Despite growing up in a car-oriented suburban town, I remember biking and playing catch in the streets and chasing friends through wooded trails as everyday experiences of my youth. In retrospect, it was this freedom of mobility that gave me the independence (and commitment to fun!) I have long since tried to hold and which I sincerely hope to pass to my children.
Throughout and after college, walking and biking took on a different meaning. I was virtually broke and it was the cheapest means of getting around. I had just enough to take a train or Chinatown bus into New York and eat bagels, much less purchase, insure, gas and store an automobile. Besides, I was busy learning about cities and there was clearly no better way than strolling at 2-3 mph with no specific destination.
As a professional, of course, I know there are many more reasons why getting more people to walk and bike is critical for the future of our communities (and the whole world, really). But regardless of politics or the environment: it feeds and nurtures the soul, it affords people opportunity, and it’s pretty darn fun. Who can argue with that?
Casey brings five years of transportation planning experience to Alta’s Berkeley, CA office. While with the Seattle Department of Transportation, he helped initiate Seattle’s Complete Streets Program, involving significant planning systems oversight, capital program coordination, and project scoping and design. His expertise includes multi-modal hub development, complex intersection design, and public realm planning with a focus on green infrastructure and urban infill open space. Originally from Massachusetts, Casey has also worked in Philadelphia and San Francisco and currently lives with his wife and two-year old son in Oakland.
Recent Projects
Palo Alto Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan, CA
Casey is currently co-managing the update to the City of Palo Alto’s 2003 Bicycle Master Plan, which will be revised and expanded to include a new pedestrian component. Responsibilities include extensive interagency coordination, synthesis of plans and projects since 2003, and extensive fieldwork and public outreach to identify and prioritize an updated list of improvement project concepts.
Westlake Transportation Hub Strategy, Seattle, WA
Seattle’s Westlake Park and downtown retail core is where numerous main arterials, transit systems (light rail, streetcar, monorail, electric trolley and regional express bus), and bicycle routes converge atop the highest pedestrian volumes in Washington State. As project manager Casey led all aspects of plan development (multiple consultant contracts, stakeholder outreach) and implementation, including nearly $1.5 million secured in grant funding. These efforts culminated with the in-house design of a complex street closure project that constructed a new public plaza with updated streetcar facilities, enhanced bicycle parking, artistic pedestrian-scaled lighting, raingarden, salvaged/recycled materials, and the integration of an historic landmark.
West Seattle Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Corridor, Seattle, WA
As the city’s Department of Transportation project lead, Casey worked closely with King County Metro transit planners, consultants, city council staff, and local stakeholders on streetscape changes associated with Metro’s ‘RapidRide Line C’ bus rapid transit corridor. In addition to refining station locations and design, Casey’s responsibilities included integrating bicycle, pedestrian, and parking facilities with transit priority corridor treatments and improving station access plans.
University Area Long Range Transportation Plan, Seattle, WA
Casey led plan development, analysis, outreach, and graphic production for the long range, multi-modal plan for the regional urban center surrounding the University of Washington’s main campus. Providing detailed analysis of existing and future (2030) transportation conditions, the plan identifies over forty (40) projects to improve non-motorized and transit networks while maintaining adequate levels of service for general purpose traffic. In just three years since the plan was published, over half a dozen projects have already been constructed or are in design development with full funding.
