Toole Design Group

Next week in Austin: Nan Jiang, PhD, PE, PMP will join fellow leaders in active transportation at the 2024 Texas Trails and Active Transportation Conference. Together, they’ll explore the latest strategies for advancing bicycle, pedestrian, and other active modes across the state. We’re excited to share our experiences in using spatial analysis and custom GIS tools to enhance sustainable planning efforts in Austin and beyond. Catch Nan’s sessions on Thursday, September 5, and Friday, September 6, both 11:00 AM–12:15 PM CT. See the full #TTAT2024 schedule for session details: https://lnkd.in/gnSbk3Zp

"At Toole Design, equity is a fundamental conversation, all the time. On one of my first days, I was in a meeting where there were words being used like 'racism' and 'bigotry' and 'white supremacy' and 'equity.' And I'm like, they say the words out loud here." – Cipriana Patterson, P.E., PTOE of Operations, Mid-Atlantic Region Hear more from Cipriana in the latest episode of the ITE Talks Transportation podcast. She shares her experiences as a Black woman in this profession, the significance of HBCUs and minority-serving institutions, and the importance of representation in our industry. It's a must-listen for anyone committed to championing equity in transportation and beyond. Find the conversation here or on all podcast apps: https://lnkd.in/dgn8xE9H

As a new school year kicks off, keeping students safe on their way to school remains a top priority. We're proud to collaborate with the Safe Routes Philly program to develop a range of age-specific safety education tools that empower children to travel safely and confidently, including: 🖍️ A safety-themed Activity Book on bicycle and pedestrian safety for elementary students 🧠 Lessons that explore transportation design and historical practices for high school students 🖥️ An upcoming virtual curriculum for middle schoolers, complete with supplemental resources 🏠 Plus, tip sheets and video resources to help parents and caregivers reinforce safety skills at home Learn more about how we're supporting safer student journeys with the City of Philadelphia: https://lnkd.in/gU4iHC67

Designing inclusive transportation goes beyond infrastructure. It’s about ensuring that everyone—regardless of gender, race, ability, or identity—feels seen, safe, and welcomed on their journey. Earlier this summer, our Seattle office celebrated Pride Month by hosting local drag artist, Maya Mem Saab. In addition to sharing an amazing performance, she led a roundtable discussion with our staff about how gender equity intersects with urban planning. For example, many people who are gender non-conforming cannot afford to live near where they work... but riding (and waiting for) public transit does not feel like a safe option, especially at night. This event was a great reminder that by considering identity factors—and understanding how they intersect—we can work toward transportation networks that are comfortable and accessible for all. Discover how we’re applying the All Ages, Abilities, and Identities framework in projects across the country. ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eg3m4kzd

Congratulations to our Director of Design, Bill Schultheiss, for being recognized as the 2024 APBP Private Sector Professional of the Year! 🎉 A nationally recognized expert in bicycle and pedestrian facility design, Bill’s leadership has shaped our design practice and advanced key industry guidelines, including the forthcoming AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities. We are proud of Bill's achievements and look forward to the continued impact of his vision and dedication to creating better conditions for people walking and bicycling. Read more about the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP) award here: https://lnkd.in/gvKcpcJ5

To breathe new life into the City of Burnaby, BC's public realm, we helped create their Active Patio Program and Patio Design Guidelines. Our project team worked closely with the City to develop design guidance and regulations for outdoor street patios, with a focus on accessibility, vibrancy, and program clarity. Considerations include accessible pedestrian walkways, materials, and proper clearance from street trees and utilities. We're excited to see the people and businesses of Burnaby enjoy the benefits of safe and enjoyable outdoor seating spaces! Check out our project page for more details: https://lnkd.in/gNuyVvhD

What an inspiring time at the #APBP2024 Conference in Detroit last week! Our team came together to connect, learn, and celebrate milestones. Here are a few of our favorite moments: 📍Connecting with staff from across the country, including team members from our Columbus, LA, Raleigh, Seattle, and Silver Spring offices 🧑🦽 Diving into discussions on applying #PROWAG, fostering community involvement in active transportation, and championing equity and inclusion 🏆 Celebrating Director of Design Bill Schultheiss, who was honored as the 2024 APBP Private Sector Professional of the Year — and our 2024 summer intern Tayo Taiwo (MInstTA), who won the Ken Cross Student Poster Contest for his research on sustainable college commuting. Congratulations, Bill and Tayo! Thank you to all who participated in our sessions, visited our booth, or said hello! We're excited to keep building momentum toward creating safer, more walkable, and more bikeable communities.

Curious about the latest trends in shared micromobility? Dive into the North American Bikeshare & Scootershare Association's 2023 Shared Micromobility State of the Industry Report, a new resource our project team helped to develop. From year-over-year trends to insights on electrification, here are some of the key takeaways: 🌎 421 cities across North America have at least one bikeshare or scootershare system. 📈 Shared micromobility trips have hit an all-time high, at 172 million trips per year. 🌱 Micromobility trips offset approximately 81 million pounds (37 million kg) of CO2 emissions in 2023. ⚡ E-bikes continue to grow in popularity, with an increase of 33 million trips since 2019. For a closer look at the numbers, check out the full report: https://lnkd.in/gZ4mhstW

Mark your calendars for the next Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP) webinar, this Wednesday, August 21! Active Transportation Plan Practice Lead Adam Wood, AICP will present on what makes a street comfortable for biking. You'll also hear from local programs in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and San Francisco, California, that are developing more holistic measures of comfort to shape their bicycle networks. 🚲 Bike Comfort: Expanding our Understanding Through Data and Empathy 📅 Wednesday, August 21 ⏰ 3:00 PM ET 🔗 Register here: https://lnkd.in/gHmid8aB For a preview, read Adam's post on how redefining comfort can lead to better bike networks. 👉 https://lnkd.in/eqZtSMGA (Bonus: Adam's newest post highlights how centering identity in planning can also create more complete, comfortable, and accessible networks. Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/eg3m4kzd)

Do you understand the nuts and bolts of conventional transportation engineering, but believe an auto-centric approach is outdated? Are you looking for the opportunity to work on challenging multimodal projects that make communities more livable? Do you enjoy leading projects and building industry relationships? If so, please consider joining our Oakland team. This position is open at the: 👉 Project level (6+ years): https://lnkd.in/gNAZV5ve 👉 Senior level (10+ years): https://lnkd.in/g4wHcjTF Not the right fit? See all our open positions: https://lnkd.in/gA9phgv