This summer I was a part of the policy team at Transportation for America, a subgroup of Smart Growth America. As a policy intern, I wrote research papers, opinion pieces, policy memos, and press releases. For my main project, I was the lead author of a paper on the state of travel demand modeling practices around the nation. For this paper, we researched variations in modeling approaches across different states and metropolitan planning organizations as well as the most pressing challenges that transportation agencies and practitioners currently face. I designed and conducted a practitioner survey, interviewed experts, and worked with local advocates to identify regional examples of traffic modeling being used to support highway expansions in controversial ways.

In addition to this project I also co-wrote a white paper on policy alternatives to state gasoline taxes that currently serve as the backbone of surface transportation funding. I conducted a literature review and worked with my team to research and design an analysis framework for evaluating different policy alternatives like congestion pricing and road usage charges. Other projects that I worked on included writing opinion pieces regarding congressional initiatives and federal policies like the Future of Transportation Caucus and the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Measure proposed by the US Department of Transportation.

Finally, in addition to my writing projects, I also participated in advocacy meetings on Capitol Hill with members of Congress and their staff. One particularly exciting event that I attended was the Future of Transportation Caucus Roundtable that was held in July 2023 with Representatives Ayanna Pressley, Chuy García, and Mark Takano and transportation equity, safety, and sustainability advocates from around the nation. Overall, I’m thrilled to have had this opportunity to explore many different aspects of the federal policymaking process and learn more about the cutting edge of transportation policy.