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April 2022 Newsletter

 
April Is Distracted Driving Month.

Traffic fatalities are way up nationally (including pedestrian fatalities, see below) and without serious intervention at the Federal, state, and local levels, this number can, and most likely will, continue to rise. New York’s traffic fatalities have similarly increased and are more heavily reported on, too. If you’re receiving this newsletter, you’re connected to the transportation space, so this statistic is likely not new to you. However, we’ve all got family and friends who drive daily (despite our pleas to bike, walk, and/or take transit) as part of their commute. What can we do to work towards Vision Zero?


We want these numbers to go DOWN. Source.

What Can You Do About It?
Luckily, the National Safety Council has provided a smattering of information, events, and little nudges we can all use to help our loved ones pay more attention to their commutes and to the world around them while they’re behind the wheel of their 4,000-pound metal death machine. To name a few: 
Commit to driving distraction-free by taking the NSC Just Drive Pledge. Raising awareness is good! 
Twitter Chat: Participate in the Distracted Driving Awareness Month Twitter Chat at 11 a.m. CDT on 4/13. Join NSC and others on Twitter to hear from experts, ask questions about distracted driving and engage with other organizations focused on keeping their workers safe behind the wheel. Use the hashtag: #JustDrive22 in all of your posts during the chat.
5-Minute Safety Talk and accompanying presentation:  Keep the focus on the reality of distracted driving by starting a meeting with this safety talk and ready-to-use presentation. Grab a blindfold to really illustrate the point. Download the Safety Talk and the Presentation.
Quiz: After engaging your workers with these resources for the month, put their knowledge to the test with this quiz on distracted driving risks. Download the quiz.

Look, is this goofy? A little. But it’s going to take all of us—not just planners, engineers, and policymakers—to achieve Vision Zero.
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.

Now, onto the goods. 

Maximize your perks: Check out all of the exclusive perks for YPT-NYC members on our website!

Know someone who’d be interested? Encourage them to sign up!

APRIL AND EARLY MAY EVENTS!

Revel EV Charging Hub Tour
When? Saturday April 16, 12:00pm – 1:30pm  
Where? 467 Marcy Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11206
How? Register here to receive the meeting link



Want a tour of the EV charging future of NYC? 

YPT-NYC will be offering a free tour courtesy of Revel, a Brooklyn-born micromobility and now, ridehailing company. 

Did you know that:
Revel runs the largest universal fast charging hub in North America!
Revel owns its own fleet of Teslas for its ridehailing service, which are charged using the 25 fast chargers at the Superhub.
In contrast to many other fast charging sites in New York City, there is no entrance fee or cost for parking. All you pay for is the electricity itself which is $0.39 per kilowatt hour plus tax.
Learn more here.
 
NB! The tour maximum is 40 people: first come, first served! Come learn about Revel’s hub and EV business strategy first-hand! 



YPT-NYC Book Talks: Trains, Buses, People with Christof Spieler
When? Thursday April 21, 12:30pm – 1:30pm
Where? Virtual Event on Zoon
How? Register here



YPT-NYC will be hosting Christof Spieler to discuss his book, Trains, Buses, People!

In the book, Spieler analyses every rail transit and bus rapid transit system in the United States and Canada — and shows how to make transit successful. Now, there’s a new second edition!
Have questions for Prof. Spieler? Want to know more about this awesome atlas? Join us for a Zoomside chat on April 21st! Register on Eventbrite now!



YPT -NYC Happy Hour (Board Games Edition!)
When? Thursday April 28, 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Where? Zombie Hut, 273 Smith St. Brooklyn, NY 11231
How? Register here.. or just show up



Welcome the arrival of spring with our April Happy Hour at a tiki bar! This month, we also encourage you to bring your own board games – bonus points if they’re transportation themed. We will be at Zombie Hut in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, on April 28th.

We’ll provide light appetizers and some of our favorite board games, too!



Special Seminar!

Transportation and Equity, including racism in transportation, with Dr. Regan Patterson
When? Thursday, May 5 12:30pm – 1:30pm
Where? Where else but Zoom
How? Register here



YPT-NYC will be hosting Dr. Regan Patterson for a special discussion on Transportation and Equity, including racism in transportation, at lunchtime on May 5th. 

About Dr. Patterson: Dr. Regan F. Patterson is the Transportation Equity Research Fellow at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF), where she conducts intersectional transportation policy analysis and research. She is an industry expert on issues relating to environmental justice, transportation equity, and air pollution. 



Please take the New York Bike Census!  
It’s a quick survey designed to collect data about bicycle transport across the state, to inform planners and policymakers. Plus, respondents can enter a drawing for three $150 Planet Bike gift cards.


PARTNER EVENTS
From YPT Mid-Atlantic: Fireside Chat with Tom Dallessio, Found of nextcity.org
When? Tuesday, April 26, 6:00pm to 7:00 pm
Where? Virtual on Zoom
How? Register here
 
 

Please join YPT Mid-Atlantic for a virtual “fireside chat” with Tom Dallessio, former publisher of NextCity.org and adjunct professor at Rutgers University, Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. 

This informal conversation will discuss the role of journalism and nonprofit advocacy in transportation and urban planning, and how planners and engineers can effect change through these channels. This will be a lively and current discussion!
 


MTA JOBS INFO + EXPO
When? Wednesday, April 13, 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Where? Doris C. Freedman Plaza, Central Park (5th Ave. & E. 60th St)
How? Register here




There will be an invite-only expo that follows this online session for candidates. Please see more information at that link.

 


YPT’s MONTHLY MEMBER PROFILE.



Eric Rago
Director, Location Partnerships & Strategy at Getaround

“I currently work for Getaround, a leading car-sharing company that operates in over 950 cities worldwide. I lead our public partnerships, private partnerships, strategy, and operations teams. These teams are focused on creating partnerships to grow carshare from a single hotel to entire cities. Prior to joining Getaround, I was one of the first employees for ParkWhiz, a platform that makes it easy to find, book, and pay for parking, where I helped scale the company nationally and launched the NYC market.”


What is your favorite YPT-NYC memory?  

I really enjoy all the great panels where we can learn from thought leaders in transportation. I am looking forward to meeting more of the YPT-NYC community in person.  

If you could snap your fingers and make one change to regional transportation, what would it be?

Increase the utilization of curb space by reserving more for Open Streets, restaurants, loading zones, and shared mobility like carshare, bikeshare, and micromobilty.   

What sparked your passion to work in the transportation industry?

At a young age, I struggled to understand why traffic and congestion couldn’t be solved. This led me to join a startup to help reduce congestion by directing cars to off-street parking. From there I was hooked, now I collect subway cards and look at parking garages wherever I travel. 

What are you working on that you’re most excited by? 
 
Getaround’s vision is to make cities and communities better places to live, which means bringing affordable transportation options to NYC and other cities. Transportation is the second-highest cost for households. Increasing shared mobility in areas that have few accessible transportation options means a more equitable transportation network. I’m proud that Getaround rates are significantly less than other carshare providers and can help extend the reach of fixed-route transit. 

What career advice would you give to other YPTers interested in your career path?

Find an organization that you are passionate about and find a way to get your foot in the door. Do not focus on the initial title or role, instead put yourself in a position to prove your value and the rest will work itself out. If you’re passionate about reducing traffic and bringing mobility options to cities, our team is growing!

What famous celebrity do you think should be given the opportunity to voice a NYCT Subway Announcement?

Mars Blackmon, AKA Spike Lee with a cameo from Michael Jordan. [Ed. This would be sick.]





LET’S STAY IN TOUCH

We will minimally invade your inbox once a month with a newsletter, we’re much more timely and active on our social media channels. Follow to stay up-to-date and ping us with anything you’d like on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn!



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.

Categories
newsletter

March 2022 Newsletter

 
Happy Women’s History Month, YPTers! 

This month, we spotlight women’s impact on the transportation profession. There’s a long history of great changes in our field through the leadership of people who identify as women. We celebrate these milestones with great joy and recognize that we have work to do to remove bias from our industry—we’re still fighting for gender equality in transportation both on the professional side and on the user’s side.
Last year, YPT-NYC celebrated several women from NYC who were appointed to leadership roles in the U.S. Department of Transportation: Polly Trottenberg, Meera Joshi, Nuria Fernandez, Diana Lopez, Dani Simons—more than ever in history!

This year we applaud their progress with USDOT’s Justice40 Initiative, the RAISE grant program, increasing port infrastructure, as well as increasing funding for transit infrastructure across the country through the bipartisan Infrastructure Bill.  And we celebrate all of the women in NYC working towards pushing that agenda forward and the projects of all sizes that are making big progress for our region. We also remember and honor the great achievements of women who blazed the path.


More than half of the U.S. population are women, and more than 50% of transit passengers too—but a 2019 report from the Mineta Transportation Institute revealed women make up less than 15% of all transportation workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics reports women made up 24.1% of the “Transportation and Utilities” category in 2020—which includes sectors like trucking (12.4% women), air transportation (31.6%), and rail (7.4%), among others. Source.
 

Now, onto the goods. 

Maximize your perks: Check out all of the exclusive perks for YPT-NYC members on our website!

Know someone who’d be interested? Encourage them to sign up!

MARCH AND EARLY APRIL EVENTS!

Finding My Way to Transportation
Moderated By Jerome Horne, Director of Transit Leadership Development for TransitCenter
When? Thursday March 10, 5:00pm – 6:00pm  
Where? Virtual Event on Zoom
How? Register here to receive the meeting link



YPT-NYC is pleased to present “Transportation as a Career,” a panel discussion featuring seasoned transportation professionals who may have gotten their start in ways that you didn’t expect!
Our panelists come from diverse backgrounds but share a common interest in encouraging underrepresented groups to consider transportation as a career, as widening the talent pool is more critical now than ever before!
Whether you are considering transportation as a career path as a student and would love some advice, you’re thinking of a career pivot, or simply interested in hearing our panelists’ stories, please feel welcome to join us!

AICP CM Credits are available for this event!

Happy Hour Mixer with WTS -GNY
Celebrating Women’s History Month
When? Wednesday March 23, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Where? TALEA Beer Co., 87 Richardson St. Brooklyn, NY
How? Register here


Join us for our first in-person event of 2022 at TALEA Beer Co! 
YPT-NYC is excited to co-host this event with the Women’s Transportation Seminar Greater New York Chapter (WTS-GNY)!
Let’s get together to make new connections, celebrate women in transportation, and have a beverage at TALEA Beer Co. on Wed. March 23, starting at 6:00pm. Free delicious snacks await you!
ABOUT TALEA: After years of browsing beer aisles and visiting breweries, they (LeAnn and Tara, TALEA’s proprietors) found that despite the booming craft beer market, no breweries were actively trying to speak to customers like them. From confusing packaging and bearded bros with attitudes to dark, industrial taprooms, the male-dominated industry was lacking an approachable, inclusive perspective and voice.
**Please note any vaccination requirements that may exist at the venue and bring identification and proof accordingly.

YPT Global Transportation Priorities: Autonomous Vehicles in the 21st Century Series Presents…

“Autonomous Vehicles & the Future of Global Sustainable Mobility”

When? Thursday March 24, 5:00pm – 7:00pm
Where? Hybrid In-Person / Virtual Event on Zoom
How? Follow YPT-International on LinkedIn for imminent registration details.



Autonomous vehicles will possibly have the most transformative impact on the transportation industry and society at large in the 21st century. Will they contribute to a more sustainable and accessible society or will they exacerbate the transportation issues we face today? Join us for a discussion on the future of autonomous vehicles with Sam “Gridlock Sam” Schwartz, founder and consultant of Sam Schwartz Engineering, and William Wang, Chair & CEO of Young Professionals in Transportation International and Schwarzman Scholar. Daniel Weiss, senior rail project manager at Arup, moderates.

YPT Members who RSVP and attend this event, virtually or in-person will be entered into a raffle to receive a free signed copy of Sam “Gridlock Sam” Schwartz’s critically acclaimed book: No One at the Wheel: Driverless Cars and the Road of the Future. 5 YPT Members will receive free signed copies of his book. 

**You must be a current YPT member before the event to qualify for the book giveaway.

YPT-NYC Presents…

YPT Walks! A new group walk initiative
When? Saturday April 2, 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Where? Meeting Point: 33rd St and 8th Ave (on steps outside Moynihan Train Hall)
How? Register here


YPT-NYC is excited to host “YPT Walks,” a series of group walks with other YPTers in the area. Our agenda is casual: to give you an excuse to explore the city, to mingle with other YPTers, and to discuss & think about the spaces in your community!
For our inaugural walk, we will be strolling through Midtown West Manhattan! Been to Midtown a gazillion times? Us too—but the Midtown we know today is different from what’s planned for tomorrow! Filled with transportation infrastructure gems, our stops will include:

Penn Station/Moynihan Train Hall/future Penn Station Area
Port Authority Bus Terminal (did you know there’s a bowling alley?)
Lincoln Tunnel (see how many buses you can count!)
West Side Yard/Hudson Yards/Gateway Tunnel/Midtown West (what’s next?)

Our walk will be led by YPT-NYC board members Kristy Tu and Sam Sklar. All are welcome! Bring your trivia tidbits, PABT stories, and exploring shoes.
We will end at an establishment in the area for refreshments and networking.


Please take the New York Bike Census!  
It’s a quick survey designed to collect data about bicycle transport across the state, to inform planners and policymakers. Plus, respondents can enter a drawing for three $150 Planet Bike gift cards.

PARTNER EVENTS
 
Tech Talk: Let’s Innovate the Last Mile
When? Thursday March 17 5:30pm to 6:30
Where? Virtual on Zoom, please email for link
 
The Tech Talk will focus on CALSTART’s Innovative Mobility initiative, which advocates for lightweight and shared modes for last-mile passenger and goods movement as well as enhanced public transit. The guest speaker will be Al Beatty, AICP. 

Al is a Senior Project Manager at CALSTART, and is focused on mobility, equity, and the environment.

The talk will be moderated by Syd Chan, a passionate transportation professional who is interested in transportation planning, engineering, traffic safety, transit, freight movement, and professional mentorship.

Pending approval for 1 CM Credit
 


WE Bike to Monumental Women, led by WE Bike NYC
When? Saturday March 19 11:00am – 2:30pm
Where? Doris C. Freedman Plaza, Central Park (5th Ave. & E. 60th St.)
How? Register here

Please Note: This ride is open to women, female-identifying, and gender-nonconforming folks only.

Did you know there are at least 125 statues of historical figures in NYC, but only six of them are of real women? Join WE Bike NYC as WE ride around Manhattan to visit these monuments and learn a bit about the women who inspired their metal counterparts.
WE’ll meet at the southeast corner of Central Park, ride north to Harlem and make our way back down to Bryant Park.
The route will be approximately 10 miles, with a photo opp and mini-history lesson stop at each statue.
WE’ll be riding mostly on bike lanes but participants should be comfortable biking in traffic. 
Please bring water and your helmet. (Helmets are required.)
All riders are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19. WE will be checking vaccine cards/apps. 
 
 
Transportation Camp PHL 2022
When? Saturday March 26 9:30am – 4:00pm
Where? Virtual on Zoom.
How? More information here.
 
Whether you work in the industry or simply have an interest, we welcome you [in spirit] to our nation’s birthplace at the center of the NEC for a day filled with ideas at the intersection of transportation, technology, and urbanism. As always, the participant-driven TransportationCamp conference series follows the “unconference” format, lending itself to a more pertinent, thought-provoking, and active event.

This is not your normal conference. And it’s NOT some webinars on a Saturday.

Organized by passionate Philadelphians in conjunction with the Philadelphia Chapter and Mid-Atlantic Region of Young Professionals in Transportation (YPT), the Philadelphia Chapter of Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS), and Drexel University’s Lindy Institute for Urban Innovation, we look forward to seeing you! Connect with us.
 


YPT’s MONTHLY MEMBER PROFILE.

Know someone you’d like to see answer these questions? Want to share more about your journey?

Let Us Know


Axel Hellman
Co-Founder and Special Vice President of Lines at Rally OurBus
 
A co-founder and I started OurBus, one of the leading brands for intercity bus service in the Northeast. We are a tech and marketing platform and do not actually own any buses—they are contracted out. We recently merged with Rally, another tech platform for bus trips, to become Rally OurBus. I went to college in California (USC) but have been in the NYC area since. If you need a ticket to Boston, Washington, or anywhere else in the region let me know!

What is your favorite YPT-NYC memory?  

I’ve enjoyed the happy hours in 2021 more than before. After the first couple of lockdowns, this type of human contact was really something I appreciated!

If you could snap your fingers and make one change to regional transportation, what would it be?

I’ve become so jaded at the slow pace of progress that it’s hard to think about this! This answer is self-interested, but I would restore the Decamp commuter bus to Port Authority that used to stop on my corner. It has been suspended for 2 years now. I live in the suburbs but before COVID, in the right conditions, I could take that bus and get home in 40 minutes. 

What sparked your passion to work in the transportation industry?

I was always interested in transportation, but what opened my eyes was doing a summer internship at NJ Transit in the Bus Service Planning department.  It taught me a lot that I still use on a day-to-day basis at Rally OurBus.

What are you working on that you’re most excited by? 
 
We have a microtransit pilot in-house called OurBus Door to Door.

What career advice would you give to other YPTers interested in your career path?

Choose a very specific, niche thing that no one else is recognized as an expert in. If you focus on it, it is very easy to become the world’s greatest expert in that one tiny area

What famous celebrity do you think should be given the opportunity to voice a NYCT Subway Announcement?

Bernie Sanders. His classic Brooklyn accent would be perfect for this.

LET’S STAY IN TOUCH

We will minimally invade your inbox once a month with a newsletter, we’re much more timely and active on our social media channels. Follow to stay up-to-date and ping us with anything you’d like on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn!




YPT-NYC LINKEDIN
Are you #OpenToWork? Are you #Hiring? Check out all of the exciting job postings in our YPT LinkedIn Group! It’s a great way for members to share information about themselves as job seekers and connect with other YPT-NYC members!


…PSST. LET US KNOW WHAT YOU WANT.
We want to hear from you! While we’ve got our contact form on the website, I’d like to introduce a new way for members to contact us with ideas, thoughts—anything—via a virtual suggestion box. Let us know what you’d like to see this year! I’ll be checking this every two weeks.

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.

Categories
newsletter

February 2022 Newsletter

 
Happy Lunar New Year! Best wishes for the Year of the Tiger, and hoping this year brings you happiness and prosperity!

Streetcars and buses in Toronto are wrapped with this design to celebrate The Year of the Tiger, thanks to the leadership of TTC’s Wayfinding and Signage Coordinator, Brenda Tong. Source link. 

We also celebrate Black History Month, and with that, we acknowledge the accomplishments of Black Americans in transportation that extend throughout the history of transportation in our country, and those who continue to keep our region moving today.

Our transportation systems have been sites of racial discrimination and protest. Transportation is a tool that can be used to limit or expand opportunities. In honor of Black History Month, we reflect on how we, as transportation professionals, can advance racial equity in our work. As a start, check out this episode of WNYC’s The Takeaway, “Why Public Transportation Is Such an Important Site of Civil Rights Protest.”

Throughout the MTA network,  from the Bronx to Long Island, lies a treasure trove of permanent public artwork that honor and uplift Black history and culture. In celebration of Black History Month, we wanted to showcase this new piece at Nostrand Ave LIRR Station by Derrick Adams, “Around the Way”. Source link. 

There’s a ton of work left to do to achieve a more equitable regional transportation system.  We honor the ongoing work being done in our community towards a more inclusive future and we’re thankful for our members who share in this important, achievable outcome!

Now, onto the goods. 

YPT membership ($20 annually) comes with a bunch of perks, including access to exclusive events and networking opportunities, New York Transit Museum discounts, and much more. Know someone who’d be interested? Encourage them to sign up!

FEBRUARY EVENTS!

Designing Safe, Equitable, Sustainable Streets – Around the World!
When? Tuesday February 15th, 6:00pm-7:00pm  
Where? Virtual Event on Zoom
How? Register here to receive the meeting link

 
Love a good pop-up pedestrian plaza? How about quick-build bike lanes? Have we got the event for you! Scratch your tactical urbanist itch AND live out some of your long-postponed global travel fantasies with this great presentation from the Global Designing Cities Initiative (GDCI)!

Solomon Green-Eames and Eduarda Aun from GDCI will show us examples of street redesigns that they have implemented which have helped foster more sustainable, equitable, and safe streets around the world. Their examples will start in New York City with the story of how the former NYCDOT Commissioner, Janette Sadik-Khan started the GDCI, and will take us from Quito, to Addis Ababa, and more! Don’t miss it!

AICP CM Credits are available for this event!

Lunchtime Creator Talk with Revel CEO Frank Reig
When? Thursday, February 24th, 12:30pm-1:30pm  
Where? Virtual Event on Zoom
How? Register here to receive the meeting link

Join us for this Creator talk to learn more about Revel’s journey into the micromobility sector, its electrification strategy, and how it differentiates from other micromobility companies. This talk will cover the company’s reflection on the last four years and their vision for the future!

Frank Reig is the Co-Founder and CEO of Revel, a Brooklyn-born company that’s leading cities to a zero-carbon future through charging infrastructure and shared electric vehicle fleets. Through the Revel app, users can rent electric mopeds, hail an electric car ride or find fast charging Superhubs compatible with any brand of EV. Founded in 2018, Revel now operates in four New York City boroughs, Washington, D.C., Miami and San Francisco. Prior to Revel, Frank held senior roles in the energy and corporate sustainability sectors. He received an MPA in Environmental Science and Policy from Columbia University and also holds a Culinary Arts degree from the Culinary Institute of America.

Podcast Club: Exploring Black History, Race, Inequality and Transportation
When? To Be Finalized *Tentatively 2/28 12:30pm-1:30pm*  
Where? Virtual Event on Zoom
How? Register here to receive the meeting link

Meet us at the podcast club on your lunch break with our special guest, where we’ll learn and discuss the intersection of Black history, race, and transportation.  As always with our podcast club format, we will suggest you listen to one specific episode before we meet, but we will also supply you with a list of our recommendations for further listening!  This event will encourage participants to examine the policies, the budgets, the specific projects that get funding, the leadership, how and whether our transportation systems provide access to opportunities in our nation’s history, and how we can work towards more equitable transportation. 

We will keep you updated as we finalize these details. 


🚨NEW SPONSOR ALERT 🚨



We are excited to announce that FHI Studio is the latest sponsor of our chapter! FHI Studio is a firm of transportation planners, engineers, designers, and community engagement specialists and will be our AICP certification maintenance partner. Going forward, YPT-NYC educational events like webinars and site tours will be available for AICP CM credits!

If you work for a company interested in becoming a sponsor, please reach out via our website: https://yptnyc.org/sponsorship/. 

IT’S BACK! YPT’s MONTHLY MEMBER PROFILE.

Know someone you’d like to see answer these questions? Want to share more about your journey?

Let Us Know

Lauren Rushing
Mobility Planner and Cycling Advocate (Lauren Rushing Consulting, LLC)

Lauren Rushing is a former YPT-NYC board member and an independent mobility planning consultant and cycling advocate. Lauren works with clients to develop strategic mobility plans for local governments, with a focus on creating complete and integrated multimodal transportation systems that serve people and provide mobility choices. Lauren is driven by her belief that bicycles are the missing link to many urban challenges, and puts her professional skills to work advocating for policies and infrastructure that will facilitate a cultural shift to legitimize cycling (and other active modes) as a mode of transportation in urban areas.

What is your favorite YPT-NYC memory?  

The YPT-NYC, WE Bike NYC, and NYCDOT Queens Bike Tour last summer. Enjoying summer in the city by bike is always a favorite pastime, but on the Queens tour we also learned about the process involved in building bicycle infrastructure in the city and got to see many of the recent projects first-hand! We got to meet some of the open space influencers including Jim Burke (34th Ave Open Street) Evie Hantzopolous and Irak Cehonski (31st Ave Open Street) and Kyle Gorman (Senior Program Manager of the Public Space Unit at NYCDOT), as well as local business owners. We also ran into Clarence Eckerson Jr. of Streetfilms!

If you could snap your fingers and make one change to regional transportation, what would it be?

Hands down, the implementation of a strategic plan for regional bicycle and micromobility parking. Parking is one of the biggest obstacles to conveniently using a bike in New York, both in residential and commercial areas. As a personal example, there is no public bike parking on the street where I live. So, before I moved into my 5-floor walk-up, I made sure that using the basement to store my bicycle was a condition of me signing the lease. Policies that ensure space like this can be used for secure bike parking are critical. Luckily, companies like Oonee are providing options, but we need the city to embrace these options. Lastly, travel outside the U.S. and you’ll find massive bicycle parking garages at major transit stations allowing people to use bikes and other micromobility as a first-last mile solution. 

What sparked your passion to work in the transportation industry?

My journey to a career in urbanism and transportation began as a teenager living in Jacksonville, Florida – one of America’s most sprawled cities characterized by quintessential suburban development. Having grown up in a city built for cars and lacking an enticing and reliable transit system, I was awestruck by the multimodal cities I visited and later moved to, as an adult. I remember when studying abroad, navigating and riding the metro was such a fun thing to me! I loved learning the system and memorizing the transit map. It was a very different lifestyle from how I grew up and somehow that felt more like freedom to me than when I first earned my driver’s license. That’s when I fell in love with cities. 

What are you working on that you’re most excited by? 
 
In 2021, I had the pleasure of managing community outreach for the Essex-Hudson Greenway campaign with the New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition. The Essex-Hudson Greenway is a proposed, nearly nine-mile long, multi-use trail corridor following the abandoned Norfolk Southern rail line between Montclair and Jersey City. When complete, the Greenway will be New Jersey’s version of the High Line, creating more than 135 acres of new green space, active transportation, and recreation, and will act as an economic engine for nearby communities. After decades of advocacy from local residents and electeds, more than three years of direct negotiations with Norfolk Southern, and personally more than one year of full-time work galvanizing community support for the project, in November the State of New Jersey committed to providing funding and securing purchase rights to the existing railway property identified for the Greenway!

What career advice would you give to other YPTers interested in your career path?

Don’t be afraid to fail. I know it sounds cliché, but I held myself back so much early on in my career with my imposter syndrome. Push yourself to do things that are out of your comfort zone. Say yes to things when you want to say no. You might surprise yourself. You WILL surprise yourself!

What famous celebrity do you think should be given the opportunity to voice a NYCT Subway Announcement?

I absolutely adored Schitt’s Creek and Catherine O’Hara’s character, Moira Rose, and I’d love to hear Catherine do an announcement in character!

LET’S STAY IN TOUCH

We will minimally invade your inbox once a month with a newsletter, we’re much more timely and active on our social media channels. Follow to stay up-to-date and ping us with anything you’d like on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn!


EXCLUSIVE PERKS & PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR YPT-NYC MEMBERS

Here’s a fun ~perk~ from YPT-International that comes with your membership—chats with YPTers from other chapters! 
From the sign-up sheet: “Each Month, YPT members will be randomly paired up with another fellow YPT member who signed up in the program to connect over coffee, tea, or whatever beverage you prefer!” Sign up here.  


Join this virtual Open House event to learn more about the WTS-GNY 12-month Mentoring Program in 2022! The program provides a forum for emerging women professionals in transportation seeking development of the skills necessary to achieve success in both their professional and personal lives. Benefits for mentors and proteges include networking, candid conversations, and confidence-building. If you have questions or need further information, please contact Co-Chairs Dana Hecht at dana.hecht@mtacd.org or Maxine Hill at mhill@vhb.com.

Institute of Transportation Engineers Mentoring Program 2022
Application Deadline February 7th!
Register here

Professional Women in Construction Mentoring
Application Deadline February 18th! 
More info here

YPT-NYC LINKEDIN
Are you #OpenToWork? Are you #Hiring? Check out all of the exciting job postings in our YPT LinkedIn Group! It’s a great way for members to share information about themselves as job seekers and connect with other YPT-NYC members!


…PSST. LET US KNOW WHAT YOU WANT.
We want to hear from you! While we’ve got our contact form on the website, I’d like to introduce a new way for members to contact us with ideas, thoughts—anything—via a virtual suggestion box. Let us know what you’d like to see this year! I’ll be checking this every two weeks.

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.



   

   

Categories
newsletter

January 2022 Newsletter

 
WE SAY GOODBYE TO THE R32 AND HELLO TO 2022!
Hello YPTers! I’m Sam Sklar, 2022’s new Communications Manager. I’d first like to wish everyone a Happy New Year and a welcome back to this monthly newsletter series.

Here’s what you’ll see month-to-month: 
Updates from any events from the previous month, including photos and highlights
Upcoming events, including dates, times, and need-to-knows
Often, a profile of one of our members
News of new partnerships and sponsors, with hopes of expanding our programming
Feedback from members like you!

I’ll keep it light and fun, and pick up right from last year’s Communications Manager, Emily Provonsha, who’s taken over as Chair for this upcoming year! 

Thanks for joining us, and I know I speak for the whole board when I say we’re extremely excited for all the exciting events, networking opportunities, and surprises coming up this year! Now, onto the goods

Farewell Brightliner!   The MTA retired the R32 trains—nicknamed the Brightliners—on Sunday, January 9, 2022. We invite our readers to take a look at the retrospective photos on MTA’s Flickr site and remember these train sets fondly as some of the oldest in the world, operating revenue service from 1954-2022.

We hope they enjoy their rest at the Great Train Depot after 68 years of service.     

YPT membership ($20 annually) comes with a bunch of perks, including access to exclusive events and networking opportunities, New York Transit Museum discounts, and much more.

Know someone who’d be interested? Encourage them to sign up!    

2021 Holiday Party—What A Great Success!   We had a TON of fun meeting in person and sharing holiday cheer and beer. Can’t wait to see you all again at some upcoming events as the weather gets warmer. Lots of fun to be had!    

2021 In Review: Some Numbers! We Love Numbers. 

I wanted to start the year with some fun transparency with hard-hitting YPT-NYC statistics. Here are a few highlights:
Engagement from 2020-2021:
~50% increase in monthly newsletter open rate
22% increase in total YPT membership
129% (!) increase in website traffic

Event round-up:
Top event: a talk about congestion pricing with transportation legend, Sam Schwartz
Top happy hour: CultureLab in Long Island City
Top in-person event: Queens bike tour in partnership with WeBikeNYC and NYCDOT

Thank you to our 2021 Board for all your hard work, and we’re excited to grow even more with… …the 2022 Board!

We’ve updated the Board Member bios on our website.
Check it out here to get to know your leadership for the coming year. As always, drop us a line to say hello.

UPCOMING EVENTS!  

We’ve got lots of great ideas for events this year, starting with this interesting author talk.

YPT-NYC January Event
Author Talk: Jan 24th {6:30-7:30} Substeading: Turning Underground Wasteland into New Transportation Corridors  


Join us for an author talk hosted by Raymond Niles and Kyle Kirschling, a YPT-NYC member who also presented his last paper in March 2021 to us. His new paper, co-written by Raymond Niles, explores how NYC can have faster, cheaper, and more comfortable transportation. Learn more about their transformative “substeading” concept by reading their newest paper, and join us with your questions, comments, and honest feedback for a lively virtual discussion

Sign up on Eventbrite here! This event is virtual and Zoom link will be provided.    

🚨NEW SPONSOR ALERT 🚨  


We’re excited to announce that renowned consulting firm, Nelson\Nygaard is now a sponsor of our chapter! Thank you for your generous support! 

Corporate sponsorship helps keep membership costs reasonable for our members. If you work for a company interested in becoming a sponsor, please reach out via our project website:
https://yptnyc.org/sponsorship/.    

LET’S STAY IN TOUCH  

We will minimally invade your inbox once a month with a newsletter, we’re much more timely and active on our social media channels.
Follow to stay up-to-date and ping us with anything you’d like on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn!   Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Email Website    

EXCLUSIVE PERKS FOR YPT-NYC MEMBERS   Transit enthusiast gift opportunity? Become a New York Transit Museum member with an exclusive YPT-NYC perk.

With discount code YPT15, receive $15 off any level of NYTM membership and benefit from 10% off gift shop purchases, exhibit previews and more.

    Here’s a fun ~perk~ from YPT-International that comes with your membership—chats with YPTers from other chapters! 

From the sign-up sheet: “Each Month, YPT members will be randomly paired up with another fellow YPT member who signed up in the program to connect over coffee, tea, or whatever beverage you prefer!”

Sign up here.       We’re working hard to bridge together many of the region’s professional groups, and in doing so here’s another awesome opportunity for YPT members to connect with ITE members: see above, and sign up here.    

YPT-NYC LINKEDIN
Are you #OpenToWork? Are you #Hiring? Check out all of the exciting job postings in our YPT LinkedIn Group! It’s a great way for members to share information about themselves as job seekers.    

…LASTLY (I KNOW)  

We want to hear from you! While we’ve got our contact form on the website, I’d like to introduce a new way for members to contact us with ideas, thoughts—anything—via a virtual suggestion box. Let us know what you’d like to see this year! I’ll be checking this every two weeks.    

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.  

Categories
newsletter

December 2021 Newsletter

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO OUR YPT-NYC COMMUNITY

We are wishing all our members a holiday season full of spacious subway and bus passenger loads, bike rides that aren’t too cold yet, sunny ferry rides, brisk winter walks, and of course, peace, love, joy and good health!  Holidays are a busy time of travel, but you can still stay engaged with us virtually this month with our upcoming podcast club events, or if you’ll be in the City, join us for our Holiday Party!   

New York Transit Museum’s Grand Central Terminal Gallery Annex and Store’s annual Holiday Train Show. A festive tradition showcasing Lionel model trains chugging past a replica of GCT, the Metlife Building, the Chrysler Building, Brooklyn Bridge and other iconic New York scenes on their way to the North Pole. https://www.nytransitmuseumstore.com/.

THANK YOU 

A special thank you to our out-going Board Members who helped us have such a successful 2021 schedule of events, grow our membership, craft excellent social media, communications and website content, spend our budget wisely, and achieve our professional development goals! 

We also welcome our new 2022 Board:

Chair: Emily Provonsha
Deputy Chair: Kristy Tu
Content Manager: Elizabeth Jule Gladoun
Membership Manager: Sam Chan
Treasurer: Scott Middleton
Professional Development Manager: Stacey Matlen
Events and Programs Manager: Darwin Keung
Communications Manager: Samuel Sklar
Social Media Manager: Julia Fiore
Partnership Manager: Michael Ahillen
Liaison to YPT-I and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Board: Modou Cham

YPT-NYC DECEMBER EVENTS

Virtual Podcast Club Sessions
Part 1: ActiveTowns and StreetFilms
Wednesday, December 8th 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. RSVP here
 
Part 2: Social Equity and Transit
Wednesday December 15th 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. RSVP here 



What is Podcast Club? It’s an informal, weekly discussion of a selection of transportation-focused podcasts! Each week we invite you to delve into a specific topic with “required listening” and some optional listening at your leisure, and then during the event we will gather to discuss & exchange ideas. Meet us at the [podcast] “club,” it’s going down! Register at the link above.
 
2021 Holiday Party
The Whiskey Ward (121 Essex St, New York, NY 10002)
Tuesday, December 14th, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. RSVP here 



Ho Ho Hello YPT-NYC! Our holiday party will be held at The Whiskey Ward and please note that this event is members-only, so if you need to renew or register, don’t forget to gift yourself that free drink ticket and food with your $20 annual YPT-NYC Membership! 

We have reserved a private area in the back with long tables, benches, and a pool table etc. Kindly register with the eventbrite link above to ensure you get your drink ticket at the door.

Delicious appetizers (both veggie + meat options) will be provided as well. Looking forward to celebrating with you at our first holiday party since 2019!

YPT-NYC MEMBER PROFILE 

Lauren Clark, Principal Projects & Strategic Investment Program Coordinator at NJ TRANSIT

 
Lauren Clark is a writer and transit professional who specializes in driving organizational transformation.
 
1. What is your favorite YPT-NYC event and why?  
Each event I attend becomes my favorite. I loved the behind the scenes tour of Grand Central Terminal Trainshed this fall. 
 
2. If you could snap your fingers and make one change to regional transportation, what would it be? 
All transit should be free for all riders. Transportation is a right, not a privilege. I’ll live and die on that hill.
 
3. What sparked your passion to work in the transportation industry? 
I’ve never owned a car, so I depend on public transportation to get everywhere I go. I understand how absolutely essential transit is, and I know how sacred and safe a space it can be when it’s done right. I’m honored to have a hand in making sure as many people as possible have access to these resources.
 
4. What are you working on that you’re most excited by? 
It was a privilege to lead NJ TRANSIT’s ten-year strategic planning efforts in 2019 and 2020. Since then, I’ve been working closely with the Human Resources team to drive progress toward their identified strategic initiatives, which includes implementation of a Human Capital Management system and major changes to most of our processes. I’m a sucker for driving transformation efforts—the more impossible change feels, the bigger the knot or the puzzle, the more I want to tackle it.
 
5. What career advice would you give to other YPT’ers interested in your career path?  
Find the system you’ll never get tired of riding and dedicate yourself to it. Worked for me.
 
6. What famous celebrity do you think should be given the opportunity to voice a NYCT Subway Announcement?  
The weird robotic voice that announces (and adorably mispronounces) the stops on NJ TRANSIT trains, of course.

OTHER EVENTS

YPT Mid-Atlantic Regional Board Virtual Meet and Greet
Tuesday, December 7, 2021 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. RSVP here
Meet fellow YPT members from across the Mid-Atlantic region, and meet your new regional board! The new regional board of YPT Mid-Atlantic is pleased to serve everyone from YPT’s existing NYC, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and DC chapters as we work to bring people together and broaden our reach throughout the region. Join us virtually on gather.town, an immersive and interactive experience!

Author Talk
(TBD)
Substeading: A Profitable Way to Build More Affordable, Convenient, and Prosperous Cities by Turning Underground Wasteland into New Transportation Corridors 

Stay tuned for an author talk hosted by Raymond Niles and Kyle Kirschling, a YPT-NYC member who also presented his last paper in March to us. His new paper, co-written by Raymond Niles, explores how NYC can have faster, cheaper, and more comfortable transportation. Learn more about their transformative “substeading” concept by reading their newest paper, and look out for an upcoming author talk!
 
RECENT YPT-NYC EVENTS
Moynihan Station Tour 
A special thank you to Doug Carr and Matt Bradley of NYS Empire State Development for leading an awesome tour at Moynihan Train Hall! They walked YPTers through the history, existing challenges and future opportunities that the train hall has to offer to the New York City area and northeast region.

Python Skillshare
Mark Bauer of the First Street Foundation taught an introduction to Python class targeted at those who had never used the programming language before. Mark broke everything down for our members, answered all questions, and was an enthusiastic teacher. Thank you Mark for sharing your time and expertise with us!

HOLIDAY GIFT IDEA 
Transit Enthusiast Gift Opportunity?
Become a member of the New York Transit Museum with an exclusive YPT-NYC Discount! YPT members are invited to become NYTM members with a $15 discount, valid for any level of membership! The discount code is: YPT15


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!

Categories
newsletter

November 2021 Newsletter

THANKFUL FOR OUR YPT-NYC COMMUNITY

With appreciation for YPT-NYC members and the gorgeous #fallvibes this season brings, we want to thank you for your participation in our events, tours, and happy hours this year. Thank you to all our members for staying active, participating in our programming, and coming through for our community. The world is run by people who show up, and our community consistently shows up to support each other and the regional transportation system.

Nick Cave, “Every One”. 2021.Commissioned by MTA Arts & Design.“Every One” is the first of a three-piece installation by the artist Nick Cave, inside the new 42nd Street connector. The other two parts — “Each One” at the new shuttle entrance and “Equal All” on the center island platform wall — will be installed next year. Sinna Nasseri for The New York Times.


YPT-NYC NOVEMBER EVENTS



Virtual Python Skillshare 
Monday, November 15th, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Register here.

We are excited to have Mark Bauer present an introductory Python course utilizing NYC Open Data to all interested YPT members! Mark previously worked for the NYC Office of Management and Budget and has done several presentations in the past on using Python with NYC Open Data. This is a virtual event targeted at people with no previous Python experience. 
 


November Outdoor Happy Hour
Friday, November 5th, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Washington Commons at 748 Washington Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238
RSVP here.

Join us for our November Happy Hour in the spacious backyard garden of Washington Commons!


 
Daniel Patrick Moynihan Train Hall Tour  
Thursday, November 18 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Register here.

Still haven’t been to the new Daniel Patrick Moynihan Train Hall this year? Join us for a walking tour to learn more about the latest additions at Penn Station, led by Empire State Development. 
Mask policy: All attendees are required to wear masks inside the station.
This event is limited to 20 YPT members. 
 
OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
Become a member of the NY Transit Museum with an exclusive YPT-NYC Discount! – Become a member here
YPT members are invited to become NY Transit Museum members with a $15 discount, valid for any level of membership! The discount code is: YPT15 

YPT-I Mentoring – Submit your application hereWe are thrilled to announce that YPT International has launched a mentorship program to help transportation professionals learn from other transportation professionals. We are eager to empower those with more experience to share their knowledge, skills, and professional journey. 

TransportationCamp Pittsburgh Saturday, November 6, – Register Here

Stay tuned for details about our 2021 Holiday Party!
 

YPT-NYC MEMBER PROFILE 
Modou Cham
Senior Associate, Transportation & Smart Mobility at ICF



I’m originally from the Gambia, West Africa, but live in Brooklyn, New York. I currently work at ICF as a Senior Associate in Commuter Services and Mobility Specialist within the Climate, Energy and Transportation division working on Transportation Demand Management (TDM) projects and studies across the U.S. I work on a project that assists local governments, municipalities, and major employers in New York State implement green transportation programs. Prior to ICF, I worked as the Chief Administrative Officer for an international, not-for-profit organization at the United Nations promoting environmental health and literacy. I earned a M.Sc. in Sustainability Management from Columbia University and a B.A. in Political Science & International Relations from West Chester University of Pennsylvania.

Q&A:
What is your favorite YPT-NYC event and why?  
My favorite YPT-NYC event was the first one I attended, the annual holiday party! I very much appreciate that YPT-NYC opens the door for potential new members to meet members that have been with the organization for a while to learn more about the association in a relaxed atmosphere.

If you could snap your fingers and make one change to regional transportation, what would it be?
The proliferation of micro mobility programs and vehicles such as bikes, electric bikes, e-scooters, mopeds, e-microcars, etc. in rural/suburban communities. And most importantly, micro mobility infrastructure, which is deficient in many rural/suburban communities. 

What sparked your passion to work in the transportation industry?  
I studied Sustainability Management at Columbia University Climate School at graduate school and during this time I was exposed to many courses, projects, and discussions related to Transportation and Sustainability. I took a course called Access, Innovation and the Urban Transportation Transition and this course made me more aware of how transportation can change people’s lives globally. My professors were brilliant and worked on projects from all over the world (New York, London, Kenya, etc.). One of my professors, Dr. Jacqueline Klopp worked on a project called the Digital Matatus – a research project involving Columbia University, MIT, the University of Nairobi, and Groupshot Design Consultancy with the goal of mapping an unofficial network of minibuses and minivans that do not have centrally controlled schedules, fares, or route plan. After the class adjourned, I wanted to work on projects like the Digital Matatus project.

What are you working on that you’re most excited by?  
I’m currently working on a TDM project with the goal to reduce single occupancy vehicles. In this project, we administer an annual campaign called Car Free Day to encourage commuters to leave their cars at home for one day and use an alternative commute mode. It’s a very exciting time for the team I work with because this gives us an opportunity to introduce innovative and alternative travel options such as electric shuttles and autonomous vehicles to urban and rural communities. 

What career advice would you give to other YPT’ers interested in your career path?

Let your network know you are open to new opportunities and when opportunities come along respond with enthusiasm!

What famous celebrity do you think should be given the opportunity to voice a NYCT Subway Announcement?
Eddie Murphy!  80’s SNL/Coming to America Eddie Murphy!!

RECENT YPT-NYC EVENTS
October Happy Hour at CultureLab LIC at the Plaxall Gallery
Penn Station and Grand Central Secrets Walking Tour
Grand Central Terminal Train Shed Tour Led by Michael Feinberg
TransportationCamp NYC 



A huge thank you to all those who attended and supported TransportationCamp on October 16th, and the in-person happy hour and picnic events! Camp was well attended with participants from all over the region. A variety of sessions were proposed, from congestion pricing to restoring ridership and free transit, and gave a platform for insightful discussion! See you all next year!

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!



Categories
newsletter

October 2021 Newsletter

WHAT’S NEXT FOR 2022 YPT-NYC BOARD? 

Elections for the 2022 YPT-NYC Board are coming up later this month. We are excited about the new ideas and energy that candidates would bring to YPT-NYC next year! Despite on-going challenges with the pandemic this year, we were still able to host a packed calendar of workshops, author talks, tours, skill shares, and happy hours! What was your favorite part of being a YPT-NYC member this year? Share with us on our social media posts this week!

New two-way protected bike lane installed on Brooklyn Bridge, NYCDOT. September, 2021. @nyc_dot. The lane, originally proposed in Mayor de Blasio’s State of the City address, repurposes one lane of vehicular traffic to accommodate the recent cycling boom in NYC. This transformation is the first reconfiguration of the iconic bridge since trolley tracks were permanently removed in 1950. 
 YPT-NYC 2022 Board Elections

How do I participate in the election?
To vote in the election, you must be an active member of YPT as of October 1, 2021. Check your membership status here, or join here. Membership is only $20/year and allows us to continue providing exceptional programming and events.
Election TimelineOctober 18, 2021 – Election ballots will be sent out by YPT International to eligible voting members for all Chapter and International elections by 9:00 AM EDT October 29, 2021 – Online elections close at 11:59 PM EDT. International and Chapter Board members and nominees will be notified of election results shortly thereafterNovember 1, 2021 – December 31, 2021 – Board Transition periodJanuary 1, 2022 – New term begins for International and Chapter BoardsDecember 31, 2022 – 2022 Term concludes
YPT-NYC OCTOBER EVENTS

Outdoor Happy Hour at CultureLab LIC 
Thursday, October 7 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 
Register Here!


Join us for another outdoor happy hour, this time at CultureLab, where we’ll enjoy live music, great food, and drinks in Long Island City! Invite your friends and coworkers! 
Mask policy: Fully vaccinated people are not required to wear a mask. However, masks may be required if we go indoors or in crowded areas. Unvaccinated people must wear a mask at all times.
Bring: mask, proof of vaccination, sunscreen, water
 
Penn Station and Grand Central Secrets Walking Tour
Saturday, October 9 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
RSVP to Rayn Riel at raynriel@gmail.com


Join us and explore the secrets of Penn Station and Grand Central on a walking tour! We will uncover artifacts of the original Penn Station hiding in plain sight, and experience the new Moynihan Train Hall. If you’d like, then take the subway with us to Grand Central, where we will discover even more secrets accessible to the public. We’ll be walking a lot and going up and down stairs so please bring comfortable shoes and your mask. Space is limited, so please RSVP to raynriel@gmail.com for more details and confirmation. 
 
Grand Central Terminal Train Shed Tour – Led by Michael Feinberg Metro-North Director of Tunnels, Bridges and Track
Wednesday, October 20 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Register here.
 

Would you believe us if we told you that Park Avenue between 42nd and 57th Street, and all numbered cross streets in between, were not just streets, but also bridges? What lies beneath these city streets is the Grand Central Terminal Train Shed, a railroad yard completed in 1913. It has both upper and lower levels and houses 67 operational tracks with 44 platforms. Between the upper and lower levels of the Train Shed, there are 31 miles of track. While many repairs and maintenance projects have been completed throughout the Train Shed in over 100 years, it has never been fully renovated. The Train Shed is in dire need of renovation, and the MTA has a plan to repair and replace it, section-by-section, over the course of many future capital programs. Join us for this walking tour of the Grand Central Terminal Train Shed to learn more about this workhorse of a railroad yard underneath the iconic historic building we all treasure! 
 
All attendees must take an online safety training (link provided after registration) and bring the wallet card issued after the completion of the course to the tour.  
 
All attendees must also wear full PPE including hardhat, safety goggles, safety vest, work boots with a defined heel (no steel toe), and a facemask. Please let us know if you need PPE or if you have any questions.
 
TransportationCamp NYC (Main event)
Saturday, October 16 from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Register Here


TransportationCamp NYC is back and better than ever! Building on the success of the first virtual event in 2020, this year’s Camp will feature virtual unconference sessions while also hosting special outdoor events for participants to reunite after a year apart and celebrate the seventh consecutive year of Camp.
TransportationCamp is an unconference – every session is planned, proposed, and led by attendees like you. TransportationCamp NYC welcomes all attendees, whether you’re a transportation professional, planner, software developer, engineer, student or just excited about mobility! If you are in the New York City region during the period of the event, don’t miss the chance to network in-person with fellow TransportationCamp NYC attendees before and/or after the main event at the outdoor gatherings.
For the second consecutive year, TransportationCamp NYC will award one undergraduate student and one graduate student a $500 scholarship sponsored by Gold sponsors, C2SMART and VHB. Click here to apply. The deadline for all applications is October 11th, 2021!
 
YPT-I Mentoring
Register Here

Forbes recently reported that while 76% of people think mentors are important, only 37% actually have one. We would like to change those numbers.

We are thrilled to announce that YPT International has launched a mentorship program to help transportation professionals learn from other transportation professionals. We are eager to empower those with more experience to share their knowledge, skills, and professional journey. 
YPT-I will be accepting applications from interested transportation professionals. Please note that all mentees must be a YPT member but anyone in the transportation community can be a mentor. More information on the program and registration details at the link below. 


YPT-NYC MEMBER PROFILE 



Daniel Wood
MTA – New York City Transit
Manager, Ridership Modeling Development
 
I grew up on Cape Cod, Mass, where I eventually got tired of living in a completely car-dominated place, and went off to college in Philly, where I first became interested in transportation professionally. After a couple of transportation-related internships, I went to grad school for transportation at MIT, where I did research for the Hong Kong metro system as a member of MIT’s Transit Lab. After graduating, I landed a job in the data analysis and research group at New York City Transit’s planning department, where I’ve worked for the last six years analyzing bus and subway data and helping to create data-driven applications like new subway performance metrics, real-time applications for subway train dispatchers and customer communication staff, and ridership models. Outside of work, some of my favorite things are runs around Prospect Park, long walks through the city, museums, board games, and (when it’s not a pandemic) exploring cities in other countries, nerding out about the local trains and buses.
 
1. What is your favorite YPT-NYC event and why?  
 
Transportation Trivia! I love trivia in general, so a transportation-themed trivia night is right up my alley.
 
2. If you could snap your fingers and make one change to regional transportation, what would it be?
 
Remove all single-family zoning in the NYC area. Technically this isn’t transportation, but since higher density is correlated with higher transit use, this change could pave the way for increasing transit use and lower car use in the NYC region.
 
3. What sparked your passion to work in the transportation industry?  
 
I took a city planning class as an elective in college, and really liked it, especially the parts relating to planning transportation systems. I was a mechanical engineering major, but starting to doubt I’d like working in the “traditional” fields recruiting mechanical engineers—fossil fuel energy, defense, HVAC, widget manufacturers, etc. After the class, it occurred to me that transportation was a field where I could apply both my quantitative skills, and my interest in urbanism and social sciences, and generally “doing good”.
 
4. What are you working on that you’re most excited by? 
 
Right now, I am working on developing an integrated bus and subway ridership model that will be able to trace the paths of NYCT customers across the network, including their transfers between the bus and subway systems. Up until now, my group has had separate bus and subway models that don’t “talk” to each other at all.
 
5. What career advice would you give to other YPT’ers interested in your career path?
 
First, don’t be afraid to jump into the transportation world from another industry if your degree isn’t in one of the fields people typically associate with transportation—civil engineering, city planning, etc. A lot of people I know who have succeeded in this field come from “non-traditional” backgrounds. Second, don’t feel you need to commit to the public sector or private sector for your career; moving between the two is very common. Finally, if you’re aiming for work that involves a lot of data analysis and coding, having some coding knowledge is useful for getting your foot in the door, but once you’re there a bigger determinant of success is being able to research and reason your way through problems, and understand the context of the task in the overall “big picture” of the transportation system. “Muddling your way through” and “sanity checking” are really important skills!
 
6. What famous celebrity do you think should be given the opportunity to voice a NYCT Subway Announcement?
 
Bill Hader as Vincent Price.
 

RECENT YPT-NYC EVENTSMeatpacking District Walking Tour
A big thank you to Evan Sweet of the Meatpacking BID who gave a fantastic walking tour of the Meatpacking District Open Streets! After learning about the history and future planning of the open streets layout, we ended the evening with beers at the Brass Monkey!Transportation Trivia
This year’s Transportation Trivia was a success, with 16 teams competing for the grand prize! Thank you to our co-hosts APA and WTS-GNY for organizing a fun event with some challenging questions-from history to emoji pictograms! Congratulations to our victors, VHB T+R Trivia Titans (first place), ARUP Rail, Team Felt and VHB Transpotastic! (tied for second place) and PEN14 (third place)! Thank you to all our participating teams, we’ll see you at next year’s Trivia!
 

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!
Categories
newsletter

Run for the 2022 YPT-NYC Board!

Run for the 2022 YPT-NYC Board!

In October, YPT-NYC will be conducting elections for the 2022 term.


We need your talent and skills to ensure that YPT-NYC remains a thriving organization for our members for years to come! Being on the Board means you imagine and directly execute all of our activities and programming. YPT-NYC provides an exceptionally rewarding way to connect with like-minded professionals and contribute to something that you are passionate about. Also, it’s fun! Despite challenges with COVID-19 in the past year, we were still able to run a packed calendar of workshops, author talks, tours, skill shares, and happy hours! 

What exactly does being on the Board of Directors entail? 
Directors typically offer a time commitment of 3-5 hours per week. In addition to their position-specific duties, directors must participate in monthly Board of Directors meetings. The following positions will be up for election:

YPT NYC Board Positions 
(Click here for descriptions)
1. Chair 2. Deputy Chair3. Content Manager
4. Treasurer5. Professional Development Manager6. Membership Manager
7. Events and Programs Manager8. Communications Manager9. Social Media Manager
10. Partnerships Manager  

You can read more about our current YPT-NYC Board members on our website here.

How do I participate in the election?
To run for a position or vote in the election, you must be an active Member of YPT as of October 1, 2021. Check your membership status here, or join here. Membership is only $20/year and allows us to continue providing exceptional programming and events.

You also must complete a Candidate Submission Form, which includes a brief (~3 paragraph) candidate statement and select the position(s) that you would like to run for. To access the form, click this link: YPT Chapter Board Candidate Submission Form

What is the election timeline?

  • September 20, 2021 – Complete Candidate Submission Form
  • October 18, 2021 – Election ballots will be sent out by YPT International to eligible voting Members for all Chapter and International elections by 9:00 AM EDT. 
  • October 29, 2021 – Online elections close at 11:59 PM EDT. International and Chapter Board members and nominees will be notified of election results shortly thereafter.
  • November 1, 2021 – December 31, 2021 – Board Transition Period
  • January 1, 2022 – New term begins for International and Chapter Boards.
  • December 31, 2022 – 2022 Term Concludes

Note that YPT International is also holding elections for YPT-International and Regional boards. Information regarding these positions has been sent out separately. If you are interested in these positions and did not receive the information, please reach out to deputy@yptransportation.org.

If you have any further questions, please reach out to any of the current board members or email yptnyc@gmail.com!

Best,
2021 YPT-NYC Board

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

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September 2021 News and Events

WHAT’S NEXT FOR OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM?

With schools back in session in September, more commuters are going back to work in-person, and despite the on-going pandemic and new challenges brought by the delta variant, it seems as if our region’s resilience is being tested: 

  1. Will more commuters drive into the CBD, and will congestion increase along with associated air quality issues and increased commuting times? 
  2. Will the boom in bicycling continue, and will there be enough bike parking? 
  3. Will some companies continue to offer remote work options indefinitely? 
  4. Will customers return to transit? Will fares sustain service levels? Will ridership demand be met with enough service in areas with the most transit-dependency?

Share your perspective by commenting on our social media posts this week!

Rice Terraces, by Dasic Fernandez. Mural on Asphalt. 2021. Commissioned through NYCDOT Art’s Asphalt Art Activations initiative in partnership with NYCDOT Public Space and the Chinatown Partnership. This project is a State of the City commitment to bring beautifully designed public spaces to the top 33 neighborhoods across NYC hit the hardest by COVID-19, and it is located on Doyers Street between Pell Street and Bowery in Chinatown. @nyc_dotart 

UPCOMING YPT-NYC BOARD ELECTIONS

In October, YPT-NYC will be conducting elections to select our Board of Directors for the 2022 term. If you want to help YPT-NYC thrive next year, then consider running! (Or you could run for Regional or International YPT Board of Directors!) Board members typically commit 3-5 hours per week to their duties and attend monthly Board meetings. To either run for the Board or vote in the election, you must be an active member. Check your membership status here, or join here. 

Available YPT-NYC positions are listed here.
Submit an interest form to run for a Board position by Monday, September 20. 
Stay tuned for more details on YPT-NYC Board Elections in an email later this week! 

YPT-NYC SEPTEMBER EVENTS

Meatpacking District Open Streets Walking Tour 
Meet at Gansevoort Plaza at 2 9th Avenue
Thursday, September 9 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 
Register Here!

We will tour the Meatpacking District Open Street with our guide for the evening, Evan Sweet, Operations and Economic Development Manager of the Meatpacking Business Improvement District. Learn how the Meatpacking District is making space for people walking and biking and for public art on their streets. Come with questions, curiosity, and comfy footwear. After the tour we will grab some outdoor drinks in the neighborhood with your fellow YPT-NYC members! 
Mask policy: Fully vaccinated people are not required to wear a mask. However, masks may be required if we go indoors or in crowded areas. Unvaccinated people must wear a mask at all times.
Bring: mask, proof of vaccination, sunscreen, water

Outdoor Happy Hour
Meet at CultureLab LIC at the Plaxall Gallery
Thursday, September 23 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 
Register Here!

Join us for another outdoor happy hour, this time at CultureLab, where we’ll enjoy live music, great food and drinks in Long Island City! Invite your friends and coworkers! 
Mask policy: Fully vaccinated people are not required to wear a mask. However, masks may be required if we go indoors or in crowded areas. Unvaccinated people must wear a mask at all times.
Bring: mask, proof of vaccination, sunscreen, water

Virtual Transportation Trivia
Thursday, September 30 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Register Here!

Do you find yourself unable to stop showing off facts about tunnel boring machines, airline mergers, and subway dogs? Do you crave recognition for your special knowledge? Join us for New York’s 12th Annual (Virtual) Transportation Trivia event — a joint activity supported by the local American Planning Association Transportation Committee (APA), Young Professionals in Transportation NYC (YPT-NYC), and the local Women’s Transportation Seminar Young Professionals Committee (WTS-GNY). Register to participate (registration closes on September 23) and look for the Zoom Meeting link in your inbox.

YPT-I MENTORING PROGRAM
Sign up now, and program launching in October
Register Here!

Forbes recently reported that while 76% of people think mentors are important, only 37% actually have one. We would like to change those numbers. We are thrilled to announce that YPT International has launched a mentorship program to help transportation professionals learn from other transportation professionals. We are eager to empower those with more experience to share their knowledge, skills, and professional journey. YPT-I will be accepting applications from interested transportation professionals. Please note that all mentees must be a YPT member but anyone in the transportation community can be a mentor. 

YYPT-NYC MEMBER PROFILE
Diane Xiao, PE, ENV SP: Project Engineer at VHB

Diane specializes in traffic and pedestrian analysis, and she has a background in Transit Signal Priority (TSP) projects and simulation modeling. She is passionate about Complete Streets, sustainable transportation, and pedestrian- and bicyclist-oriented design.

Q&A
 
1.    What is your favorite YPT-NYC event and why?  
 
I loved the YPT-NYC/WE Bike NYC Queens Bike Tour with NYCDOT! It was educational, and I got to bike with other transportation enthusiasts, which is always a good time. It was great to meet the community members behind the Open Street efforts on both 31st and 34th Avenues.
 
2. If you could snap your fingers and make one change to regional transportation, what would it be?
 
I love biking and the city has greatly improved its bike infrastructure. However, there seems to be a lack in the feedback system for maintenance, which sometimes makes it feel unsafe to ride in the bike lane and, in those cases, I end up riding in traffic. I wish I could snap my fingers and make NYC so bike-friendly that more people prefer to bike.  
 
3. What sparked your passion to work in the transportation industry?
 
I have always been passionate about sustainability. I remember hugging a tree on Earth Day in middle school! In many ways, transportation and climate change are linked. In the United States, transportation accounts for 29% of the nation’s total CO2 emissions (15-20% globally). Transportation engineering is still very car-centric, but I hope my work contributes to making the city more multi-modal.  
 
4. What are you working on that you’re most excited by?  
 
I introduced a model to prioritize sidewalk repairs around New York City Housing developments. We were able to build out a tool in ArcGIS that automated a ranking system based on inputs that accounted for both A project I worked on recently that still excites me was Princeton University’s Washington Road Planning Study. We looked at Washington Road, which will be the main north-south connection between the new campus and the existing campus. I was part of a team that created a comprehensive pedestrian, bicycle, and cart mobility plan for this new corridor.
 
5. What career advice would you give to other YPT’ers interested in your career path?
 
Get involved and stay active in professional organizations. Talk to people about things you care about and listen to others about their passions (it helps you realize what is important to you!) 
 
6. What famous celebrity do you think should be given the opportunity to voice an NYCT Subway Announcement?
 
I would whole-heartedly pick a comedian and then let them write the announcement script! 

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

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newsletter

August 2021 News and Events

SUMMER STAYCATION MOBILITY EDITION

We are a community that enjoys the journey just as much as the destination! If you’re sticking around this month and looking for fun ways to enjoy the summer, then look no further than exciting trips in our region by bike, ferry, tram, bus, subway or commuter rail! 

And during your summer staycation, now is a great time to engage with YPT-NYC! Our events, programming, social media, and LinkedIn forums foster community, professional development, and networking. If you’re job searching, stay engaged with us because the pandemic hiring freezes are now being lifted and new job postings continue to pop up! There have been several new job opportunities shared in YPT-NYC’s LinkedIn group, and our members support each other with networking, encouragement, and advice.

Postcards Sunset, by Paul Ker. New York, NY. Instagram @Lumn8tion.  

YPT-NYC AUGUST EVENTS

YPT-NYC, WE Bike NYC, and NYCDOT Bike Tour 
Sunday, 8/15, 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.  (wheels-down at 11:30 a.m.) 
Register Here. 

For this ride, we are joined by staff from NYC DOT and volunteers from the 34th Ave Open Streets Coalition, who will guide us through the borough and showcase several of their recent projects, including the hugely successful 34th Avenue Open Street! We’ll gain insights into the implementation of bike infrastructure from conception to fruition. We’ll begin the ~5-mile ride at Queensbridge Park (find us at the south end of the park near Vernon Blvd and the Queensbridge Park Greenway) and ride through Astoria, Woodside, and finally end in Jackson Heights. After the ride, stick around for drinks and snacks at Queens Beer Factory.

Mask policy: Fully vaccinated people are not required to wear a mask while riding, however you may be required to wear a mask if we go indoors or at crowded ride stops. Unvaccinated people must wear a mask at all times.

What to bring: Your bike, helmet, mask, sunscreen, money for food/drinks, full water bottles.

Note: This is an all-gender ride open to all bicyclists of all experience levels.

Manhattan Meatpacking District Open Streets Tour 
Thursday, 8/19, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m 
Register Here. 

We will tour the Meatpacking District Open Street guided by Evan Sweet, Operations and Economic Development Manager of the Meatpacking Business Improvement District. Learn how the Meatpacking District is making space for people walking and biking and for public art on their streets. Come with questions, curiosity, and comfy footwear. Meet at 6:30 p.m. at Gansevoort Plaza (2 Ninth Avenue). After the tour we will grab some outdoor drinks in the neighborhood with your fellow YPT-NYC members! Location TBD. 

Mask policy: Fully vaccinated people are not required to wear a mask. However, masks may be required if we go indoors or in crowded areas. Unvaccinated people must wear a mask at all times.

What to bring: Mask, proof of vaccination, sunscreen, water.

Outdoor Happy Hour
Thursday, 8/26, 6:30 p.m to 8:30 p.m. 
Anchors away! Join us in West Harlem at Baylander Steel Beach for good conversations and maybe a sea shanty or two. Baylander Steel Beach is located on the deck of Baylander IX-514, which served in the Vietnam War and is now docked at West Harlem Piers on 125th Street on the Hudson River. Set sail for good vibes.

YPT-NYC MEMBER PROFILE 
Daniel Muniz, Acting Chief of Staff of the Sidewalk Program, New York City Department of Transportation

Daniel works for the New York City Department of Transportation where he has served as a Legal Consultant, Analyst, Senior Analyst, Deputy Director, and more recently as the Acting Chief of Staff for the Sidewalk Program. His current role focuses on Program Management, which includes budgeting, planning, project delivery, and, most importantly, the construction of sidewalks throughout all five boroughs of New York City. Improving New York City’s sidewalk infrastructure and making it more accessible to all pedestrians is the key driver of all his work.
 
1.    What is your favorite YPT-NYC event and why?  
 
YPT Happy Hour! Connecting with fellow transportation enthusiasts in a laid-back social setting allows everybody to network and share experiences. It’s the best way to get to know others and engage with people in the transportation field.
 
2. If you could snap your fingers and make one change to regional transportation, what would it be?
 
I am probably biased because I live in Rockland County, but being able to take a “one-seat” train ride directly into Manhattan without having to do multiple transfers would be a huge improvement. There are options available such as driving to Tarrytown or White Plains and taking Metro-North, or riding a Coach bus, but commute times aren’t the best. There is talk in Congress to change this, so I am hopeful this will come to fruition.  
 
3. What sparked your passion to work in the transportation industry?
 
The transportation industry lured me in when I started my first job as a Legal consultant assigned to the NYC Department of Transportation. I was researching trip and fall claims related to the City’s infrastructure and that’s where I first started learning about the Agency and its operations. I obtained a B.S. in International Relations and Politics, so naturally, my next step was to go to Law School. However, by the time I became an Analyst for the Sidewalk Program, my interest quickly shifted to Public Administration and Urban Planning. Understanding how our cities connect and how the movement of people influences community development was what ultimately pulled me into the transportation world.  
 
4. What are you working on that you’re most excited by?  
 
I introduced a model to prioritize sidewalk repairs around New York City Housing developments. We were able to build out a tool in ArcGIS that automated a ranking system based on inputs that accounted for both condition and demographic scores. This allowed us to factor equity more easily into the work we did. It’s been two years since we started piloting this new tool and we are looking to expand its use for other work we do. Shout out to the team of analysts and our Information Technology team for making that project a reality!
 
We are also working on a complete overhaul for all our internal databases and incorporating them all into one centralized system. Being a part of the engineering of a completely new system that will handle all our operations in a more efficient way is truly rewarding.
 
5. What career advice would you give to other YPT’ers interested in your career path?
 
Be curious and ask questions! Try to find an area that you feel most connected with and surround yourself with others that are already in the field. Networking events and socials may not be your cup of tea, but once you get out there and start making connections, it all becomes a lot easier.
 
6. What famous celebrity do you think should be given the opportunity to voice an NYCT Subway Announcement?
 
Samuel L. Jackson would be perfect.
 

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 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