An award highlighting an outstanding YPT member who is making a significant impact in the field of transportation.
PREETHI
ANBALAGAN
Preethi is an advocate for equitable transportation systems, with a special focus on inclusive community engagement. Over the past four years working in New York City as an urban planner, Preethi has made a real and lasting impact on several significant transportation projects, including the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)’s Penn Station Access Project, New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT)’s Hunts Point Improvements Project, and both the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey’s (PANYNJ) Bus Terminal Replacement Project and Cross Harbor Freight Program, as well as the respective communities they serve. Preethi is a true community relationship builder, combining her professional skills with a dedication to making a meaningful difference.
Preethi’s commitment to advancing the Transportation Community and Industry goes beyond her day-to-day work. As an active member of the American Planning Association (APA)’s Transportation Planning and Tribal & Indigenous Planning Divisions, Preethi has worked to elevate conversations around transportation and Indigenous communities—a topic that too often lacks visibility in planning discussions. Her leadership in this area shows her deep commitment to ensuring that our professional community and industry continues to build systems that are not only efficient, but inclusive and socially conscious. She also played a key role in Young Professionals in Transportation (YPT), laying the groundwork for the organization’s national conference that aimed to bring together transportation leaders across the nation to collaborate on new ideas and innovations. During her time at the PANYNJ, she’s been a driving force for diversity and inclusion as the Event Co-chair for Port Authority Pride, a voluntary, employee-led resource group. Her enthusiasm, genuine care, and leadership has had a lasting impact on the broader transportation community.
Preethi’s influence has been equally impressive at the local community level. She served as the community liaison for the MTA’s Penn Station Access and NYSDOT’s Hunts Point Interstate Access projects. In this role, she engaged with local schools, churches, and community organizations, ensuring that these projects addressed community concerns and that the voices of local residents were included in project planning. Her ability to balance the technical aspects of infrastructure with the day-to-day needs of disadvantaged communities has made a meaningful impact, particularly in ensuring that these projects promoted both mobility and broader societal equity. Her engagement efforts led to designs that addressed concerns about pollution, noise, and accessibility. Preethi’s work doesn’t stop in New York. Her efforts in her hometown of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada through the City of Hamilton’s Light Rail Transit (LRT) Office, highlight her commitment to community-centered transportation solutions. She played a vital role as a Community Connector, the City’s innovative community engagement program, in making sure the LRT project was designed with inclusivity at its core, engaging with over 40 local businesses and 200+ community residents through door-to-door canvassing. Her advocacy for accessible, and community-driven transit systems continues to leave a positive mark on both sides of the border.
Preethi Anbalagan’s contributions to the broader transportation community have been instrumental in advancing transportation projects that prioritize inclusivity and social equity. She approaches each project with vision and a heart, always keeping in mind how transportation can improve lives—whether by cutting commute times, expanding mobility for underserved communities, or making sure that the people most impacted by transportation decisions being made have a seat at the table.