Jordyn Goldson (’27)

This summer I got the chance to be a part of the policy team at Transportation for America, a subgroup of Smart Growth America. As a policy intern, I helped write key research reports and opinion pieces. For my main project, I was one of the co-leads on updating the methodology and rewriting an old signature report. For this report, we assessed the old modeling approach for assessing road conditions and expenditure practices. We then evaluated newer data with old and new approaches, also taking the time to work out how the old approach worked if the methodology was not well documented. We documented new, changing, or continuing trends from the old report.

In addition to this project I also wrote a blog post on Complete Streets in NJ to highlight some of the physical projects being done on the ground. I researched the current projects going on at the local level and talked with council members of municipalities about the on the ground work being done. I also reviewed their current and past Complete Streets policies. Other projects that I worked on included taking notes regarding congressional hearings, and doing work to help prepare for advocacy work for the upcoming 2026 Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill.

Finally, in addition to my writing projects, I also got to sit in on advocacy meetings with other coalitions and nonprofits working towards similar goals as Transportation for America. Overall, I’m so glad to have had this opportunity to explore many different aspects of the federal and local level policymaking process and learn more about the past, current, and future events in transportation policy.