Urban Strategy in the Present Tense ft. Michael A. Carroll
Urban Strategy in the Present Tense is a conversation series featuring notable urbanists discussing their frontline work in urban resilience, as well as sharing their insights about public policymaking, urban problem solving, and life in Philadelphia.
This installment of our conversation series focused on the range of issues and strategies related to transportation systems in Philadelphia and beyond. We were joined by Michael A. Carroll, P.E. Read more about him below.
The series is produced by the Lindy Institute for Urban Innovation at Drexel University in partnership with the Urban Strategy Masters Program in Drexel's Westphal College of Media, Arts & Design.
As Deputy Managing Director for Philadelphia’s Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems (oTIS), Michael A. Carroll, P.E. is a creative and nationally respected leader with more than 25 years of experience in transportation. In this role, Carroll leads oTIS staff in developing strategies and implementing policies to build a safe and equitable multi-modal systems across Philadelphia’s diverse and vibrant neighborhoods.
Deputy Carroll coordinates and sets the policy direction for critical functions, including the Streets Department (both Transportation and Sanitation), the Philadelphia Water Department, as well as the newly created Office of Complete Streets. His oversight includes infrastructure systems that are made up of more than 9,500 transit stops, 2,575 miles of street, 320 bridge structures, 450 lanes miles of bike facilities, 1,000 Indego bikes and 100 Indego stations, and 6,500 miles of sewers and water mains. Deputy Carroll also coordinates with internal city departments, external agencies such as SEPTA, PennDOT, Amtrak, and the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, as well as with policy makers on the local, state, and national levels.
Deputy Carroll graduated with a Bachelor degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Cornell University and proceeded to earn Master’s degrees in Transportation Engineering and Transportation Planning from the University of Berkeley.