Meet Jessica Horning, ODOT’s new active transportation liaison

Jessica Horning.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

In case you missed it, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) recently hired a Transit and Active Transportation Liaison for the Portland metro area (what ODOT refers to as Region 1). The new hire is 31-year-old Humboldt neighborhood resident Jessica Horning. Since we’ll surely be seeing and hearing a lot from Jessica in the future, I figured we should get to know her a bit better.

I recently asked Jessica a few questions via email…

My primary responsibility is to guide ODOT Region 1 in developing a collaborative and strategic approach to pedestrian, bicycle, and transit issues in the Portland Metro. That includes:

• building/strengthening partnerships with TriMet, local jurisdictions, and community organizations (BTA, Oregon Walks, etc.);
• working to proactively identify and prioritize transit and active transportation improvements on ODOT facilities;
• assisting with planning, design, and implementation of active transportation projects; and
• growing internal staff awareness of and expertise in transit and active transportation issues.
• Part of what makes this position exciting to me is the fact that it is new approach to centralizing these activities, so there is some flexibility to shape the position to meet the region’s needs as we identify them.

I received my Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, where I was also a Research Assistant at the Active Communities and Transportation Research Group. Since then, my professional experience has been as a consultant at Cambridge Systematics in Washington, DC and at Kittelson & Associates, Inc. here in Portland. In both of these positions I have had the opportunity to work with an incredible group of planners, engineers, and designers on projects ranging from national research, to long-range plans, to development review. Some of the projects I have played a lead role in include: the Washington County Bicycle Design Toolkit; the City of Philadelphia Complete Streets Design Handbook, Central Ave Transit-Oriented Development Implementation Plan, and the Maryland DOT’s Statewide Trails Plan. I have always had a particular passion for transit and active transportation issues, which is what led me to this position at ODOT.

On the personal end of things, I’m an active member of Portland Bike Polo and had the privilege of traveling to Geneva, Switzerland this summer to witness Portland United take 5th place in the Bike Polo World Championships while also checking out Geneva’s amazing transit system, cycle tracks, and home zones. (If I may put in a shameless plug, Portland Bike Polo is currently looking for a location to host the 5th Annual Ladies Army tournament, featuring 150 of the best female bike polo players from around the world, so if you own a large parking lot or warehouse space that you are willing to rent for a weekend in June 2013, please look us up on Facebook!)

Some of the efforts on my “to-do” list include:

• Develop a Region 1 Pedestrian/Bicycle Project Needs Inventory
• Inventory active transportation improvements to ODOT facilities identified in local and regional plans
• Coordinate with community organizations to identify concerns, needs, and priorities
• Conduct quantitative analysis of ped/bike “hot spots” (e.g. high crash locations)
• Build partnerships to identify and pursue funding for active transportation projects
• Provide technical assistance to advance transit, pedestrian, and bicycle elements of existing ODOT projects (e.g. TV Highway, N/NE Quadrant Plan)
• Promote staff development opportunities regarding transit, pedestrian, and bicycle issues, such as Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals webinars.

I have been going on a lot of “exploratory” walks and rides lately to get a better feel for what it’s like to be a pedestrian or cyclist on different ODOT facilities. For me, it’s the quickest way to get an understanding of where and what the issues are. Where did I want/need to cross the street? Where did I hop onto the sidewalk because traffic was too scary? Where did I get lost? Firsthand experiences are way easier for me to remember and use as a basis to start brainstorming potential solutions.

The I-5 to I-205 trip introduced me to some great new areas where I want to bike and explore more, as well as some areas where there are gaps in the network, need for more wayfinding, and opportunities to improve facilities to serve a broader range of users. It was also the first ride I’ve attempted to document on Twitter, and the additional feedback I received was great! I have several other rides scheduled with various community groups over the coming weeks, so if there is an area you think I need to experience, please let me know!

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Thanks for answering my questions Jessica. We look forward to working with you.

You can contact Jessica via email at Jessica.Horning@odot.state.or.us.