Taxis and buses are among the ways to get around large cities such as New York 2 1 S T C E N T U R Y S K I L L S L I B R A R Y COOL STEM CAREERS TRANSPORTATION PLANNER CHAPTER ONE A MOVING EXPERIENCE Nathalie and her mother were visiting New York City for the first time As they walked along the
busy streets Nathalie said I’ve never seen so many cars and trucks and buses and taxis in my life Don’t forget the airplane that took us here and the sub way we’re about to get on said Nathalie’s mom And all the people walking too There are so many ways to get around the city Nathalie said Yet it doesn’t seem at all confusing That’s because the city’s system of transportation is carefully worked out replied Nathalie’s mom It takes lots of planning to move people and things from place to place That sounds like something I’d like to do said Nathalie Imagine being responsible for helping an entire city be on the move Transportation is the business of moving people and goods from place to place It involves road air rail and water travel It even includes traveling on foot Have you ever wondered for instance how many different ways there are for people to get to their jobs Some travel on a subway or a commuter railroad Some drive or carpool A few bicycle to work Others live close enough to walk Moving goods is another part of the field of transporta tion Freight is most often transported by train airplane truck or ship To transport goods efficiently a large city or
Bicycle lanes keep cyclists and drivers from getting in each other’s way 2 1 S T C E N T U R Y S K I L L S L I B R A R Y COOL STEM CAREERS TRANSPORTATION PLANNER region must have a system of railways airports roads and ports Moving people and goods in and out of cities affects the quality of people’s lives Well-organized transportation systems make it easier for people to get from place to place This makes a city more appealing to live in or visit The trained professionals who develop transportation plans and programs are called transportation planners They carefully study the transportation needs for an area This includes anything from large cities with millions of people to
During the 2010s Nat Bottigheimer was a planner at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority in Washington D C He oversaw a program that included new bus services and parking services at transit stations Why did planning interest Bottigheimer I was immediately captivated by all the things that I remembered about spending three years in England growing up I loved the buses I loved the trains I loved being on public transit and being with people And I loved the urban settings associated with transit and people LIFE CAREER SKILLS small towns and villages with only a few dozen homes Planners determine if additional transportation facilities are needed and where they should be built Planners suggest a range of transportation options They might recommend roads public transit routes or bike lanes Transportation planning is a critical part of a larger field known as city or urban planning Urban planners manage a community’s growth and change They also work to protect the environment and preserve its historic buildings and neighborhoods
