Ben Caldwell Email & Phone Number

San Francisco, Ca, Us

For the City Design Group in the San Francisco Planning Department, I serve as lead urban designer and project manager for a diverse suite of complex community planning and design projects, including public realm plans for the Hub and Civic Center neighborhoods; a high-profile design re-imagining of the Market and Van Ness intersection; a district-level vision and green infrastructure plan for the Alemany Maze and Market area; and a key freeway transformation study for the City’s long-range transportation plan, ConnectSF. I provide high-level, strategic project vision and guidance; create high-quality urban design graphics; and work with a wide variety of community leaders, partner agencies, developers, consultants, and other partners on cutting-edge urban design and planning projects in San Francisco.

Berkeley, Ca, Us

As an Urban Designer and Planner at MIG, Inc., I provided innovative design and planning solutions for a wide range of dynamic community planning projects across the United States.

Provided urban design graphics and planning support for public realm design projects in California, including Oakland's Telegraph Ave Complete Streets Redesign Project, and Santa Monica's 17th St/Memorial Park light rail station area plan.

Design intern supporting San Francisco’s Green Connections project, which seeks to improve access to open space by re-envisioning and redesigning city rights of way as green street connectors that prioritize bicycle and pedestrian travel, manage stormwater on-site, enhance habitat corridor for wildlife, and improve the safety of neighborhoods.Lead urban designer for Bayview neighborhoodDeveloped the project’s first street-level conceptual design of a potential green connector route, in San Francisco’s Bayview neighborhood, presented to the community for public comment and response at Sunday Streets in the Bayview in July, 2012.Designed the project’s first city-wide Green Connections network map, with over 20 routes that reach into every neighborhood of San Francisco.

Worked with Professor Robert Cervero to update his book The Transit Metropolis. Currently working on a new project mapping and researching the “bikesheds” of Bay Area transit stations with high or low shares of bicycle access trips.

Directed the Presidio Community YMCA Bicycle Program (YBike), with a staff of 8 and a budget of $285,000/year. The YBike Program serves dozens of public schools and over 2,000 students a year through bicycle and traffic safety-based education programs.Served on steering committee for Safe Routes to School partnership in San Francisco, working with diverse partners to implement pedestrian and bicycle safety education and encouragement programs in 15 San Francisco public elementary schools.In partnership with the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, oversaw implementation of the Bicycle Safety Education Project, which reached over 3,000 San Francisco youth from 2007-09 with expanded after-school bicycle safety education programs; new bicycle “rodeos” in elementary schools and at community-wide events; and new, pilot bike and traffic safety education Physical Education (PE) classes.Developed leading youth bicycle safety education curriculum.Founded and organized first Bike to School Day in San Francisco.Developed and designed a dedicated Bicycle Skills Area in the Presidio.Instituted risk management and emergency response training and procedures.Responsible for program advancement and development.

Oakland, Ca, Us

Worked with conservation and foundation staff, the Office of Advancement, and field activists to write and edit proposals for foundations, corporations, and major donors.

Iowa City, Iowa, Us

Designed and had sole responsibility for teaching two undergraduate courses in Creative Writing Studio Workshop.

Iowa City, Iowa, Us

Edited over 350 short fiction manuscripts for the Iowa Short Fiction Award and John Simmons Short Fiction Award contests.

Saint Louis, Mo, Us

Directed out-camping program; responsible for 200 youth, aged 13-17.Hired, trained, and supported sixteen adventure leaders.Coordinated over thirty trips, ranging from three-day backpacking treks in Maine’s Bigelow Mountains to four-week bicycle tours in Nova Scotia.

Masters Of City & Regional Planning, Urban Design + Transportation

Master Of Fine Arts (M.F.A.), Creative Writing

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), American Literature (United States)