How could one possibly turn down a job where your responsibility is to create fantastic bicycling and walking communities? I’ve been hooked on alternative travel modes since walking and biking to school as a kid, and always knew that a job in this field was in my future. Today, with communities looking for ways to become more walk- and bike-friendly, I feel very lucky to be with a company at the forefront in this field. Whether it’s hiking through a park scouting out a new trail corridor, or riding through town looking for the best bicycle route, it’s really hard not to enjoy this work.
Rory Renfro brings strong skills in bicycle/pedestrian planning, research, writing, and graphic rendering. Rory participates in a variety of projects including community-wide bicycle and pedestrian plans, university non-motorized transportation plans, streetscape plans, trail feasibility studies, and conceptual design. He also has strong skills in project management, non-motorized demand modeling, mapping, and grant writing. Rory also has experience in National Environmental Policy Act documentation, including preparation of transportation technical reports for Environmental Assessments and Environmental Impact Statements.
Recent Projects
- Al Gharbia Physical Framework Master Plans, United Arab Emirates
The Al Gharbia Physical Framework Master Plans present short and long-term projects, programs and policies to guide development and redevelopment in several communities in the United Arab Emirates through the year 2030. Alta partnered with a broad consultant team to develop 20-year master plans for the Al Gharbia communities of Liwa, Mirfa and Ruwais. Alta specifically developed Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plans for each community under study. Rory conducted extensive field work to assess existing conditions and identify potential opportunities and constraints. Through a series of on-site workshops and charrettes, Rory collaborated closely with project partners and the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council to develop an extensive non-motorized transportation network for each community. The proposed system responds to the unique characteristics of the region and each community including climate, user demographics, and recreational opportunities. - Miami Valley Comprehensive Local-Regional Bikeways Plan, OH
Alta led a major bicycle master plan effort for Ohio’s Miami Valley region, encompassing the City of Dayton and over 80 other municipalities. The Plan included an existing bikeways assessment, a user needs and demand analysis, public outreach and workshops, development of a four-county local and regional bikeway network, prioritization of projects, design guidelines, a financial and funding section, and an implementation chapter. The project also included development of a “Safe Routes to School Toolkit” for over 60 schools. Rory maintained close involvement throughout the project’s duration, including assessing the region’s bikeway conditions, facilitating committee meetings and public workshops, and writing the Plan document. - Bremerton Non-Motorized Transportation Plan, WA
Alta helped develop a Non-Motorized Transportation Plan for the City of Bremerton, Washington. The Plan includes a detailed inventory and assessment of existing conditions, a detailed needs analysis, and a comprehensive list of infrastructure and programmatic solutions for improving walking and bicycling in the community. Rory had extensive involvement from start to finish, including walking and bicycling nearly 100 miles throughout the city to gain a first-hand perspective on the community’s bicycle/pedestrian system needs. He also facilitated meetings and helped developed a realistic Plan implementation strategy. - Sellwood Bridge Planning Project, OR
Built in 1925, Portland’s Sellwood Bridge carries nearly 30,000 vehicles per day on a crumbling two-lane structure with one three-foot wide sidewalk. Alta, as part of a larger consultant team, is helping determine the bridge’s future from the pedestrian and bicycle perspective. Rory helped develop and evaluate over 100 potential bridge alignment, cross-section and interchange designs, and performed a detailed bicycle/pedestrian safety analysis of six alternatives for the project’s Environmental Impact Statement. The analysis identifies potential bicycle/pedestrian conflicts with motorists, potential conflicts among differing non-motorized users, user safety and security concerns, and other elements. Rory is developed bicycle/pedestrian demand projections for each bridge improvement alternative.
Professional Organizations
- American Planning Association
- Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals
- Bicycle Transportation Alliance
