Sofia Berger

The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada’s Maryland Parkway BRT project is paving the way for a stronger, more connected workforce. Backed by $150 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), this transformational investment is improving transit access to critical locations like the airport, Downtown Las Vegas, UNLV, and the Medical District – helping connect workers to their jobs and businesses to their customers. As one of 11,200 transit projects funded by the BIL, the Maryland Parkway BRT is fueling economic growth for everyday Americans. Projects like this are proof that investments in public transit drive progress and opportunity for communities across the nation. #PublicTransitImpact #BRTLasVegas #EconomicGrowth [cc: Mj Maynard Dina Titus Steven Horsford]

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Check out this article Santiago Fernandez Reyes and I wrote for Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH about a new tool to visualize transport accessibility across multiple Latin American cities. I built the prototype for this when I was at ITDP México, and I am happy to see how far the tool has come since then! Use it to visualize relative accessibility and reachable opportunities by mode and congested vs. free flow conditions. You can play around with the tool linked in the article here: https://lnkd.in/ePYRzEMx

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🚊🏬 Transit-Oriented Communities Coming to SEPTA! 🚊🏬 SEPTA, Philadelphia’s regional transit authority, is moving forward with plans to transform nearly 5 acres of surface parking lots at Ambler Station (with hourly rail service) into a vibrant, mixed-use development. This critical initiative, if executed properly, sets the stage for SEPTA to: 💵 Generate Diversified Revenues: Providing a sustainable way to address funding gaps and ensure long-term financial health for the transit system. 🏪 Enhance the Transit Experience: Customers will benefit from integrated residential, commercial, office, and recreational spaces right at the station, making transit more convenient and enjoyable. 🏬 Support Urban Activation: Transforming parking lots into lively urban communities with new restaurants, stores, offices, apartments, and public spaces, breathing new life into downtown Ambler. Almost every major transit agency in Canada and the USA now has a focus on Transit-Oriented Developments (TODs) and Transit-Oriented Communities (TOCs). These agencies have a unique capability and opportunity to shape how people move around a region and improve the quality of life in these new neighborhoods through thoughtfully designed communities, diverse retail options, inviting park spaces, and a variety of housing options. This is very exciting! TOCs have immense potential to make transit-oriented living both beautiful and attractive. #TransitOrientedDevelopment #UrbanPlanning #SustainableCities #PublicTransit #CommunityDevelopment #SEPTA #AmblerPA

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How can transit agencies measure their infrastructure for resilience, particularly in vulnerable coastal communities? Our team shares how the Envision framework from the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure can be used for a better 360-view on resilient infrastructure. https://stantec.co/499RxTh #Envision #Sustainable #Transit

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New paper: We find that ridership forecasts for major transit projects are still optimistically biased but have become more accurate over time. And we provide a way to estimate the range of expected outcomes given a forecast and a few other attributes. It was great to work with Jawad Mahmud Hoque, Ph.D., Ian Zhang and David Schmitt, AICP. https://lnkd.in/eTK9f-DQ

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“The New Future of Public Transportation - The second edition of the best seller, The New Future of Public Transportation, was published on May 1 and shortly after its release reached number one for new best sellers in the Mass Transit and Sustainable Agriculture categories on Amazon. Created by Paul Comfort, transit expert and author of multiple books, this edition features 30 contributed chapters from leading industry professionals, including Davey S. Kim, senior vice president and principal, National Transportation Policy and Multimodal Strategy at WSP, and former California Secretary of Transportation. Kim’s chapter delves into the future of transportation funding, including road usage charging, congestion pricing and tolling. He explains why transit professionals and advocates alike should pay close attention to the ongoing dialogue over the urgent need to replace the gas tax with a new revenue source. The book explores overarching topics and trends that are shaping the future of public transportation, including artificial intelligence-driven advancements, cybersecurity, zero-emission initiatives and more. Published by SAE International, The New Future of Public Transportation is now available for purchase on Amazon.com.” #newbook

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From our January report on transit accessibility: Congestion pricing "is expected to generate $15 billion...so essential to delivering the remaining station accessibility improvements to which the agency has committed. In addition to the critical resources it will provide to the MTA, CBDTP will reduce traffic blocking bus and paratransit customers, and improve air quality for New Yorkers." Essential accessibility, efficiency, and livability measures hinge on CP. https://lnkd.in/eXV35j_a

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A lot of progress has been made in creating a more diverse and equitable industry. However, there is still much work that needs to be done. In our latest podcast episode, Shawn Wilson, national agency coordination leader for transportation and infrastructure at WSP, reflects on the historic moment in which he became the first African American president in AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials)'s 107-year history. He also discusses the importance of investing in transportation infrastructure projects that create pathways to equity, his tenure at Louisiana Department Of Transportation and Development, and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's role in ensuring that our transportation system serves every American. Listen to the full episode here: https://spoti.fi/3vZJvNC #Transportation #Infrastructure #Equity #DEI #BipartisanInfrastructureLaw #WorkforceDevelopment #AASHTO #WSP #LaDOTD

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Another great podcast from InfraTalk America. Listen to Shawn Wilson explain how safety, equity, & sustainability are key pillars to an effective transportation system & our economy at large.

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Check out my latest publication on transit workforce development strategies. If you will be in Atlanta for the upcoming ASCE ICTD Conference, stop by my poster, let's chat!

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State transportation officials say the effort to restore passenger rail service between Scranton and New York City is moving full steam ahead despite remaining challenges. https://lnkd.in/gT_Y39We

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The I-4 Moving Florida Forward is a huge and important capacity improvement project designed to improve travel and economic development in Central Florida. HBC Engineering, as part of the EXP Team are looking forward to supporting FDOT with CEI Services. This modified design build project is one of the first of its kind designed to bring fast results, while maintaining the highest levels of safety. For anyone who lives or travels in Central Florida, this area of I-4 is extremely congested and the proposed construction, starting with two accelerated segments will begin bringing congestion relief to the region by the end of 2025.

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🚧 What’s Next for Transportation and Infrastructure? 🚧 As President Trump’s second term looms, his administration’s approach to infrastructure could shift priorities significantly. Expect a focus on reducing federal spending, promoting private investment, and favoring traditional projects like roads and bridges. Meanwhile, environmental initiatives like public transit and EV incentives could take a back seat. In Pennsylvania, there are opportunities to leverage federal grants, Public-Private Partnerships, and advancements in Autonomous Vehicles. But how will these changes affect the state’s infrastructure? Check out our next installment of The Bellevue Compass, written by Bellevue's Julie Platt, to read more about what’s ahead for transportation, funding, and the road to the future. 🚗💡https://lnkd.in/e_ra7cAb #Infrastructure #Transportation #PublicPrivatePartnerships #EV #AutonomousVehicles #Pennsylvania #FederalFunding #TrumpPolicy #BellevueStrategies #BellevuePublicAffairs #TheBellevueCompass

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