Check out more past event photos on our Facebook page.

On Thursday, March 21st, please join YPT Boston as we host Dr. Alexander Epstein, PhD, and Jonah Chiarenza, AICP, from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Volpe Center for our March Lunch & Learn event: Redesigning Large Vehicles in Urban Environments to Improve Roadway Safety.

Large vehicles—including fire trucks, waste management vehicles, and freight trucks—count for a disproportionate, and growing, number of fatalities on U.S. streets. Despite making up only 4% of the U.S. vehicle fleet, in 2016 large trucks accounted for 6% of all pedestrian, 10% of all bicyclist, and 12% of vehicle occupant fatalities in the U.S. Over the past year, even as overall traffic fatalities slightly declined, fatalities involving large trucks increased 9%.

In December 2018, the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) released Optimizing Large Vehicles for Urban Environments, a pair of in-depth reports that detail the effects of vehicle design on street safety, and the opportunities that public agencies—as significant purchasers of large vehicles—have to reduce traffic fatalities with improved vehicle design.

The March Lunch & Learn will feature a presentation on the subject, followed by Q&A with Dr. Alexander Epstein, PhD, and Jonah Chiarenza, AICP, from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Volpe Center.

Not a YPT member? You can now use Venmo to purchase a $20 annual membership.

Lunch will be served.

Who:  Anyone in a transportation-related field

When: Thursday, March 21st, 2018 |12:00PM – 1:00PM

Where: MAPC (3rd Floor Conference Room) | 60 Temple Place, Boston

Please login or create an account to register for this event.

CAN’T MAKE IT TO MAPC FOR LUNCH?

CALL IN TO LISTEN AND VIEW THE PRESENTATION USING WEBEX!

Phone:

+1-415-655-0002 US Toll
Access code: 734 543 067

View the PowerPoint:

https://mapc.webex.com/mapc/j.php?MTID=m7c962f55054a6aa4c40ebb4d5920a239

More Information!? Click here.

YPT BOSTON’S 1ST STREETLIGHT SPOTLIGHT LUNCH & LEARN: TELLING THE STORY OF TRAFFIC IN UNION SQUARE

On Tuesday, February 12th, please join YPT Boston for our first StreetLight Spotlight Lunch & Learn event. Preston Buehrer from Toole Design will be presenting StreetLight Data: Telling the Story of Traffic in Union Square. The Union Square Neighborhood Plan seeks to guide growth in Union Square over the next 20-30 years, and specifically calls for “eliminat[ing] the car-centric planning of the last century.” This presentation will focus on how Big Data was used to tell the story of existing traffic in Union Square and inform traffic analysis for a 21st century transportation project.

NEW YEAR, NEW IDEAS: SHARED MOBILITY

Join YPT Boston for our second annual New Year, New Ideas panel series where we will explore recent innovations in Shared Mobility, including bikes, scooters, car sharing, ridesharing, and so much more! During this discussion, we’ll explore the future of Shared Mobility and what it means for local governments, street design, and, importantly, you.  This event will be moderated by Dante Ramos of the Boston Globe and feature a distinguished group of panelists:

• Jay Monty, Transportation Planner at the City of Everett
• Steve Gehrke, Senior Research Analyst at MAPC
• Sarah Leung, Architectural Access Project Coordinator, Boston Mayor’s Commission for Persons with Disabilities
• Mark Chase, Founder/Project Manager at Neighborways Design, Adjunct Professor in Urban Transportation Planning, Tufts University

**Please take notice of the new start time of 5:30 P.M.**

Dinner will be served at this Members Only event.  Not a member and want to join?  Sign up now for just $20/year to learn about Shared Mobility from local experts, attend many other members-only events, and take advantage of the best-value industry membership in Boston!

YPT BOSTON’S JANUARY 2019 NETWORKING HAPPY HOUR

YPT Boston is kicking off its 2019 Thursday Happy Hour series with a networking event on January 10th. You bring your business cards, we’ll provide the name tags and appetizers. And because you’ll have them with you, YPT Boston members can enter their business cards into our raffle for $25 toDemocracy Brewing!

Democracy Brewing is a new (as of summer 2018) brewery in DTX, so it’s a quick walk from all transit lines (convenient when trekking through January weather). Come sample local beer, enjoy free appetizers, and learn about the transportation work being done by Boston area young professionals. We’ll have plenty of YPT signage – You won’t be able to miss us!

UGLY SWEATER HOLIDAY HAPPY HOUR

Come mingle with your fellow transportation professionals at YPT Boston’s second annual holiday party. Wear your ugliest sweater – Special props if yours is transportation themed! 

Join YPT Boston for our Ugly Sweater Holiday Happy Hour on Thursday, December 20th. YPT Boston will be at 6B Lounge wearing holiday sweaters and ordering appetizers from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Feel free to bring coworkers and friends to this monthly happy hour series.

YPT BOSTON’S DECEMBER LUNCH & LEARN: AFC 2.0

On Wednesday, December 5th, please join YPT Boston for our December Lunch & Learn event. Anthony Thomas, Community Outreach Specialist at the MBTA, will be hosting the AFC 2.0: Next Generation Automated Fare Collection YPT Lunch & Learn to discuss the MBTA’s new fare collection system that is currently being developed. The system will make paying for transit easier, greatly expand access to the system, and speed up buses and trolleys around the service area. The Lunch & Learn will focus on the details of the new project, and how the MBTA is conducting outreach to build a system that works for its users.

YPT BOSTON’S 2018 TRANSPORTATION TRIVIA NIGHT!

Test your transportation knowledge at our annual Transportation Trivia Night! YPT Boston is teaming up with the New England Institute for Transportation Engineers (NEITE) for a night of trivia at Causeway Restaurant & Bar. Trivia will start at 6:30PM, so plan to arrive a little early to get settled at your table.

YPT BOSTON’S 2018 CHAPTER AWARDS DINNER

Join us to celebrate the award winners for the 2018 YPT Boston Chapter Awards! The awards dinner will be held at The NonProfit Center in the West Room on Thursday, November 8th from 6:30-8:00 P.M.

Congratulations to our award winners!

Transportation Project of the Year: Sarah Kurpiel & Andrew McFarland for the Roslindale Bus Pilot

Excellence in Innovation/Research of the Year: Eric Ohanion for the Stevens Street Bridge

Community Spirit Award: Casey-Marie Claude for Improving Bicycle/Pedestrian Environments, Big Sister, YPT Programs Chair

POST-CONFERENCE MOVING TOGETHER HAPPY HOUR HOSTED BY YPT BOSTON

Young professionals and students in transportation are invited to join attendees of the Moving Together Conference for a Happy Hour hosted by YPT Boston. We’ll be right beside the Boston Park Plaza Hotel conference venue, at M.J. O’Connor’s. Network and enjoy casual conversation over appetizers with Massachusetts transportation professionals and learn about the work being done in the transportation field in our region. Don’t forget to bring your business cards!

YPT BOSTON’S OCTOBER LUNCH & LEARN: FOCUS40

On Tuesday, October 2nd, please join YPT Boston for our October Lunch & Learn event. Jennifer Slesinger, MassDOT Project Manager in the Office of Transportation Planning, will discuss Focus40: the long range plan for the MBTA. She will provide an overview of the planning process, highlights from the plan, and next steps.

YPT BOSTON’S SEPTEMBER THIRD THURSDAY HAPPY HOUR

Join young professionals and students in transportation for the first YPT Boston Third Thursday Happy Hour of the 2018-2019 academic year! We’ll be at one of Boston’s favorite local bar & restaurant chains, Tavern in the Square | North Station. Enjoy casual conversation with coworkers over appetizers and learn about the transportation work being done by Boston area young professionals. Don’t forget to bring your business cards!

LOGAN AIRPORT CONTROL TOWER

Join YPT Boston on a technical tour of the Logan Airport control tower! See the ins and outs of operations at the tower, and watch how controllers do what they do best – Keep you safe on the ground and in the air.

The tour will take place on Thursday, September 20th at Boston Logan Aiport at 10:00 A.M. Please arrive at Logan by 9:30 A.M. to ensure a timely start. This is a member’s only event.

• All attendees must be US Citizens and must have a valid Government–issued ID (Driver’s license, military ID, and passport are all okay. Your company badge, unless you work for a federal agency, is not an acceptable form of ID).
• Please do not bring backpacks, attaché cases or large bags. A small purse or binder/notepad, etc. is fine.

We will meet at the ticket counter level of Terminal C near the food court at 10:00 A.M. The average duration of the tour is 1 -1.5 hours.

YPT BOSTON’S SEPTEMBER LUNCH & LEARN: HARRISON|ALBANY PLAN

On Tuesday, September 11th, please join YPT Boston for our September Lunch & Learn event. Jim Fitzgerald and Marie Mercurio of the Boston Planning and Development Agency will discuss the Harrison/Albany Plan, a City of Boston land use and transportation plan for a part of the South End. This plan provided the transportation framework for development projects in the study area, including Ink Block, the Troy, and the impending Exchange South End.

YPT BOSTON BEERS WITH THE BOARD

Join us for a networking event to meet and mingle with current YPT Board members and other YPT members and friends! The event will be held at JJ Foley’s Bar & Grille at Downtown Crossing. Light appetizers will be provided. Come chat with us about past YPT events and bring your ideas for future events!

YPT BOSTON’S 4TH ANNUAL YPT ON THE T PUB CRAWL

Join YPT Boston on Saturday, August 25th as we crawl our way through bars along Boston’s Red Line.

Join YPT Boston on Saturday, August 25th as we crawl our way through Red Line bars south of DTX! The crawl will begin at Savin Bar and Kitchen right at Savin Hill Station at 2:00 p.m. and our last stop will be the Trillium Garden on the Greenway at 5:00 p.m. by South Station. In between, we’ll stop at Coppersmith near Broadway Station at 3:30 p.m.

We hope you can make it for one or all of the stops! This event is a perfect excuse to use public transportation to visit some Red Line stops and bars you might not have visited yet… Or to go back to some favorites!

Distinguished Speaker: Ruth Bonsignore

June 14th, 6:00-8:00 PM — Wyndham Boston Hotel Beacon Ballroom

Join YPT Boston to welcome Ruth Bonsignore as our 2018 Distinguished Speaker.

Ruth has 35 years of professional consulting experience in transportation planning and design, systems analyses and operations, and policy for federal, state and regional public agencies and private sector clients. Ruth recently founded Flink Consulting and serves the Commonwealth as a member of the MassDOT Board of Directors. She previously served as Senior Vice President and Transportation Practice Area Leader at VHB. Ruth earned her B.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from UMass-Amherst and her Master’s in Transportation from MIT.

The event will be held Thursday, June 14 from 6:00-8:00 PM at the Wyndham Boston Beacon Hill. Dinner will be served. This event is co-sponsored by MAITE and YPT International!

This event is free for all YPT and MAITE members! Not a YPT Member? Join here. It’s just $20/year!

YPT BOSTON SOUTH STATION TECH TOUR

Join YPT Boston on Tuesday, June 26th for this Members Only tech tour of South Station! We will be led by a representative from MassDOT who will discuss the South Station Expansion Project and a representative from Keolis who will discuss rail operations and lead a tour of the Central Dispatch Center.

Event Details:

• 11:45 – Meet at the Information Booth inside South Station.
• 12:00 – Tour the South Station CTEC – the central train dispatch center
• 12:30 – Tour/Explanation of South Station Expansion
• 1:00 – Lunch at Food Trucks by South Station (Optional and Pay Your Own Way)

This event is Members Only and is limited to 20 participants due to crowding issues in the CTEC facility.

Not a YPT Member? Join us here. It’s only $20/year! You can also now use Venmo to purchase a $20 annual membership.

Who:  YPT Boston members

When: Tuesday, June 26th, 2018 |11:45 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.

Where: Amtrak Information Booth (inside South Station) | 700 Atlantic Ave, Boston

April Friday Happy Hour: Transportation Week!

April 16th – April 21st is YPT Boston Transportation Week!

With Marathon Monday on the 16th, the YPT Boston April Lunch & Learn on Transportation Equity on the 18th, and Transportation Camp on the 21st, the middle of April is all about transportation.

Happy Hour on Friday, April 20th

Join young professionals and students in transportation at Kinsale Irish Pub for a special Friday happy hour on the eve of Transportation Camp! Enjoy casual conversation with coworkers over appetizers and learn about the transportation work being done by Boston area young professionals. Don’t forget to bring your business cards!

Not a YPT member? You can now use Venmo to purchase a $20 annual membership.

Appetizers will be provided by YPT Boston and a cash bar will be available.

Who:  Anyone in a transportation-related field

When: Friday, April 20th, 2018 | 6:00PM – 8:00PM

Where: Kinsale Irish Pub | 2 Center Plaza, Boston

Lunch & Learn: Transportation Equity

On Wednesday, April 18th, please join YPT Boston for our April Lunch & Learn event on Transportation Equity. Natalia Urtubey, Director of Imagine Boston 2030, will discuss the City of Boston’s efforts to promote economic advancement, anti-displacement efforts, and enhanced mobility through improvements to the City’s transportation network. The discussion will focus specifically on two transportation priorities that Imagine Boston is advancing to promote equity: enhancing the Fairmount Line and improving Columbia Road.

Not a YPT member? You can now use Venmo to purchase a $20 annual membership.

Lunch will be served.

Who:  Anyone in a transportation-related field

When: Wednesday, April 18th, 2018 |12:00PM – 1:00PM

Where: MAPC (3rd Floor Conference Room) | 60 Temple Place, Boston

Candlepin Bowling

Please join YPT Boston and your fellow transportation enthusiasts on March 30th for a fun night of candlepin bowling! Central Park Lanes in East Boston hasn’t changed much over the years, and we’re glad that it hasn’t. It offers traditional New England-style candlepin bowling and lets customers bring their own food and beverages.  YPT will take care of the lanes and food, so just bring some drinks and you are all set for a great night with friends!

We’ll be bowling on Friday, March 30th from 6-8pm. Central Park Lanes is about a 10 minute walk or a short bus ride from the Maverick Station on the Blue Line. YPT will provide pizza, but you are welcome to bring other food, as well. Be sure to BYOB!

Don’t want to bowl? No problem – we’d still love for you to come and hang out (scoring is all by hand, so we may need some extra help)!

Not a YPT member? You can now use Venmo to purchase a $20 annual membership.

Who:  Anyone in a transportation-related field

When: Friday, March 30, 2018 6:00PM – 8:00PM

Where: Central Park Lanes | 10 Saratoga Street, East Boston

March Third Thursday Happy Hour

Join young professionals and students in transportation for an early St. Patrick’s Day celebration! We’ll be at one of Boston’s favorite Irish pubs, JJ Foley’s Bar & Grille. Enjoy casual conversation with coworkers over appetizers and learn about the transportation work being done by Boston area young professionals. Don’t forget to bring your business cards!

Not a YPT member? You can now use Venmo to purchase a $20 annual membership.

Appetizers will be provided by YPT Boston and a cash bar will be available.

Who:  Anyone in a transportation-related field

When: Thursday, March 15, 2018 6:00PM – 8:00PM

Where: JJ Foley’s Bar & Grille | 21 Kingston Street, Boston

Lunch & Learn: MASSBudget

When: Thursday, February 22, 2018 12:00 PM

Where: MAPC, 60 Temple Place, Boston, MA 02111

REGISTER HERE

February YPT Boston Lunch+Learn

When: Thursday, February 22, 2018, 12pm – 1pm
Where:Where60 Temple Pl, Boston, MA 02111

Phineas Baxandall, a Senior Policy Analyst at the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, will lead a discussion on funding of the MBTA. MassBudget recently released a report on the shortcoming of the dedicated portion of the sales tax as the chief revenue source to fund MBTA operations, with the revenue having fallen consistently short of original projections. Phineas will review how funding of the MBTA works, highlight shortcomings of the current system, and discuss potential opportunities for reform. Lunch will be served.

February Third Thursday Ice Skating Happy Hour

When: Thursday, February 15, 2018
Where: 6B Lounge, Boston, MA

YPT Boston is celebrating the city’s coldest season by braving the elements on the Frong Pond in the Boston Common before warming up at 6B Lounge on February 15th. You rent the skates and we’ll order the appetizers. Ice skating will start at 5:30 p.m., but you can meet YPT Board members at 6B Lounge starting at 6 p.m. We’ll be at high tops with plenty of YPT signage at the back of the bar. You won’t be able to miss us!

January Third Thursday Happy Hour

When: Thursday, January 18, 2018
Where: Meadhall, Cambridge, MA

YPT Boston is kicking off its 2018 Thursday Happy Hour series with a networking event on January 18th. You bring your business cards, we’ll provide the name tags and appetizers. And because you’ll have them with you, enter one of your business cards into our raffle for $25 to Meadhall!

We’ll be venturing across the Charles to Meadhall in Kendall Square, right around the corner from the Red Line stop. Find us on the main floor with plenty of YPT signage. You won’t be able to miss us!

New Year, New Ideas – Driverless Boston: How AVs Will Transform the City

When: Wednesday, January 24, 2018
Where: NonProfit Center, Boston MA

Ugly Sweater Holiday Happy Hour

When: Thursday, December 14, 2017
Where: Meadhall, Cambridge, MA

December Lunch&Learn: Massachusetts Freight Plan

When: Tuesday, December 5, 2017
Where: MAPC, 60 Temple Place, Boston

On Tuesday, December 5th, please join YPT Boston for our December Lunch & Learn event with Gabe Sherman from MassDOT’s Office of Transportation Planning for a discussion on the Massachusetts Freight Plan.

The Freight Plan envisions how the state’s transportation system will continue to facilitate economic development and foster competitiveness over the long-term.  Gabe will review the outreach process for uncovering challenges and opportunities associated with the freight network, detail the scenario-based analysis on projecting future needs, and discuss particular areas of focus for the state moving forward.

YPT Boston Award Winners

Congratulations to the first ever YPT Boston Award recipients! These awards seek to recognize the enormous contribution made by young professionals in the Boston transportation field. They include Project of the Year, Research/Innovation, and Community Spirit in the transportation field.

Join us for an awards dinner to celebrate the winners and their contributions at The Brahmin in Back Bay on Wednesday, October 11 from 6:00-8:00 PM.

Please RSVP here if you are able to attend.

Congratualtions to the winners of the first ever YPT Boston Awards. An awards dinner will be held at Brahmin in Back Bay on Wednesday, October 11, 2017 from 6:00-8:00 PM with more information to come.

Project of the Year – Maeve Ragusin (VHB) – Maeve worked on the MBTA Commuter Rail Schedules Initiative (CRSI) in from July 2015 to May 2016. CRSI was initiated by the MBTA to improve daily commuter on time performance, increase overall rush hour options for passengers, and implement comprehensive reform to the operations. Maeve’s transformative computer model of the commuter rail system enabled a comprehensive rewrite of the system schedules that improved on-time performance and increased peak-period service.

Research/Innovation of the Year – Joseph Zissman (Cambridge Systematics) – Joseph worked on a team that produced the Vizguide website, a website intended as a reference point for all transportation practitioners looking to make their data more aesthetically effective and accessible. The project specifically sought to provide visualization guidance to small transportation agencies who might not have a budget for large graphic arts operations. Subsequently, the research has been presented at AMPO, TRB, and AASHTO conferences and TransPlex, Florida’s statewide transportation planning conference. The project has received positive reviews from transportation officials as a means of enabling effective communications to transportation users.

Community Spirit Award – David Baumgartner – (Cambridge Systematics) – David has led the YPT Boston Chapter for the past two years and spent five years on the YPT Boston Chapter Board. During this time, his tireless efforts have advanced the Young Professionals in Transportation Boston Chapter and transformed it into the dynamic organization it is today. David has contributed considerable time and effort over the years in advancing the vision of YPT to young transportation professionals around the Boston area.  During this time YPT grew from a fledgling organization to one with over 100 members which holds multiple events for its members each month.

Save the Date: 

Moving Together Networking Happy Hour – September 28th

Learn more about the conference here.

Night Bus Lunch&Learn

When: Tuesday, October 3rd 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Where: MAPC, 60 Temple Place, Boston

Please join YPT Boston for our next Lunch and Learn on the extension of the MBTA’s early morning bus service presented by Jon Lee from BPDA. On Monday August 14th, the MBTA’s Fiscal Management Control Board (FMCB) approved a pilot proposal extending early morning bus service in Greater Boston. The goal of the pilot proposal is to meet the transit needs of the overnight workforce in the region, as those currently traveling between the hours of 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. have limited affordable transportation options. The Sponsors (cities of Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, and advocacy group TransitMatters) designed the pilot proposal to provide bus transit service when and where there is the greatest demand.

RSVP

October First Thursday Happy Hour

When: Tuesday, October 5th 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Where: Howl at the Moon, 184 High Street, Boston

Join YPT Boston for its October First Thursday Happy Hour on October 5th for drinks, food, and networking. YPT Boston will be at Howl at the Moon for casual conversation and appetizers. Feel free to bring co-workers and friends to this monthly happy hour series that is being held throughout 2017 on the first Thursday of every month.

YPT Boston Chapter Awards

YPT Boston is hosting their first ever YPT Boston Chapter Awards to recognize young professionals exceling within the transportation industry! Only YPT members are eligible to apply for an award. If you are not currently a member and wish to apply, please sign up for $20 at https://my.yptransportation.org/join. Members may nominate others or self-nominate.

TIMELINE
Nominations due Friday September 15, 2017, 5:00 PM
Winners will be announced Wednesday, September 20, 2017
Awards dinner will be held at Brahmin in Back Bay on Wednesday, October 11, 2017 from 6:00-8:00 PM

AWARD CATEGORIES
Young Professionals Transportation Project of the Year – An award for a project that had/is having a significant impact and where young professional(s) played a significant role. Projects will be evaluated by their impact for the transportation industry or local transportation system and the roles that young professionals played in them. All project types are eligible from studies and designs that are being implemented to finished products already being used.

Young Professionals Excellence in Innovation/Research of the Year – An award that will go to a product, paper, invention, etc. in the transportation industry where young professionals played a significant role. This will be judged based on what the innovation/research is and what role young professionals played. All types of innovations and research are eligible.

Young Professionals Community Spirit – An award that will go to a young professional that has had a major impact in a community they serve in. This will be an award for an individual whose efforts contributed to a positive change that serves to enhance transportation equity, environmental stewardship, public engagement, economic competitiveness, or other important enhancements that benefit the people of their community.

PRIZE – A certificate recognizing this  achievement and a $50 Gift Card to a local restaurant.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply for an award, submit your application to Matt Moran. All applications are due by 5:00 PM Eastern Time on September 15, 2017. Applicants are allowed to submit additional materials (such as project samples) as attachments to their application forms. Please send any attachments as a single packet in pdf form. If you wish to submit applications for both categories, please submit separate forms for each category. Applications can be submitted by an individual or by a team. To be eligible, submissions have to relate to work performed or finished in the last three years.

2017 YPT AWARD APPLICATION

1. What category are you applying for?

• Boston Chapter Transportation Project of the Year
• Boston Chapter Excellence in Innovation/Research of the Year
• Boston Chapter Community Spirit

2. General Information:

3. Description of project/innovation/research (maximum of 1000 words)

4. Description of the outcomes or impacts for the transportation industry or local transportation system(s) from the project/innovation/research (maximum of 250 words)

5. Description of the roles and contributions of young professionals (does not have to be just YPT members) to the project/innovation/research (maximum of 250 words)

6. Additional information for consideration (maximum of 250 words)

7. Please list and describe all attachments

First Thursday Happy Hour

Note: The time for this event has been changed to 5:00 PM.

Join YPT Boston for a special First Thursday Happy Hour on September 7th for drinks, food, and networking with MassDOT’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, Peter Sutton. Learn about the Moving Together Conference that will be happening here in Boston on Thursday, September 28th and find out what it means to be Massachusetts’ Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator. YPT Boston will be at Abby Lane for casual conversation and appetizers. Feel free to bring co-workers and friends to this monthly happy hour series that is being held throughout 2017 on the first Thursday of every month.

Register Here

Beers with the Board

WHEN: Wednesday August 23, 2017 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

WHERE: Precinct Kitchen + Bar | 154 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116

RSVP

Join the YPT Board for a drink and evening of networking where you can meet and mingle with current the YPT Board, YPT Boston members, and friends! Come chat with us about past YPT evens and bring your ideas for future events.

The YPT Boston board is made up of nine young professionals working in different areas of the transportation field, including both public and private sector, and all of us would love to get to know our friends and members better. If you’re new to YPT and looking to get involved or you’re thinking about running for a YPT board position yourself, this informal even is a perfect opportunity to get started.

YPT Boston Board Meeting: You’re Invited

WHEN: Tuesday August 15, 2017 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM

WHERE: BPDA, Boston City Hall | 1 City Hall Square, Boston, MA 02201

Have an idea for a YPT Boston event? Interested in learning more about how YPT Boston operates? Thinking about getting more involved? Join the YPT Boston Board at its meeting August 15 at the Boston Planning & Development Agency in City Hall to learn from the Board and to share your ideas!

Snacks will be provided at the meeting. Join some Board members after the meeting for casual drinks nearby as well.

Please RSVP to yptboston@gmail.com if you plan to attend the meeting.

YPT on the T Pub Crawl

Join YPT Boston on Saturday, July 29th as we crawl our way through bars on the Orange Line! The crawl will begin at Eugene O’Neill’s near Forest Hills Station at 2:00 p.m. and end at 6:00 p.m. at Clarke’s by State.

Above is the schedule of bars for the day. We hope you can make it for one or all of the stops! We’ll be giving out YPT Boston baseball hats to members, so mark your calendars. This event is a perfect excuse to use public transportation to visit some Orange Line stops and bars you might not have visited yet (or to go back to some favorites).

For a map and directions to each bar, click here!

If you’re not sure of your membership status, please go to “Join YPT” and login to your account to find that information.

Please drink responsibly.

When: Saturday July 29, 2017 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Where: Eugene O’Neills | 3700 Washington Street, Jamaica Plain, 02130

RSVP

Everett Transit Action Plan – Evening Panel

Please join us for a panel discussion on the Everett Transit Action Plan with MassDOT Project Manager, Jennifer Slesinger, City of Everett transportation planner, Jay Monty, and Nelson\Nygaard study team lead Dan Berez.  There will be a brief presentation detailing the project effort, covering inter-agency coordination, outreach strategies, alternative concepts, recommendations, and implementation.  The introduction of an inbound bus-only lane on Broadway during the morning peak hour, recommended in the study, has been hailed as a cost-effective, innovative solution to decreasing travel times among bus passengers.

A panel discussion will follow, with Jennifer, Jay, and Dan fielding questions from the audience.  We hope you’ll come prepared to discuss ongoing efforts to best serve transit-dependent communities such as Everett, find low-cost improvements to improve transportation services in the region, and explore the client/consultant relationship from the perspective of young professionals serving in lead roles.  Following the event a social hour will convene at a nearby bar.

When: Wednesday July 19, 2017 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Where: Non-Profit Center  | 89 South Street, Boston, MA 02111

RSVP

June 1, 2017 |First Thursday Happy Hour

Join YPT Boston for its June First Thursday Happy Hour on June 1st for drinks, food, and networking. YPT Boston will be at Sterling’s in Downtown Boston for casual conversation and appetizers. Feel free to bring co-workers and friends to this monthly happy hour series that is being held throughout 2017 on the first Thursday of every month.

Sterling’s is located at 60 State Street, beside Faneuil Hall. Sterling’s is near several T stations: 0.3-miles from Downtown Crossing (Red and Orange Lines), 0.2-miles from Government Center (Green and Blue Lines), and feet away from State (Orange and Blue Lines).

When: Thursday June 1, 2017 5:30PM – 7:30PM

Where: Sterling’s | 60 State Street, Boston

June 8, 2017 |South Station Bus Tour

Greyhound would like to invite you for a behind the scenes tour of Boston’s South Station. Plan to meet at the Greyhound counter at South Station at 10:15 AM on the 8^th June. Following this one of Greyhounds Customer Experience Managers will then provide some introductory remarks and then start the tour of Greyhounds operational center and show how the Greyhound piece fits into the larger picture of Boston’s South Station Terminal. Lunch will then be provided, courtesy of Greyhound.

Please note that due to the nature of this tour the event will be capped at 20 people.

When:  Thursday June 8, 2017 10:15 AM – 12:30 PM

Where: South Station Greyhound Ticket Counter | 700 Atlantic Avenue, Boston

June 14, 2017 |YPT Boston Distinguished Speaker Event

Join YPT Boston as we welcome Boston’s Chief of Streets Chris Osgood, Boston Transportation Department (BTD) Commissioner Gina Fiandanca, and BTD’s Director of Planning Vineet Gupta. All three were instrumental in the development and execution of Go Boston 2030.

Go Boston 2030 is a bold initiative to improve Boston’s transportation future for the next 5, 10, and 15 years. The initiative sets in place plans and policies that will seek to improve transit, biking, and pedestrian realms while reducing single-occupancy-vehicle usage and preparing the City’s infrastructure for climate change. Relying on substantial community input, the initiative was developed over two years and strives to enhance equity, climate responsiveness, and economic opportunity in the City. This event is eligible for 1.0 CM credits for AICP certified planners.

This event is made possible through the members and sponsors of YPT-Boston, along with our event co-sponsors: the NEITE Emerging Professionals Group and MA-ITE.

About the Speakers:

Chris Osgood is Boston’s Chief of the Streets, Transportation & Sanitation. In 2010 Chris co-founded the Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics, “a nationally replicated civic innovation group that experiments with new ways of using data, design and technology to improve the constituent experience.” Chris has worked for the City since 2006, which has included roles as a Mayoral Policy Advisor.

Gina Fiandanca is the Commissioner of the Boston Transportation Department. Gina has worked at BTD since 1990, including as Parking Clerk from 2006-2014. Gina has worked on innovative policies and plans during her tenure at BTD. For example, she worked closely with the Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics to launch the ParkBoston app, which allowed users to pay for parking through smartphones.

Vineet Gupta is the Director of Planning at the Boston Transportation Department. Vineet has served in this role since 1998 and during this time worked to establish Boston’s Complete Streets program, launched the City’s innovative Mobility microHUBs program, and developed the City’s Green Links program. Additionally, he has led programs that have designed “Boston’s first transit priority bus line; formalize pollution-reducing parking policies; help jump-start Boston’s bicycle program; and establish an electric vehicle charging program.”

When: Wednesday June 14, 2017 6:00PM – 8:00PM

Where: Wyndham Boston Hotel, Beacon Ballroom | 5 Blossom Street, Boston

Cost: Free for members – Only $20 to sign up for an annual membership!

May 13, 2017 |Transportation Book Club

Spring is here and the book for the spring book club read Driverless: Intelligent Cars and the Road Ahead by Hod Lipson and Melba Kurman. This book provides an exciting overview of the technologies that enable driverless cars and the potential impact they will have on our society. Book club met on Saturday May 13th at 12:00 PM for snacks, drinks, and discussion!

Driverless: Intelligent Cars and the Road Ahead from the Publisher

In the year 2014, Google fired a shot heard all the way to Detroit. Google’s newest driverless car had no steering wheel and no brakes. The message was clear: cars of the future will be born fully autonomous, with no human driver needed. In the coming decade, self-driving cars will hit the streets, rearranging established industries and reshaping cities, giving us new choices in where we live and how we work and play.

May 4, 2017|May First Thursday: Bowling!

YPT Boston and fellow transportation enthusiasts met up on May 4th for a fun night of candlepin bowling! Central Park Lanes in East Boston hasn’t changed much over the years, and we are glad that it hasn’t. It offers traditional New England-style candlepin bowling and is bring-your-own food and beverages.

When: Thursday May 4, 2017 6:00PM – 8:00PM

Where: Central Park Lanes | 10 Saratoga Street, Boston, MA 02128

May 3, 2017 |Lunch & Learn – Mass Ave: The Battle for a Complete Street in East Arlington

We welcomed Phil Goff, who highlighted key moments of the six year campaign to plan and implement the redesign of Mass Ave in East Arlington. Phil focused on the work of East Arlington Livable Streets Coalition who successfully fought for a road diet and the resulting bike/ped improvements in the face of a well funded opposition group. His talk provided key lessons for planners and advocates wanting to make their neighborhoods and communities more walkable and bikable.

Phil Goff is a transportation planner and urban designer with nearly 20 years of experience. He is the New England Planning Leader for Portland OR-based Alta Planning + Design, who specialize in Complete Streets, bicycle planning and greenways. He is also the founder and co-chair of East Arlington Livable Streets Coalition.

When: Wednesday May 3, 2017 12:00PM – 1:00PM

Where: MAPC | 60 Temple Place, Boston

April 11, 2017 | Mentoring

Come be a mentor or a mentee for a fellow young professional in YPT Boston’s first mentorship program. The mentorship program aims to advance professional development and relationships amongst college students, grad students, and young professionals in the transportation industry in the Boston area.

The program was commenced with a “speed dating” style networking event where attendees conversed with multiple potential mentors/mentees to find their match. Pairs who attend YPT events together throughout the year will earn points that will make them eligible to win raffle prizes at the end of the year.

The program was be available to members only.

Who:  Mentees = 0-3 years experience |  Mentors = 3+ years experience

When: Tuesday April 11, 2017 6:00PM – 8:00PM

Where: Market | 21 Broad Street, Boston

For more information on the goals and organization of the mentorship program, download the program outline.

Can’t make the kick-off event? Fill out an application and email it back to yptboston@gmail.com by March 17, 2017 so that we can find you a match!

April 6, 2017 | First Thursdays

YPT’s April First Thursday Happy Hour took place at Brooklyn Boulders in Somerville! This rock climbing gym is located between Porter and Union Squares. Members and friends attended rock climbing with some of the finest transportation professionals in the Boston area. After rock climbing, the group went next door to Aeronaut Brewery for some post-climbing refreshments.

Brooklyn Boulders Rock Climbing:
When: Thursday, April 6 @ 6 PM
Where: Brooklyn Boulders, 12a Tyler Street, Somerville

Post Climbing Happy Hour:
When: Thursday, April 6 @ 8 – 9 PM
Where: Aeronaut Brewery, 14 Tyler Street, Somerville

Transit: Porter Square and walk south on Somerville Ave. 87 Bus from Porter or Lechmere

YPT Boston – Go Boston 2030 Networking Hour

The City of Boston led by the Boston Transportation Department kicked off their Go Boston 2030 Vision and Action Plan on Tuesday, March 7^th. Go Boston 2030 is the citywide mobility plan which presents a bold vision for the future with projects and policies for the city to implement over the next 15 years.

To celebrate the release of the plan the city hosted an interactive exhibit at the Boston Public Library with a panel discussion in Rabb Hall from 6 – 8pm

After the Panel Discussion YPT Boston invited all attendees to join us at the Globe Bar and Café for some networking and conversation.

Learn more about Boston 2030 at: http://goboston2030.org/release/

Go Boston 2030 Panel Discussion:
When: Tuesday, March 7^th, 6 – 8pm
Where: Rabb Hall Boston Public Library – 700 Boylston Street, Back Bay

Post Panel Networking Event:
When: 8 – 9pm
Where: Globe Bar and Cafe, 565 Boylston St., Copley Sq.

MARCH 2, 2017 | FIRST THURSDAYS

Join YPT Boston continued its Happy Hour series on March 2nd for drinks, food, and networking. YPT Boston met at The Ginger Man for casual conversation and appetizers.

When: Thursday March 2, 2017 6:00PM – 8:00PM

Where: The Ginger Man, 148 State St, Boston 02109

February 27 | Lunch and Learn: Commuter Rail Schedules

YPT Boston hosted its February Lunch and Learn on Commuter Rail Schedules. HDR worked with MBTA Railroad Operations in their effort to develop new schedules for the entire MBTA commuter rail system.  The overall goal of the initiative was to improve reliability and resiliency of MBTA Commuter Rail Service and improve peak period operations.  The MBTA Commuter Rail System, originally developed in the 1800s, had not seen major changes to schedules in decades despite ongoing changes to infrastructure conditions and public ridership trends.  The existing network infrastructure and ridership trends were analyzed against operational requirements in order to develop optimal schedules for the system.

In creating new schedules, the HDR team’s objectives included improving the consistency of on-time performance, optimization of equipment cycles, scheduled runtimes, turn times, station dwells, and resultant levels of passenger service. HDR utilized the Rail Traffic Controller (RTC), an operations modeling software to simulate the new schedules and test for resiliency against the existing track and signals infrastructure.

When: Monday February 27, 2017 12:00PM – 1:00PM

Where: MAPC | 60 Temple Place, Boston

FEBRUARY 16, 2017 | ICE SKATING

YPT Boston and your fellow transportation enthusiasts to met in Cambridge for ice skating at Community Ice Skating @ Kendall (about a 5 minute walk from the Kendall Square T stop) from 6 – 7:30pm on Thursday, February 16th.

Additional details: YPT covered the admission cost and skate rentals.

When: February 16th, 2017 6:00 PM through 7:30 PM

Where: Community Ice Skating @ Kendall

February 2, 2017 | First Thursdays

YPT Boston hosted its February First Thursdays Happy Hour on February 2nd for drinks, food, and networking at 6B Lounge in Downtown Boston.

When: Thursday February 2, 2017 6:00PM – 8:00PM

Where: 6b Lounge, 6 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108

January 25, 2017 | Lunch and Learn:
Future of Transportation

YPT Boston hosted its first round table open discussion Lunch and Learn. We invited all attendees to participate in an open forum discussion on the Future of Transportation. There are many advances which can change how we travel within the next decades; whether its in the form of driverless vehicles, ITS, High-speed Rail, Asset Management, or advances in design and construction. These advances have the potential to not only change how we travel but how our industry operates. People brought their best ideas and observations and shared their thoughts on how our industry will change in the near future.

When: Wednesday January 25, 2017 12:00PM – 1:00PM

Where: MAPC, 60 Temple Place, Boston, MA 02111

January 5, 2016 | First Thursdays

YPT Boston hosted its second monthly happy hour series, which are held on the first Thursday of each month. Fellow YPT Boston members for some drinks, food and networking at Sidebar.

December 15, 2016 | Cape Cod Canal Transportation Stufy Lunch & Learn

Michael Paiewonsky of Stantec presented on the Cape Cod Canal Transportation Study.  While we all know of Cape Cod as the premier vacation destination in New England, we are also familiar with the traffic congestion we often face going to and leaving the Cape.  MassDOT and Stantec are studying these traffic conditions, particularly related to the two bridges over the Canal and their roadway approaches.  Through a comprehensive public engagement process, the goal of the study is to develop a suite of multimodal transportation solutions that will serve the transportation needs of Cape Cod residents and visitors for decades to come.

December 1, 2016 | First Thursdays

YPT Boston kicked off the first of what will be a monthly happy hour series, held on the first Thursday of each month. YPT Boston members met for some drinks, food and networking.

November 17, 2016 | Transportation Trivia Night

YPT Boston teamed up with the Massachusetts Institute of Transportation Engineers (MAITE) and New England Institute for Transportation Engineers (NEITE) for a night of trivia at Causeway Restaurant & Bar. Members formed their own teams (up to six people), and the victors took home a small prize and were crowned the Fall 2016 Transportation Geniuses.

October 22, 2016 | YPT Boston COASTSWEEP Volunteer Day

YPT Boston participated in a statewide coastal clean up sponsored by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management.

COASTSWEEP is part of an annual event to raise awareness and clean beaches from Boston to Bimini. The International Coastal Cleanup organized by Ocean Conservancy in Washington, DC, brings hundreds of thousands of volunteers to beaches, lakes, and streams worldwide to remove marine debris—trash, fishing line, and any other human-made items—and collect data on the specific types of debris being found to help identify and address the behaviors that cause the debris.

In Massachusetts, volunteers have been pitching in to clean up stretches of beaches, marshes, seafloor, and riverbanks since 1987 as part of COASTSWEEP. The annual cleanup has grown over the years—in 2015, 2,643 volunteers cleaned 146 miles of coastline, river bank, marsh, seafloor, and lakeshore in Massachusetts—collecting more than 12,500 pounds of debris from 120 locations. More information can here found here.

October 17, 2016 | Fall 2016 Book Club

For the fall 2016 book club YPT Boston read The Great Society Subway: A History of the Washington Metro.

From the Publisher:

Many residents and visitors rely on the Washington Metro, the rapid transit system that serves the District of Columbia and its suburbs. In the first comprehensive history of the Metro, Zachary M. Schrag tells the story of the Great Society Subway from its earliest rumblings to its emergence as the nation’s second-busiest rapid transit system. Using extensive archival research as well as oral history, Schrag argues that the Metro can be understood only in the political context from which it was born: the Great Society liberalism of the Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon administrations. He scrutinizes the project from its earliest days, including general planning, routes, station architecture, funding decisions, land-use impacts, and the behavior of subway riders. The story of the Metro sheds light on the development of metropolitan Washington, postwar urban policy, and the promises and limits of rail transit in American cities.

October 18, 2016 | MBTA Fare Collection Lunch & Learn

Matt Ciborowski of the MBTA discussed the MBTA’s new fare collection system, AFC 2.0. AFC 2.0 will standardize payment used for MBTA service across all modes of transportation. Readers at gates, commuter rail platforms, and bus/Green Line cars will accept credit cards, mobile phones, and MBTA-issued fare cards. The program was initiated to enhance the MBTA customer experience and address various limitations associated with the current fare collection system.

October 11, 2016 | Longfellow Bridge Tour

YPT Boston hosed a technical tour of the Longfellow Bridge, currently under construction as part of the Longfellow Bridge Rehabilitation Project. This project is one of one of five major projects of the Commonwealth’s $3 billion Accelerated Bridge Program. With Phase 1 now complete, Christopher De Louis of White-Skanska-Consigli, guided the group along the bridge to discuss the stages of construction, major activities, and the new pedestrian bridge that connects Beacon Hill and the Esplanade. Members also learned about the rehabilitation of the “Salt & Pepper” Towers and how they were able to undergo construction while keeping existing auto, pedestrian, and train traffic operational.

September 29, 2016 | Moving Together Networking Happy Hour

YPT Boston hosted a Networking Happy Hour at MJ O’Connors after the Moving Together Conference, Thursday, September 29, held at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel. Learn more about the conference here!

September 8, 2016 | Hubway Facilities Tour

YPT Boston hosted a behind the scenes tour to learn about the daily operations of maintaining and re-balancing bicycles at over 160 stations in Boston, Cambridge, Brookline, and Somerville. We’re fast-approaching five million trips and are entering our 6th year of service. The tour included an introduction to the maintenance of the bikes and docks, how we dispatch our employees to ensure that bikes and docks are available at all times, and Hubway’s main office. Emily Gates, General Manager of Hubway (operated by Motivate), led the group through our Charlestown warehouse near Sullivan Square.

August 18, 2016 | Lunch in Your Neighborhood

YPT Board Members from downtown Boston hosted a lunch in the Boston Public Garden on August 18. This was a chance to meet informally with a small group of transportation professionals at a location nearby your home or workplace.

August 24, 2016 | Beers with the Board

YPT B oston hosted a networking event with current YPT Board members and other YPT members and friends at Boston Beer Works. Light appetizers were provided. We talked about past YPT events and ideas for future events. The YPT Boston board is made up of nine young professionals working in different areas of the transportation field, including both public and private sector.

AUGUST 09, 2016 | MBTA BUS SIMULATOR TECHNICAL TOUR

YPT Boston attended a technical tour of the MBTA training school/facility for bus operators! Members tested bus driving skills on the bus simulator used to teach actual drivers.The tour provided a chance to feel and understand what the drivers do everyday.

July 18, 2016 | Western Ave Reconstruction Tour

YPT and staff from the City of Cambridge walked the half-mile length of Western Ave in Cambridge and talk about the design process, construction, and challenges and opportunities associated with its new bicycle facility.

Western Ave was a major reconstruction project in which the underground stormwater and sewer system, roadway, and sidewalks were all replaced. The final design for the street and sidewalk was developed in collaboration with an Advisory Committee and extensive community input process resulting in a balance of the needs of pedestrians, bicyclists, bus riders and drivers. The street now has a separated bicycle facility at sidewalk level, with buffers from both vehicles and pedestrian traffic. It has green thermoplastic at conflict areas, two-stage left turn boxes, and bicycle signals at signalized intersections. The Western Ave cycle track was ranked #1 in “America’s 10 Best New Bike Lanes of 2015” by PeopleForBikes.  (http://www.peopleforbikes.org/blog/entry/americas-10-best-new-bike-lanes-of-2015)

June 25, 2016 | YPT Boston Second Annual Pub Crawl

 

YPT Boston hosted our 2nd Annual Pub Crawl through bars on the Green Line!  Limited Edition YPT Pint Glasses were given to the first 50 members who made it to the last bar!

June 16, 2016 | Lunch & Learn with Zagster Bike Share

In this lunch & learn, Boston-based bike sharing company Zagster discussed how communities across the United States are adopting bike share in order to strengthen first and last-mile connections with transit, drive commute trip reduction, and improve community health.

Nate Taber, Zagster’s Head of Marketing and Shannon Brown, Zagster’s Transportation Planner, gave an overview of Zagster’s fourth-generation bike share technology as well as the Bike Share As A Service business model that enables Zagster to operate 130+ bike share programs serving 40,000+ riders.

May 11,2016 | YPT Boston Distinguished Speaker Event

YPT Boston welcomed Karl Dean for our spring distinguished speaker event!  Karl Dean was the Mayor of Nashville from 2007 to 2015. During his time as mayor he led an effort to build a “trackless trolley” line to connect Nashville’s upcoming east and wealthier westside. The proposed trolley, or bus rapid transit line, became a contentious issue between city and state politics. He spoke about his experience with the politics around BRT, public health and active transportation, and other issues relevant to the policy, planning, design, and implementation of projects.

Along with YPT, this event was co-hosted by MassAPA and NEITE.

May 17, 2016 | YPT Boston Book Club Meeting

May 03, 2016 | MBTA Maps Lunch and Learn

The first MBTA rapid transit map was produced in 1965 and was in use for more than 30 years. The map was redesigned in the mid-1990s by Ken Dumas, the MPO’s cartographer. The revised map had stylized lines approximating the location of the various MBTA lines, major highways, and geographical features. Over the years, the creation of the Silver Line, MBTA Key Bus Route system as well as automated fare collection prompted revisions to the map. The most recent map design was based on a winning entry to a 2013 design contest and other public comments.

YPT Boston hosted a Lunch & Learn on Tuesday May 3rd to hear from Ken about how the MBTA system map has developed over the years.

April 27, 2016 |Government Center Tech Tour

Jay Carroll from HDR led a technical tour of the MBTA’s third oldest operating subway station, Government Center Station on Wednesday, April 27th. Government Center reopened on March 21, 2016 after a two year shutdown for renovations.

April 28, 2016 | Cards Against Urbanity Happy Hour

To celebrate YPT members’ Project of the Year Award we hosted a special happy hour party, including the YPT sponsored Transportation expansion pack to Cards Against Urbanity!

April 09, 2016| YPT Happy Hour after Transportation Camp New England

Following Transprotation Camp New England, YPT-Boston hosted a happy hour at Firebrand Saints. The happy hour was free for all to attend (cash bar), and included free appetizers. We will also be raffled off 3 $50 gift certificates to local restaurants for YPT members!

April 05, 2016 | Lunch & Learn: How To Fit In A Workout While Stuck In Rush Hour

YPT Boston hosted a Lunch & Learn about BikeBus on April 5th. BikeBus is the world’s first vehicle that combines fitness, transportation, and a patent-pending safety system in an effort to combat chronic diseases resulting from our increasingly sedentary lifestyle.

March 11, 2016 | Candlepin Bowling

YPT Boston hosted a fun night of candlepin bowling on March 11! Central Park Lanes in East Boston hasn’t changed much over the years, and we are glad that it hasn’t. It offers traditional New England-style candlepin bowling and is bring-your-own food and beverages.

March 2, 2016 | Lunch & Learn

The Lunch and Learn held on Wednesday March 2 featured Sam Piper (of Alta Planning + Design) presenting his work on the YPT Research Project of the Year: A New Model for Estimating Bicycle Trip Demand.

Historically, models to predict bicycle trip patterns for transportation have been both time and resource intensive. This makes completing them relatively expensive, and the cost increases as the geographic scale enlarges. The existing models are also not calibrated to assess potential recreational trip demand, which in some areas, represents a significant proportion of all bicycle trips.

Recognizing the deficiencies of existing models, Sam Piper (of Alta Planning + Design) along with teammates Erica Wygonik and David Grover (of RSG Inc.) collaborated to develop a new model that estimates the potential demand for both recreational and utilitarian bicycle trips using readily available data. This made the model useful at a state-wide scale, and also meant that it could be developed relatively quickly. A paper summarizing the model and its applications is currently under review for publication by TRB, and the project was selected as the Research Project of the Year by YPT International.

Sam Piper presented this exciting development, and how planners can leverage the model to understand potential demand for bicycling in their regions.

February 24, 2016 | Bocce Ball Social!

On Wednesday February 24, YPT Boston hosted a bocce social at the Point. This was a great way to meet other transportation professionals and socialize with YPT members in a casual atmosphere, and with some friendly competition.

February 11, 2016 | Ice Skating with YPT Boston!

YPT Boston hosted an ice skating social at Community Ice Skating @ Kendall (about a 5 minute walk from the Kendall Square T stop) from 6-8:00pm on Thursday, February 11th. We also gathered afterwards for a social at Commonwealth Market in Kendall Square with food provided by YPT!

February 3, 2016 | Lunch & Learn – Focus 40: The Future of the MBTA

Jen Slesinger from MassDOT’s Office of Transportation Planning presented on Focus40,  the MBTA’s long-range capital investment plan for the next 25 years, reaching to the year 2040. Any infrastructure planned today will need to serve the needs of future riders. The Focus40 process must therefore consider the world within which the MBTA will operate in 2040.

December 15, 2015 | Holiday Lunch

YPT Boston hosted a holiday lunch at MAPC for members and friends to socialize and learn more about upcoming YPT events in 2016!

November 17, 2015 | Transportation Trivia

November 4, 2015 |Post Moving Together Social Hour

This event was free for members and included both a catered dinner and an engaging presentation by notable city planner and urban designer, Jeff Speck, who has had an impressive career working and advocating for smart growth and sustainable design on an international level.

This event was co-hosted by NEITE, MAITE, MassAPA, and the MIT Transportation Club.

March 24, 2015 | Legion Software Lunch & Learn on Pedestrian Modeling

YPT Boston welcomed Frederick Frank from London to discuss his work at Legion Software, a pedestrian simulation software for a stimulating lunch and learn. Legion simulates the movement of pedestrians in a quantitatively verifiable manner, taking into account how individuals interact with each other and with the physical obstacles in their environment. The tool was used to simulate pedestrian behavior for the 2008 Beijing Olympic games.

March 20, 2015 | Candlepin Bowling in East Boston

YPT Boston hosted a night of Candlepin Bowling and Santarpio’s pizza at Central Park Lanes in East Boston. This was our second time holding the event and we look forward to hosting a similar event next year!

March 11, 2015 | Zipcar Lunch and Learn

Zipcar Boston General Manager, Lisa Feldman presented to YPT members and friends on how the leading car sharing company manages a fleet of over a thousand vehicles in and around Boston including a variety of service options such as one-way and roundtrip models. We would like to thank Zipcar for sponsoring this special Lunch and Learn hosted at their heaquarters in the Seaport.

February 26, 2015 | Doug Most, Author of “The Race Underground” Lunch & Learn

YPT Boston welcomed Doug Most for a Lunch & Learn to discuss his new book “The Race Underground: Boston, New York, and the Incredible Rivalry That Built America’s First Subway.” Doug’s book was one of Amazon’s Best Non-Fiction Books of 2014.

https://my.yptransportation.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=180

January 15, 2015 | Bocce Ball Social

Major League Bocce set up indoor bocce ball courts at the Point for YPT Boston’s first Bocce Ball Social! This event was a great way to meet other transportation professionals and socialize with YPT members in a casual atmosphere with some friendly competition.

https://my.yptransportation.org/civicrm/event/info?id=169&reset=1

December 3, 2014 | Green Links Lunch and Learn

YPT Boston members and friends learned about the multiple initiatives that are improving greenways in and around Boston, and also listened to exciting presentations from planners, designers, engineers + advocates that participated in the Boston Society of Architect’s summer charrette on the Greenway Links. The charrette was an intensive 8-week design project that involved diverse teams comprised of private, non-profit and public sector employees. Each team created design solutions to connect different sections of Boston’s greenway system.

Alice Brown introduced the charrette participants, and describe the multiple initiatives that are occurring to make Boston’s greenway system more connected. Afterwards, members of several of the teams that participated in the charrette presented on the project area.

https://my.yptransportation.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=158

Tuesday, November 18, 2014 | Transportation Trivia Night

YPT Boston teamed up with the New England Institute of Transportation Engineers (NEITE), the Massachusetts Institute of Transportation Engineers (MAITE), and the MIT Transportation Club for a night of trivia at Lir on Boylston.

Fall Membership Drive Raffle winners were announced at Trivia. All YPT Boston members were entered, with additional entries for every event attended since September. Prizes included a $100 gift card to Top of the Hub, a $100 gift card to Ten Tables, a $50 gift card to Park Restaurant and Bar, and a $15 gift card to Tavern in the Square.

Free food, prizes, great people. What a great opportunity to meet members of these four great organizations.

https://my.yptransportation.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=148

Wednesday, November 12, 2014 | Lunch and Learn with Bridj Founder and CEO Matt George

Bridj is your everyday transportation system that adapts in real-time to where you live, work, and play. Powered by data, they use a network of express shuttles that offer efficient and flexible trips.

Matt will discuss the entrepreneurial opportunities and challenges of Bridj positioning itself within the market of mass transit providers, as well as what goes into planning new and potential Bridj routes.

Matt will be joining us on Wednesday, November 12th from 12:00 – 1:00 PM. Free light lunch will be provided to those who RSVP of course!

https://my.yptransportation.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=147

Thursday, September 18, 2014 | Distinguished Speaker Panel Event

YPT Boston hosted our annual distinguished speaker series event featuring a panel of four women who are all administrators for federal transportation agencies here in New England. We heard about their journeys in the transportation field, opportunities and challenges to working in the federal transportation environment, what they think are the next transportation trends and issues for the next generation.

The speakers were:
• Mary Beth Mello – Federal Transit Administration – Region 1 Administrator
• Pamela Stephenson – Federal Highway Administration – Massachusetts Division Administrator
• Amy Corbett – Federal Aviation Administration – New England Region Administrator
• Michelle Muhlanger – Federal Railroad Administration – Deputy Regional Administrator for Region 1

https://my.yptransportation.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=133

Wednesday, September 3, 2014 | Beers with the Board

YPT Boston hosted a networking event where members and friends could meet and mingle with current YPT Board members and other YPT members and friends! The event was held at Boston Beer Works at 112 Canal Street, Boston MA.

https://my.yptransportation.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=129

Tuesday, August 12, 2014 | Lunch & Learn – Government Center Station

Crews are hard at work to make Government Center Station more accessible, safe, comfortable, and modern. While the station was closed in March 2014 and will remain so for two years, the improvements promise to be worth the wait! YPT was delighted to have Brian Howland of the MBTA and Donald Swarce of HDR, Inc. speaking at our Lunch & Learn about the station improvements and closure, including topics such as the headhouse architecture, Cambridge Street realignment & streetscape, and City Hall Plaza restoration and improvements.

https://my.yptransportation.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=123

Tuesday, August 5, 2014 | Networking Night with APTA VP Art Guzzetti

YPT Boston was pleased to welcome American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Vice President-Policy Art Guzzetti as our networking night distinguished guest. Among other things, Mr. Guzzetti, a 35 year professional in public transportation at the local, state, and national levels, is responsible for APTA’s extensive policy development and research agenda. He also promotes policies favorable to public transportation to Congress, the Administration, state and local governments, grassroots and stakeholder organizations, and public policy think tanks.

Prior to coming to APTA in June 1997, Mr. Guzzetti had 16 years of direct experience in management of two of the nation’s leading public transportation systems: New Jersey Transit, and the Port Authority of Allegheny County. He also previously worked at the New Jersey Department of Transportation. Mr. Guzzettti’s career has focused on whatever it takes to generate funding support for public transportation, including public policy, government affairs, advocacy at all levels, capital programming, and grants development and management!

Mr. Guzzetti has a Political Science degree from Edinboro State University, and a Master of Public Administration Degree from the University of Pittsburgh. He has been married for 35 years and has four children and three grandchildren.

Mr. Guzzetti was in Boston for the APTA 2014 Sustainability & Public Transportation Workshop on August 3-5.

https://my.yptransportation.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=121

Thursday, July 24, 2014 | Lunch & Learn – Conceptual Boston to Montreal Overnight Train

Making time disappear while you are dining or comfortably sleeping on the train: this is the concept for the proposed train-hotel that will offer passengers the unique opportunity of overnight travel between major population centers in Canada and the U.S. Two routes are proposed. One train will run between Montreal and New York City. A second train will also serve the beaches of Maine and the city of Boston. François Rebello, who has been elected to the Quebec Parliament, is the entrepreneur behind the project and spoke at YPT’s Lunch & Learn on Thursday, July 24. François discussed the concept, timeline, and his planning efforts so far.

https://my.yptransportation.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=117

Wednesday, July 9, 2014 | Lunch & Learn – Conceptual Blue Line Extension Study

On Wednesday, July 9, YPT Boston welcomed an engineering student group from the Wentworth Institute of Technology (WIT), who discussed a project they have been working on that would enhance the daily commutes for thousands of people – replacing the D branch of the Green Line with an extension of the Blue Line to Riverside via Government Center, Back Bay, and Longwood. The project would replace existing service with higher capacity trains and free up the single congested tunnel (built over 100 years ago!) between Copley and Hynes for the other three Green Line branches. While the study is conceptual, it is certainly still exciting to think about! After presenting, the students answered questions and are looking for constructive comments to improve their study.
https://my.yptransportation.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=113

Wednesday, June 25, 2014 | Big Dig Technical Tour

YPT Boston hosted a technical tour with MassDOT as our guide! We learned about some of Boston’s amazing transportation infrastructure on Wednesday, June 25, 2014. Attendees were transported to each site, and MassDOT officials provided narration throughout the tour. The sites included:

-Charlestown Bus Yard (MBTA Bus Simulator)
-Intake/exhaust systems and power systems for the Central Artery/Tunnels
-MassDOT Highway Operations Center (HOC)
-MBTA Operations Control Center

https://my.yptransportation.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=108

Tuesday, June 17, 2014 | Lunch & Learn: Mass Pike Realignment Study

On Tuesday, June 17, 2014, YPT Boston welcomed MassDOT’s Mike O’Dowd to discuss the ongoing Mass Pike Realignment Study, a project that will reconstruct the Allston turnpike interchange. The interchange was built about 50 years ago and is reaching the end of its lifespan. The straightening project is possible thanks to all-electronic tolling, which will allow the removal of the complicated existing ramp network. The straightening project will create a large area of new open space that may be developed or turned into parkland!

https://my.yptransportation.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=99

Thursday, June 12, 2014 | Logan Airport Control Tower Technical Tour

YPT Boston hosted a technical tour of the Logan Air Traffic Control Tower on Thursday, June 12. We saw the ins and outs of operations at the tower, and watched how controllers keep you safe on the ground and in the air.

https://my.yptransportation.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=98

Tuesday, May 27, 2014 | Data Visualization – 37 Billion Miles

On Tuesday, May 27th, YPT Boston hosted several winners of the 37 Billion Mile Challenge who showed us how they visualized unique Massachusetts vehicle data and told a story about driving patterns, auto ownership, and more! The data challenge, put on by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, MassDOT, and the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, asked data gurus to answer a series of questions about car ownership, driving patterns, mode shift, parking, and greenhouse gas emissions using Massachusetts vehicle census data. These tech-savvy individuals and teams were chosen by an esteemed panel including Secretary Richard Davey.

The group heard from:

-Matthew Danish, who asked: “Does the presence of good, abundant transit lead to a decline of miles driven in personal vehicles?” He used Google Fusion Tables to help answer this question.
-Paul Schimek, whose team looked at why people drive less in urban areas. Their explanatory model found some surprising revelations on what variables are strong and weak predictors of driving behavior.
-Alan Esenther, who asked: Have you ever wondered about cars and traffic in Massachusetts? Alan’s team developed multiple visualization tools to help explore the Massachusetts Vehicle Census.
https://my.yptransportation.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=94

Friday, May 9, 2014 | RIPTA Lunch & Learn

Gretchen Johnson and Alex Lew, both associates at Nelson\Nygaard Consulting, have worked for the past two years on redesigning the bus system for the entire State of Rhode Island as part of a Comprehensive Operational Analysis (COA). This effort, which included an extensive public outreach effort, led the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) through a detailed look at each route to improve ridership, efficiency, and overall quality. With the city now hoping to restore a sense of place at Kennedy Plaza, RIPTA’s main transit center, a complete overhaul of downtown bus circulation along with larger transit investments were considered as part of Rhode Island’s long term transit strategy.

Alex and Gretchen’s presentation will include a look at the results of the COA, concepts for downtown circulation, and redesign of Kennedy Plaza. You’ll also learn about what being a transit consultant is all about!

Thursday, April 24, 2014 | ConnDOT Deputy Commissioner Anna Barry

On Thursday, April 24th, YPT was pleased to welcome ConnDOT Deputy Commissioner Anna Barry as our networking night special guest. Ms. Barry fills the role of Chief Operating Officer and supports the Commissioner in implementing strategy and goals for the agency. Prior to joining ConnDOT, she held various roles at the MBTA, including Director of Subway Operations. As the MBTA’s Director of Railroad Operations, Ms. Barry procured and oversaw the country’s largest commuter rail services contract. She also worked for the Boston and Maine Railroad and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts before working at the MBTA. In all, she has more than 35 years of experience in transportation, particularly railroad and transit operations. Ms. Barry has also been active in various transportation organizations, such as WTS, Minority Transportation Officials, TRB, and APTA.

https://my.yptransportation.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=83

Friday, March 28, 2014 | Candlepin Bowling at Central Park Lanes

For our first ever Friday evening event, YPT Boston hosted Candlepin Bowling at Central Park Lanes in East Boston! We had a great turnout as YPT Boston members and friends networked while engaging in some friendly competition.

https://my.yptransportation.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=66

Thursday, March 13, 2014 | Lunch + Learn: Real-Time Transit Information

Ritesh Warade, an associate with IBI Group, is working on a number of real-time passenger information (RTPI) projects for transit agencies including Metrolinx (Toronto), NFTA (Buffalo), and RTD (Denver). Locally, he is leading the design and development of the MBTA real-time system.

Ritesh made a presentation covering real-time passenger information systems and open data, with the MBTA as a case study. He described emerging standards and discussed implications for transportation professionals as more agencies work on similar efforts.

https://my.yptransportation.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=61

February 25, 2014 | MBTA Bus Simulator Technical Tour

On Thursday, February 25, 2014, YPT members took on the challenge of driving an MBTA bus in the MBTA Bus Simulator in Charlestown! The realistic simulator is used to train MBTA drivers before they hit the road with an actual bus. YPT members had the opportunity to drive a bus while the tour guide challenged them with a variety of traffic and even weather conditions!

https://my.yptransportation.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=54

February 20, 2014 | Lunch + Learn: MBTA Key Bus Routes

The MBTA Key Bus Route Improvement Program is working to improve the overall quality of service to 15 of the system’s busiest bus routes by reducing trip times; enhancing customer comfort, convenience, safety and accessibility; and making the bus service more reliable and cost-effective.

Working with the MBTA, McMahon Associates led a team of consultants during planning, public participation, design, and construction of improvements to the Key Bus Routes. Consultants from McMahon will discuss highlights from each phase of the project.

The 15 Key Bus Routes included in this program are: Routes 1, 15, 22, 23, 28, 32, 39, 57, 66, 71, 73, 77, 111, 116, and 117. This project was made possible by $10 million in grant funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

https://my.yptransportation.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=55

January 27, 2014 | Ice Skating with YPT Boston and BSCES

YPT Boston and BSCES friends and members had exclusive access to the Community Ice Skating rink at Kendall Square to enjoy one of the oldest forms of human powered transportation. Over 30 students and professionals shared the rink, with ice skating skills ranging from novice to advanced. This was a fun atmosphere for skaters and spectators alike to enjoy the winter together while networking. Afterwards, some of the group went to Commonwealth Market & Restaurant bar to warm up and continue chatting about skating, transportation, and any other themes that came up!

January 9, 2014 | Lunch and Learn | Massport’s New Rental Car Center at Logan Airport

Thursday, September 18, 2014 | Distinguished Speaker Panel Event

In 2013, the consolidated rental car facility (CONRAC) at Logan Airport became operational, combining nine separate rental car companies into a single facility. On January 9, 2014, Lisa Chandler, Kristen Torrance, and Sean O’Rourke from Parsons Brinkerhoff’s design team presented at YPT’s Lunch + Learn session. The facility is LEED Gold Certified and saves hundreds of vehicle miles traveled per day by reducing the number of shuttle buses that travel through the airport. Attendees were presented with the design challenges of making significant changes to land and travel patterns at a busy airport while keeping everything in continuous operations. The project also clarifies all curbside activity with new wayfinding and assigned areas for taxis.
Read more about the CONRAC here: https://www.massport.com/news-room/news/massport-unveils-new-rental-car-…

December 10, 2013 | Lunch + Learn | Somerville Community Path

The Community Path in Somerville is one of the most critical missing links in the Metro Boston off-street bicycle and pedestrian network. On December 10, 2013, we sat down over lunch to learn about the Community Path’s connections to other regional pathways and to the highly anticipated Green Line Extension, as well as the local and regional benefits these types of infrastructure investments can produce. Eric Halvorsen from MAPC and Lynn Weissman, who helped start The Friends of the Community Path, were our presenters.
Friends of the Community Path presentation
Eric Halvorsen’s CPX presentation

November 4, 2013 | Networking Night with Aaron Naparstek

Launched in 2006, Streetsblog has played a significant role in transforming New York City transportation policy and galvanizing a Livable Streets movement that is pushing for a more people-centered, less automobile-oriented approach to transportation planning and urban design in communities all around the world. Aaron is currently a Visiting Scholar at MIT’s City Design & Development group and completed a Loeb Fellowship at Harvard prior to joining MIT. On November 4, Aaron joined us for a social gathering with at Tavern in the Square in Central Square!

October 24, 2013 | Lunch + Learn | Roundabouts vs. Rotaries

Have you ever been caught in a rotary, roundabout, or neighborhood traffic circle? Who hasn’t! Have you ever been curious (maybe while going round and round) why there are three different names for them? Andy Paul from MassDOT presented the differences and similarities of these circular intersections. There are over one hundred in Massachusetts alone, and that number stands to grow as these fancy road features grow in popularity.

October 23, 2013 | Networking Night | Annual Meeting/Get Together After Moving Together

After MassDOT’s Moving Together conference, attendees and others got together at M.J. O’Connor’s for a relaxing post-conference evening!

September 12, 2013 | Networking Night | Data Visualization

YPT Boston hosted a great data visualization panel. This focused on innovative ways to display and present data with four great panelists: Andy Woodruff, who makes interactive web maps with Axis Maps and is the coauthor of Bostonography, Jay Gordon, who is a researcher at MIT’s Transit Lab, specializing in the development of new analytic tools using big data, Peter Dunn, who works by day at MAPC and by night at Stonebrown Design, and Gabriel Florit, who works on data visualization graphics for the Boston Globe. It was an awesome panel and event, and thanks to Nitsch Engineering for hosting us!

September 10, 2013 | Lunch + Learn | Demystifying Bike Signals

As a growing number of communities are seeking ways to improve safety and efficiency of transportation systems, particularly to encourage active transportation modes, such as bicycling, YPT Boston learned from Michelle Langone Danila of Toole Design about practical and innovative techniques to serve all users at signalized intersections, with a focus on the unique needs of bicyclists.

August 26, 2013 | Networking Event | Beers with the Board

The YPT Boston board members hosted a “Beers with the Board” event at Tico in Back Bay. The YPT Boston board is made up of nine young professionals working in the transportation field, including both private and public sector, and hosted an intimate event to get to know friends and members better.

August 6, 2013 | Technical Tour | MBTA Bus Simulator

YPT Members were hosted by the MBTA to check out their training school/facility for bus operators. Participants got to test out the bus simulator used to teach and test drivers during training.

August 4, 2013 | Networking Event | Dillon’s, Boston, MA

YPT Boston hosted a networking night in conjunction with the ITE Annual Meeting being held in Boston. YPT Boston members and friends got to meet ITE meeting attendees from around the country!

July 26,2013 | Technical Tour | MassDOT Big Dig Project Tour, Boston, MA

Hosted by MassDOT District 6 and MassDOT Highway Operations Center representatives

More than a dozen YPT Members got an up close and personal look at the Big Dig on this technical tour. The tour included many critical components of the complex highway system, including the ventilation and electrical systems, the structural components, and the Operations Center. At each stop along the tour, attendees learned about the unique methods used to construct the project. Attendees also learned about the daily operations and maintenance of the vital highway system, and got to check out the MBTA’s Bus Simulator.

July 10, 2013 | Brownbag Lunch | Caliper

Presentation by: David Gerstle, Caliper

YPT Boston learned all about microsimulation! David Gerstle from Newton’s Caliper Corporation taught attendees about the TransModeler microsimulation package, including case studies for alternatives analysis, simulation-based dynamic traffic assignment, microsimulation of bicycles, transit signal priority, managed toll lanes, and more.

July 9, 2013 | Technical Tour | Hubway Operations Tour, Charlestown, MA

Tour Guides: Scott Mullen, Director

Hubway hosted YPT to learn about the ins and outs of Boston’s Hubway bike share program! The behind the scenes tour covered the coordination of daily operations of maintaining and dispatching bicycles at 112 stations in 4 communities. Tour stops included production, maintenance, dispatching, the bike shop, and Hubway’s main office. Scott Mullen, Director of Hubway Bikeshare at Alta Bicycle Share, was a great tour guide and provided valuable insight into why this program is so successful!

June 21, 2013 | Technical Tour | MBTA Maintenance Facility, Everett, MA

Tour Guides: Paul Flynn and Lou Rossino, MBTA

This technical tour provided a small group of young professionals with the unique opportunity for a first-hand look at both the bus and rail main repair facility for the MBTA. The team saw how the maintenance team overhauls and repairs train components, the fabrication and manufacturing of parts for trains, and the repairing of train structure and car-body components. We saw the sign shop, how they paint buses, and many other interesting trades!

June 13, 2013 | Networking Event | Brahmin’s, Boston, MA

Distinguished Guest: MBTA General Manager Beverly Scott, PhD

YPT Boston was so pleased to host the MBTA’s General Manager, Beverly Scott! Beverly Scott warmed the crowd with many “DrScottisms” (see https://twitter.com/YPTBoston) about leading a large agency, career advice, and more!

May 1, 2013 | Distinguished Speaker Event | MassDOT Transportation Building

Distinguished Speaker: MassDOT Secretary and CEO Richard Davey

Secretary Davey spoke with attendees for 90 minutes about his career path and rise through the transportation ranks. He spoke about his career start, his passions, and his goals. He inspired us by his story of living in his parent’s basement and his rise through the ranks at MBCR, MBTA, and now as MassDOT Secretary. More than 50 professionals attended from YPT Boston, New England Section of the Institute of Transportation Engineers’ Emerging Professionals, and MA Chapter of the American Planning Association. This was the third event in the YPT Boston Distinguished Speaker Series.

April 11, 2013 | Networking Event | Transportation Trivia

Hosted by: YPT Boston

YPT Boston hosted its second Transportation Trivia Night at Kings Back Bay, Boston! Questions ranged from historic MBTA knowledge to best bicycling cities to identifying transit maps from around the world. There was a lot of enthusiasm and knowledge gained!

April 9, 2013 | Brownbag Lunch | Transportation at the Municipal Level

Presentation by: Hayes Morrison, Director of Transportation and Infrastructure, City of Somerville

YPT members and friends took a break from the workday to gain some insight on what it is like to be a young professional at the municipal level. Hayes Morrison talked about the range (and depth) of projects that she is working on at the City, her experience with local (and state) politics, and engaging the public. Answering a variety of professional and personal questions, Hayes candidly expressed her views of how she’s gotten where she is today, what the elements are to being successful, and her passion about helping to make Somerville an exceptional place to live, work, play, and raise a family.

March 12, 2013 | Networking Event | Ned Devine’s, Boston, MA

Distinguished Guest: MassDOT Highway Administrator Frank DePaola and Charlie of the MBTA

YPT was honored to be joined by Highway Administrator Frank DePaola and MBTA’s Charlie of the CharlieCard (and infamous song…). Mr. DePaola oversees the safe construction, maintenance, and operation of the Commonwealth’s roads, bridge, and tunnels for drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians. He is a professional engineer with more than 30 years of experience in the design and construction industry. Prior to joining the Highway Division, Mr. DePaola served as Assistant General Manager for Design and Construction at the MBTA. He was an absolutely fantastic guest and we hope he comes back for more YPT!

February 26, 2013 | Brownbag Lunch | Governor Patrick’s Transportation Plan

Presentation by: Price Armstrong, Program Director at MassBike, and Charlie Ticotsky, Government Affairs Specialist at MAPC

YPT is informed! More than 20 peers came together to hear the nuts and bolts of the Governor’s proposed transportation plan to expand transportation funding by approximately $1 billion per year (for the next ten years). Fellow young professionals Price Armstrong, the Programs Director at the Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition (MassBike), passionately discussed what this means for non-motorized transportation, and Charlie Ticotsky, Government Affairs Specialist at MAPC, focused on the other elements of the plan, including a great perspective from Beacon Hill.

February 20, 2013 | Networking Event | Beers with the Board

The new YPT Boston board members hosted a “Beers with the Board” event on Wednesday, February 20th from 6:00 – 8:00 PM. The YPT Boston board is made up of nine young professionals working in the transportation field, including both private and public sector, and hosted an intimate event to get to know friends and members better. The event was a great success, and we all loved Meadhall in Kendall Square!

December 13, 2012 | Brownbag Lunch | WalkBoston

Presentation by: Wendy Landman, WalkBoston

WalkBoston Executive Director Wendy Landman visited with YPT members and friends to discuss how increasing the walkability of downtowns and commercial areas can increase the economic viability of these places. Wendy shared with us several tips for how to talk with local officials about the importance of walking, and how increasing the ease and safety of walking in commercial areas can translate to increased business and tax dollars. She also provided us with a set of low-cost but highly effective improvements for increasing walkability.

December 13, 2012 | Networking Event | 2nd Annual LivableStreets Networking Night

Co-Sponsored by: LivableStreets and NEITE

LivableStreets hosted this second annual networking night in Back Bay, a unique networking opportunity with attendees from many different local organizations. The relaxed atmosphere was a great environment for people to mingle and schmooze. YPT was happy to participate in this event again in 2012 by providing some appetizers for the crowd!

November 14, 2012 | Brownbag Lunch | Green Line Extension

Presentation by: Jay Carroll, HDR, and Mike Izzo, Gilbane

YPT Boston was hosted at the Green Line Extension Office in downtown Boston by Jay Carroll and Mike Izzo, two young professionals from HDR and Gilbane who are working on the Green Line Extension project. Jay and Mike provided a detailed explanation of the entire extension and discussed the opportunities and challenges with such a massive and complex transit expansion project. To learn more about the GLX, visitwww.greenlineextension.com.

October 18, 2012 | Networking Event | Transportation Trivia

Hosted by: YPT Boston and NEITE

YPT Boston partnered with NEITE to host our first ever Transportation Trivia night in Kendall Square, Cambridge. The event was wildly successful and featured questions ranging from the world’s busiest airports, to MBTA history, to states with the highest walk mode share. Transportation professionals and enthusiasts alike joined in a spirited competition that represented the first in what we hope will be an annual event.

October 16, 2012 | Brown Bag Lunch | RouteSprout

Guest: Boris Palchik, founder of RouteSprout

YPT hosted Boris Palchik, founder of new start-up RouteSprout (a finalist in this year’s MassChallenge start-up competition!) who presented an overview of this new ridesharing approach. RouteSprout provides motorcoach rides on demand – sort of like MegaBus or BoltBus – but the passengers decide where the trip goes and when. The brown bag included many details of the successes and challenges to starting a new company and discussed the first “sprouts” coming up this fall.

Check out RouteSprout online!

August 23, 2012 | Technical Tour | Traffic Management Center, Boston, MA

Tour Guides: Vineet Gupta, Director of Planning, BTD & Don Burgess, Manager of Traffic Management Center, BTD

This technical tour provided a small group of young professionals with the unique opportunity to look into Boston’s traffic cameras and technology at the Traffic Management Center, located at Boston’s City Hall. The Management Center allows traffic engineers to monitor, coordinate and adjust the City’s traffic signal timings to improve traffic flow in real time. Boston currently has control of 500 of its 800 intersections through this technology, and there are cameras providing real-time video of 100 of these intersections. YPT members received a behind-the-scenes tour, discussion, and Q&A opportunity at this exciting facility, which was led by Vineet Gupta, the Director of Planning at BTD, and Don Burgess, the Manager of the Traffic Management Center.

August 14, 2012 | Film Screening | Equal or Better

Film Director and Guest: Kris Carter

In 1987, the Washington Street Elevated train was torn down and the community of Roxbury was left without rapid transit for the first time since 1901. Equal or Better follows the story of promises made to the community and action taken by the citizens that led to the 2002 launch of the Silver Line, re-connecting Dudley Square and Downtown Boston. The film interviews transportation and community representatives to provide a look into the 15 years of process and action between the removal of the train and the launch of its required “equal or better” replacement. About 40 people gathered to watch this film and have a discussion with the film’s director, Kris Carter.

Watch Equal or Better online!

August 9, 2012 | Brown Bag Lunch | MBTA Mobile Ticketing

Presentation by: Joshua K. Robin, Jake Sion and Candace Brakewood, MBTA Mobile Ticketing Team

This brown bag lunch provided 20 young professionals with the opportunity to learn about the MBTA’s upcoming pilot program for smartphone payments on the Commuter Rail. This innovative mobile ticketing program will launch later this fall, and it will be the first of its kind in the country. Attendees of the brown bag got to see an early version of the smartphone application, which is still in development, and provide feedback to the MBTA Mobile Ticketing team.

The Metro newspaper article about the MBTA brownbag.

July 31, 2012 | Networking Event | Anthem, Boston, MA

Hosted by: YPT Boston and WTS-Boston

YPT Boston partnered with the Boston Chapter of WTS International to host a networking event near Faneuil Hall. Founded in 1977, WTS is an international organization dedicated to the professional advancement of women in transportation. YPT Boston was formed in September 2010 to enhance professional development among young transportation practitioners and future leaders. This free event was a great opportunity for YPT Boston members to network with their peers, as well as more seasoned transportation professionals.

July 24, 2012 | Technical Tour | MBTA Operations Control Center, Boston, MA

Tour Guide: Joshua K. Robin, Director of Innovation, MBTA

This technical tour provided 12 young professionals with the unique opportunity to one of the most impressive and important MBTA facilities: the Operations Control Center (OCC) at 45 High Street. The OCC is the hub for the T’s operations and safety-related communications. It is equipped with massive electronic monitors that closely track the positions of hundreds of subway and light rail cars on the Red, Orange, and Blue lines. A small group of YPT members received a behind-the-scenes, guided tour of this exciting facility, which was led by Joshua K. Robin, the Director of Innovation at the MBTA.

July 19, 2012 | Technical Tour | MassDOT Big Dig Project Tour, Boston, MA

Hosted by MassDOT District 6 and MassDOT Highway Operations Center representatives

12 YPT Members got an up close and personal look at the Big Dig on this technical tour. The tour included many critical components of the complex highway system, including the ventilation and electrical systems, the structural components, and the Operations Center. At each stop along the tour, attendees learned about the unique methods used to construct the project. Attendees also learned about the daily operations and maintenance of the vital highway system.

For additional information about this tour, read more here.

June 12, 2012 | Brown Bag Lunch | Hubway, Boston’s Bike Share

Presentation by: Jessica Robertson, Transportation Coordinator, MAPC

This brown bag lunch provided 30+ young professionals with the opportunity to learn more about Hubway, the Boston region’s bike share program. Jessica presented on Hubway’s launch in July 2011, with 600 bicycles and 60 stations, and its growth into a regional system. It only took 10 weeks to hit 100,000 rides! Jessica reviewed successes, challenges, and future opportunities for the system. Read more here

May 2, 2012 | Distinguished Speaker Event | MassDOT Transportation Building

Distinguished Speaker: Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts Timothy Murray

Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, Timothy Murray, shared his perspective on Commonwealth transportation policies, infrastructure, and investment strategies to 100+ professionals from YPT Boston, New England Section of the Institute of Transportation Engineers’ Emerging Professionals, MA Chapter of the American Planning Association, and the Boston Society of Civil Engineers Section/ASCE. This was the second event in the YPT Boston Distinguished Speaker Series.

March 14, 2012 | Brown Bag Lunch | MassDOT Fast14 Project

Speaker: Andy Paul, MassDOT

The first Lunchtime Brown Bag series presenter was Andy Paul, MassDOT Traffic Operations Engineer and YPT Boston Deputy Chair, who presented his work on MassDOT’s “Fast 14” project. In the summer of 2011, MassDOT replaced 14 bridges on I-93 in Medford over the course of 10 weekends. This acclaimed project, which would have taken four construction seasons to complete using traditional construction methods, minimized disruption to the community and through traffic while ensuring long-term safety on I-93. For additional information about Andy’s presentation, read more here.

February 29, 2012 | Networking Event | Tavern on the Square, Cambridge

Networking following an MBTA Public Meeting

Following a special public meeting held by the MBTA on the proposed fare increase and service changes, YPT members and friends gathered for drinks and food to discuss the MBTA scenarios and impressions from the meeting.

January 5, 2012 | Networking Event | Red Sky, Boston

Special Guest: Boston Bikes Director Nicole FreedmanYPT Boston kicked off 2012 with distinguished guest Nicole Freedman, former director of the City of Boston’s Bike Program. Over 60 young professionals attend the event at Red Sky bar in downtown Boston. Nicole has transformed the City of Boston from one of the worst cycling cities in the country to one of the best. Boston’s “Bike Czar” put Boston on the map as a cycling city! For additional information about this event, read more here.

November 9, 2011 | Networking Event | LIR, Boston

Hosts: Livable Streets, Planners Network, Interdisciplinary Consortium on Urban Planning and Public Health (ICUPPH), New England Institute of Transportation Engineers
YPT Boston co-hosted this four well-known Boston organizations. Nearly 150 professionals attended this event in Boston, which was a great opportunity to mix and mingle with members of other organizations.

October 25, 2011 | Annual Elections Event | Beantown Pub, Boston

YPT YPT Boston hosted its first ever elections event in the Blue Room at Beantown Pub. The event had two distinct elements with the first being and in-person election by Members voting for the nominated Board candidates which was followed by a networking event. The event culminated with the announcement and introduction of the new 2011-2012 YPT Boston Board of Directors. New Board members had the opportunity to network with YPT Members and Friends and discuss upcoming goals and events for the new year.

September 15, 2011 | Technical Tour | Rose Kennedy Greenway, Boston

Hosted by Boston Redevelopment Authority’s Peter Gori and the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway Conservancy’s Linda Jonash.

This tour was a particularly unique opportunity for Boston’s young transportation professionals to gain an inside perspective on one of the world’s most ambitious (and costly) infrastructure projects while also making connections with new colleagues in the field. The group began the tour just outside of South Station in the heart of the Financial District, where the Greenway is largely a passive landscaped lawn with some new public art. The tour ended near Rowes Wharf, where the space becomes much more interactive with play fountains, chairs, and even a carousel. The hosts gave great insight into the development of the Greenway (and surrounding parcels) along the way.

For additional information about this event, read more here.

July 12, 2011 | Networking Event | Seaport Hotel, Boston

Special Hosts: TRB Planning and Environment Group Young Member Council SubcommitteeYPT Boston helped to host an event during TRB’s Summer Meeting in Boston. YPT Boston Members and Friends were invited to a Planning and Environment Group Young Member Council Subcommittee meeting, followed by a reception at the Seaport Hotel. This event provided a great opportunity for YPT Boston professionals to learn more about TRB and meet many members.

June 21, 2011 | Distinguished Speaker Event | MassDOT Transportation Building

Distinguished Speaker: MassDOT Secretary Jeffrey Mullan

YPT Boston, the New England Section of the Institute of Transportation Engineers, and the Massachusetts American Planning Association chapter proudly co-hosted the
Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation Jeffrey Mullan. The Secretary discussed
“The Future of Transportation” to over 150 young professionals. Secretary Mullan’s remarks focused on where we’ve been, where we are now, and where we are going. He focused on the impacts and importance of the Commonwealth’s most recent large-scale investments, including the Central Artery project, and the transition to a unified MassDOT. He went into depth on the importance of having ONE MassDOT and its clear goals: save money, improve customer service, rebuild employee morale, and invest in the entire Commonwealth. Secretary Mullan explained each goal separately, taking the time to describe why each one is so important to our transportation future and what MassDOT and other partners are doing to ensure their success.

For additional information about this event, read more here.

May 18, 2011 | Networking Event | The Hideout at Durgin Park, Boston, MA

Special Guest: Wendy Landman, Executive Director of WalkBoston

This networking event attracted over 30 professionals and students to converse with Wendy Landman, the Executive Director of WalkBoston, a non-profit with a mission to create and preserve safe walking environments that build vital communities. At this event, attendees enjoyed learning about the wide variety of ways in which WalkBoston is involved in city- and state-wide projects and policies that affect communities.

April 28, 2011 | Technical Tour | Logan Airport, Boston, MA and Whiskey Priest, Boston, MA

Host: Massport

YPT Boston’s first technical tour focused on ground transportation at Logan Airport. Massport planning staff gave a presentation about the history of ground transportation at Logan Airport and then joined the YPT attendees on a shuttle to visit the discussed facilities. These facilities included the MBTA Airport station, the Southwest Service Area, the proposed site for the consolidated rental car facility, and the LEED certified Signature Flight Support terminal. The technical tour was limited to 30 spaces. After the tour, many of the attendees joined other YPT members for networking at Whiskey Priest.

March 1, 2011 | Networking Event | McFadden’s, Boston, MA

Special Guest: Peter Furth, Professor at Northeastern University
This networking event attracted over 50 professionals and students to meet and greet Peter Furth, a professor at Northeastern University, currently specializing in bicycle planning, Bus Rapid Transit, and Traffic Signal Priority. Many bicycling advocates joined us for their first YPT event.

January 5, 2011 | Networking Event | Lir on Boylston, Boston, MA

Special Guest: Jeff Rosenblum, President and Co-Founder of Livable Streets
YPT Boston started the New Year with a networking event featuring special guest Jeff Rosenblum of Livable Streets, an advocacy organization located in Cambridge, MA. Over 60 attendees showed up to mingle with each other and Mr. Rosenblum. There were many new faces at this event, indicating that the members were passing on the good word about YPT Boston!

November 8, 2010 | Networking Event | Tavern at the Square, Cambridge, MA

Special Guest: Frederick Salvucci, Former MA Secretary of Transportation
The second YPT Boston event attracted nearly 60 people, this time allowing the professionals and students to network not only with each other, but also with Fred Salvucci, a former Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation, now a senior lecturer at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The casual setting allowed the attendees to get to know Mr. Salvucci better, and to hear about his experiences as the Secretary of Transportation.

September 28, 2010 | Networking Event | Ned Devine’s, Boston, MA

YPT Boston kicked off with this well attended networking event in the heart of Boston. With nearly 60 attendees, the networking event allowed transportation professionals of all backgrounds and ages to mingle and get to know one another in a relaxed setting.