Transportation masters programs with regional focus?

[lizaburkin]

Hi there,

I'm a bicycle advocate (currently working at a nonprofit) looking to go back to school to get a degree in transportation planning. My main interests lie in regional planning - especially improving active transportation, transit, and connectivity in suburban/rural areas. Does anyone know of any schools with that focus? I believe the biking and walking movement is reaching a tipping point in (most) major cities and is in the experienced hands of planners there - I want to learn how to grow it out to the sprawl.

Many thanks for any/all advice!

 

[lmacniven]

Hi there,

I'm a bicycle advocate (currently working at a nonprofit) looking to go back to school to get a degree in transportation planning. My main interests lie in regional planning - especially improving active transportation, transit, and connectivity in suburban/rural areas. Does anyone know of any schools with that focus? I believe the biking and walking movement is reaching a tipping point in (most) major cities and is in the experienced hands of planners there - I want to learn how to grow it out to the sprawl.

Many thanks for any/all advice!

UCLA

 

[Masswich]

There are lots of schools that could work for you. I'd choose a metro area you want to be working in after graduation and find a school near there. In that kind of field, work experience and volunteering is going to be crucial. Find a place that has organizations that work on these issues.

 

[glutton]

Most schools don't really do a good job of regional planning per se (at least not through a designated concentration, and even then it's usually more economic development oriented, not transportation focused).

I would advise learning as much as you can in school about the technical and policy side of transportation planning, and then doing your internship at a regional planning agency/MPO, like CMAP (northeastern IL) or a nonprofit like the Active Transportation Alliance in Chicago. The former has a great graduate summer internship called the Phillip D. Peters Fellowship specifically geared towards people with an interest in regional planning.

 

[wuying1990]

I have same interest with you.. Good luck.

 

[glutton]

Intern at an MPO or COG (regional planning agency) that is doing active transportation/bike/ped work. You'll learn a lot and gain some great experience with regional/suburban bike network stuff. I would highly recommend applying for the Peters Fellowship at the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning between your first and second year of grad school!