I’m happy to welcome CNT’s newest staff person, Elizabeth Irvin, who starts work with us today as our Transportation Director. Elizabeth joins us from the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), where she worked on evaluating the impacts of road and transit projects, identifying opportunities and risks of emerging transportation technologies, and advancing strategies to improve equity and sustainability in the region’s transportation system. She previously worked for Metro Boston’s Metropolitan Area Planning Council, the Union of Concerned Scientists, and the Sierra Club, and holds a master's degree from MIT.

We hired Elizabeth from among many great candidates because of her advanced analytical abilities, clear communication skills, and deep commitment to CNT’s mission. With this hire, we intend to strengthen our position as a national innovator and effective advocate in the field of environmental justice and transportation equity. To help communities thrive in the face of a changing transportation landscape, we will build on our existing array of research and resources – such as the Right Size Parking Calculator, which helps communities more realistically plan for parking needs; AllTransit, which compares transit access across the nation; and the Equitable Transit-Oriented Development (eTOD) Social Impact Calculator, which allows analysis of housing affordability near transit – and will dive deeper into the impact of disruptive transportation technologies on our cities, suburbs, and society in general. CNT will continue to advocate for transportation affordability and equity, and we will take a multidisciplinary view of transportation system impact on energy use, climate resilience, housing accessibility and cost, economic development, and similar outcomes.

We think Elizabeth is perfect for this role, and we’re thrilled to start the new year with such a great addition to our team!