Steven Higashide Email & Phone Number

Privileged to lead a team of researchers and campaigners fighting for a transportation system that is pollution-free, safe for people and our planet, and accessible to everyone.

Greater New York City Area

Led research program for TransitCenter, a foundation and advocacy group working to improve U.S. public transit. Project manager and investigator for research and analysis cited hundreds of times by press, think tanks, and industry organizations, including the New York Times, Washington Post, Wired, Third Way, Center for American Progress, and the Roosevelt Institute. Helped develop curriculum for and lead organization’s anti-racist learning group. Supported the National Campaign for Transit Justice, a network of 100+ national and grassroots groups working to shape federal transportation policy and local transit service to emphasize racial equity and support essential workers.

Greater New York City Area

Led the Demand & Opinion program for TransitCenter, which helped explain why and how people use transit, and how cities can use land use and development policy to achieve better transportation outcomes. Represented the foundation to external audiences, presented our work at conferences and meetings, and moderated events in our office and in the field.

Greater New York City Area

Managed national research, local polling, and more during TransitCenter's start-up phase. Contributed to communications, external relations, program development, grantmaking, and hiring.

Greater New York City Area

I developed and ran Connecticut advocacy campaigns. Working with allies, I helped pass vulnerable user legislation to protect pedestrians and cyclists, tracked state budgets and transportation plans, and watchdogged implementation of major transportation projects.I represented Tri-State in meetings with local, state, and federal elected and agency officials; regularly spoke with the media; and wrote op-eds and letters to the editor, plus articles for the Mobilizing the Region blog. I coordinated Tri-State's work with national transportation reform efforts as field organizer for the Transportation for America campaign, and managed a municipal transit-oriented-development grant program.

Greater New York City Area

I tracked federal transportation policy and its impact on the tri-state region. I represented Tri-State to the media and in meetings with Congressmembers and staff, and coordinated advocacy among over 30 organizations, elected officials, and other stakeholders in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut for the Transportation for America campaign. I also managed a municipal transit-oriented-development grant program.

I managed editorial for Tri-State's award-winning online publication, Mobilizing the Region, as well as our website and social media. I developed online advocacy campaigns that generated thousands of petition signatures and e-mails to legislators in the tri-state area, and served as a media liaison and spokesperson. I managed an in-house website redesign and a municipal transit-oriented development program.

Masters, Urban Planning

B.A., Metropolitan Studies

Activities and Societies: Phi Beta Kappa, Washington Square News