe meet some people who aren’t Zoom icons? Great news – our friends at YPT Philly are running the first ever TransportationCamp PHL Summer Gathering on Saturday July 24th! Connect with other transportation enthusiasts and explore the great city of Philadelphia for a leisurely, transit-centric day. Bonus: if you take Amtrak there, check out the Moynihan Train Hall!
See more details and registration on Eventbrite!
YPT-NYC MEMBER PROFILE
Antonio Sieunarine, Analyst at MTA New York City Transit
Antonio Sieunarine is an Analyst at the Department of Subways Rail Control Center. His current work is focused on the Rail Control Center’s capital projects, including NYCT signal modernization efforts. Previously, Antonio worked for the Newark Downtown District BID as an urban planner, and he also worked in the aviation industry as an aerial survey pilot and mission specialist conducting LiDAR mapping across the continental United States. Antonio holds an MUP from CUNY Hunter College and a B.S. in Commercial Aviation from the University of North Dakota. In his free time, he enjoys hiking and running, and you can also find him staring at the sky anytime an airplane flies overhead.
What is your favorite YPT-NYC event and why?
My favorite YPT-NYC event is the summer tour series. I love them for two reasons: being able to host YPT-NYC tours at the Rail Control Center pre-pandemic, and being a participant in tours of other facilities. I am keeping my fingers crossed and looking forward to hosting YPT-NYC tours at the RCC again once it is safe to do so.
How did your role at the MTA change during the pandemic?
The pandemic was a challenging time at the MTA, when many of my colleagues made the ultimate sacrifice. Their names should never be forgotten. I, along with members of my team, were part of the effort to set up a contact tracing effort within Service Delivery for our Train Operators, Conductors, Dispatchers, and other Service Delivery personnel. In addition to performing the duties of contact tracing, these calls to colleagues were also about being a caring and empathetic voice on the other end. Many of my colleagues were quarantined and alone, very sick, and appreciated having someone to talk to during such a difficult moment. The peak of the pandemic saw late nights and weekends where contact tracing calls were made. We knew we had the moral duty to do everything we could to protect and keep our fellow colleagues safe. View the MTA’s Virtual Covid Memorial here.
What sparked your passion to work in the transportation industry?
This world is an amazing place and the transportation industry facilitates my wandering nature. Whether it is a short trip locally or a different continent, the ability to experience unique things on a local, regional, and global level is one of the amazing things that the transportation industry enables.
What are you working on that you’re most excited by?
We are currently expanding the usable footprint of the Rail Control Center as we work towards centralization of control and signal modernization efforts across the B-Division (lettered lines). We will have one of the largest video walls by area once this project is completed. The video wall will allow us to manage service and assist in the incident handling process. I look forward to giving fellow YPT’ers a future tour of this space.
What career advice would you give to other YPT’ers interested in your career path?
I would advise a fellow YPT’er to remain curious and let that drive your career path. I have focused on the things I am passionate about and it has led to forward progress and career success.
RECENT YPT-NYC EVENTS
Thanks to all the participants who joined us for the fun and educational events in June!
- GIS/Illustrator Skill Share with Sam Sklar
- June Subway Tours
- YPT-NYC Central Park Picnic
- The Future of NYC Transportation System, a Conversation with Dick Ravitch
- Virtual Tour: Historic NYC Aerial Imagery
Help us understand what skills our community wants to learn and share! If you have a skill or are interested in learning a skill, please let us know on our Skill Share Form.
CHECK YOUR MEMBERSHIP STATUS & RENEW TODAY!
Check your membership status here, or join here. Please consider registering with your personal email rather than your work or student email. Being an active member is $20 for the year and allows us to provide our membership with impactful programming. 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 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!
Young Professionals in Transportation – New York City (YPT-NYC) is an 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 