Lecture Recap and Video: Lynne Peterson on 'Roadways for People: Building Safe, Just and Affordable Communities'

When Lynn Peterson began working as a transportation engineer, she was taught to evaluate roadway projects based only on metrics related to driver safety, allowable speed for the highest number of cars, project schedule and budget. Involving the community and collaborating with peers were never part of the discussion. Today, Peterson is a nationally recognized leader in transportation planning and engineering, known for her approach that is rooted in racial equity, guided by a process of community engagement and includes collaboration with other professionals. Lynn Peterson will draw from her personal experience and interviews with leaders in the field to showcase new possibilities within transportation engineering and planning.        

Watch the Lecture

About Lynn Peterson

Image

Lynn Peterson is currently the Oregon Metro Council president, leading the nation’s only elected regional government, which oversees regional affordable housing, parks, tourism and cultural venues, garbage and recycling and, of course, transportation and land use planning. Prior to her current elected role, Lynn was the first elected chair of Clackamas County Commission, and on the Lake Oswego City Council. She served as secretary of the Washington State Department of Transportation for Governor Inslee, overseeing megaprojects including the Seattle Tunnel Project and the 520 Floating Bridge replacement, as well as the Washington State Ferries (third largest ferry system in the world) and Tolling System. She worked for Smart Growth America training state DOTs in Practical Design and Solutions, and served as the senior transportation policy advisor to Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber. She has also served as strategic planning manager for Portland's transit agency, TriMet, transportation advocate for 1000 Friends of Oregon, and owns her own transportation consulting business. Lynn holds advanced degrees in civil and environmental engineering and urban and regional planning.