Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates
Senior Principal, 1987-Present

Founding partner of a professional consulting firm (WBE) specializing in Transit Operations Management. Responsible for all phases of business development, project management, and daily operations. As a "hands-on" project manager, current and recently completed projects include:

• Multimodal Transportation and Mobility Plans- Currently leading Seattle's Urban Mobility Plan, a plan that seeks to replace a double decked freeway separating the City's waterfront from its downtown core with a series of surface and transit improvements that will maintain mobility while encouraging the use of alternative modes and reinvigorating the City's waterfront. Recently completed the award winning Downtown Mobility Plan for the City of Glendale, CA; which included transit improvements, parking policy changes and other transportation demand management measures combined with modest capacity enhancement projects to maximize mobility while allowing for the significant development planned in that City. For Treasure Island, a base reuse project in the San Francisco Bay, served as the lead transportation consultant to the City of San Francisco, developing a unique set of transportation demand management measures and revenue generation programs that will ultimately fund frequent fast and high quality bus and ferry service between the island and San Francisco and Oakland. Development plans for the island include 6,000 homes, hotel and retail development.
  
• Fixed Route Transit Planning and Operations including Rail and Streetcar Service – Over 20 years of experience in transit planning and operations. Recently completed an analysis of 14 corridors in the City of Minneapolis as part of a streetcar feasibility study. The result was a prioritized list of potential streetcar corridors which is moving to implementation. For the City of Seattle, managed the South Lake Union Streetcar Feasibility Study, which resulted in a major public-private partnership going from plan to operational service in less than two years. Currently working with BART and local jurisdictions to evaluate rail expansion options connecting the San Joaquin Valley in California with the Bay Area, using BART, High Speed Rail, conventional rail and other technologies. Directed the firm’s efforts on the Transit Effectiveness Project for San Francisco’s Muni; the first comprehensive look at Muni service in 30 years. Proposals from that study are being reviewed with the public now. Completed the Marin County Short Range Transit Plan, the first comprehensive plan for local service in that County. Specific operational issues in that study include an assessment of all bus stops for accessibility; an analysis of the potential implications of becoming a federal funding recipient; and the opportunities and issues involved in contracting for service with Golden Gate Transit, the regional bus transit provider in the area. Other recent transit planning and operations studies have included the Union City Short Range Transit Plan; and Bus Rapid Transit Studies in San Francisco, Oakland/Berkeley, and Sacramento.
  
• Specialized Services, including Paratransit, School Services and National Parks Planning and Service Implementation – Extensive experience in planning and implementing creative service concepts including shuttles, flexible services and paratransit services, with particular emphasis on services for elders, persons with disabilities and youth. Currently working with ACTIA, the sales tax authority in Alameda County, to implement and administer their paratransit program, which receives over $20M annually in sales tax funds. For Kern County, developed a coordinated human services transportation plan that is currently being implemented; fostering cooperation between dozens of agencies across a large county. Currently assessing the needs of long distance intercounty and interregional commuters in the San Joaquin Valley – a service area that includes six different counties. Extensive experience in school transportation, including a comprehensive assessment of the transportation operations of the San Diego School system, one of the largest (600 bus) school pupil transportation systems in the United States. Our work for the National Park Service includes multimodal studies throughout the Golden Gate National Recreational Area, Pinnacles National Park, Fort Baker and Muir Woods. Also for the National Park Service, led the effort to develop a transit service to Yosemite National Park, YARTS.