Getting into Urban & Regional Planning | Caffeinate Your Career

Research Triangle Park

14 Nov 202228:33

EducationalLearning

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TLDRAlicia interviews her co-worker Travis, a planner for the Research Triangle Foundation, which stewards Research Triangle Park in North Carolina. Travis discusses his background and path to urban planning, daily responsibilities coordinating development projects, and passion for envisioning better futures. He offers advice on skills like public engagement and relationship building that aid planners, who facilitate complex processes with many unknowns. Travis advocates reaching out to planners to learn about the field and planning's significant, though often overlooked, impacts on communities.

Takeaways

📚 Travis Creighton works for the Research Triangle Foundation, focusing on land development and planning for the future of Research Triangle Park.
🛣️ The Research Triangle Foundation's mission involves promoting collaboration between universities and industry to create economic benefits for North Carolina.
👨‍💻 Planners work on a broad range of projects, including regional coordination and specific developments, such as improving transportation and infrastructure.
🚲 A current major project involves enhancing and connecting the park's 20 miles of trails to modern greenway standards for better regional connectivity.
🗳 Planners often collaborate with various stakeholders, including government agencies, private firms, and the community, to develop and implement plans.
📝 Effective communication and facilitation skills are crucial for planners to engage with communities and stakeholders in the planning process.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Public engagement and understanding community needs are essential aspects of a planner's role, emphasizing the importance of building trust with communities.
📚 A master's degree in planning is commonly seen as the entry-level requirement for professional planners, offering a blend of technical knowledge and practical skills.
📌 Networking and building relationships within the planning field can be invaluable, as planning is a relatively small and interconnected profession.
🗣 Travis recommends reaching out to professionals in the field for advice and insights, highlighting the openness of planners to share their experiences with newcomers.

Q & A

What are some of the key responsibilities of a planner?
-Some key responsibilities of a planner include coordinating land development, creating transportation plans, facilitating community engagement, conducting data analysis, and providing recommendations to decision makers.
What kind of educational background is recommended for a career in planning?
-Most planners have a master's degree in urban planning, urban studies, or a related field. An undergraduate degree in a field like geography, political science, or economics can also provide a good foundation.
What skills are important for a planner to have?
-Important skills for planners include analytical skills, ability to think holistically, strong communication and interpersonal skills, and ability to facilitate diverse groups and build consensus.
How does the role of a planner vary across different organizations?
-Planners work in various settings like government agencies, private consulting firms, and non-profit organizations. Their day-to-day work and areas of focus may differ across these roles.
What are some challenges faced by urban planners?
-Challenges include planning for an uncertain future, overcoming institutional roadblocks, engaging diverse communities, and bringing together disparate groups to build consensus.
What types of professionals do planners collaborate with?
-Planners collaborate with engineers, economists, public administrators, architects, and professionals from many other fields depending on their area of focus.
How can you gain experience in urban planning as a student?
-Students can gain experience through internships, volunteering on community planning initiatives, taking on research projects, and participating in student organizations focused on urban issues.
What are some examples of projects a planner might work on?
-Example projects include developing land use plans, designing transportation infrastructure, creating economic development strategies for a city, and planning mixed-use developments.
How might advances in technology impact the field of urban planning?
-Technology allows planners to analyze data, model scenarios, and engage the public in new ways. It may also enable more efficient transportation and building design.
What are some important ethical considerations for urban planners?
-Planners should prioritize public interests over private interests, ensure equitable distribution of resources, engage communities transparently, and protect sensitive information.

Outlines

00:00

🤝 Introduction to 'Caffeinate Your Career' with Travis Creighton

The segment opens with the introduction of 'Caffeinate Your Career,' a series hosted by Alicia Josie featuring experts in various fields. In this episode, Travis Creighton, a planner at the Research Triangle Foundation, shares insights into his role and the organization's impact on North Carolina's economic development. The conversation kicks off with icebreaker questions about ideal weekends and preferences for movies, revealing Travis's penchant for relaxation and original content. He also shares his most used emoji, the hug emoji, to express affection in digital communication.

05:00

🏢 Exploring Travis Creighton's Role and the Research Triangle Foundation

Travis Creighton delves into his responsibilities as a planner and project coordinator at the Research Triangle Foundation, emphasizing land development and planning within the park's vast acreage. He highlights the foundation's mission to foster collaboration between triangle universities and industry for the economic benefit of North Carolina. Travis also touches on the broader field of planning, its various specializations, and the importance of holistic regional visioning for creating cohesive and sustainable communities.

10:02

🚴 Travis's Projects and Day-to-Day Work at the Research Triangle Foundation

Travis discusses specific projects, including trail network enhancements and regional connectivity efforts aimed at improving pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure within the Research Triangle Park. He outlines the scope of his daily tasks, which range from virtual meetings and email correspondence to on-site visits and coordination with contractors. The narrative provides insight into the multifaceted nature of planning work and the collaborative efforts required to realize infrastructure improvements and regional development goals.

15:02

📈 Challenges and Rewards of Being a Planner

This part covers the inherent challenges and rewards of planning for the future, addressing the difficulty of envisioning and preparing for change within communities and institutions. Travis discusses the planner's role in facilitating discussions and making advisory contributions rather than hard decisions. He emphasizes the importance of being proactive and adaptable to ensure equitable development and avoid exacerbating existing problems as communities evolve.

20:03

🌟 Travis Creighton on Confidence and Career Growth in Planning

Travis reflects on the importance of confidence in professional settings, attributing his demeanor to thorough preparation and a belief in one's right to contribute to discussions. He shares insights into navigating the planning field, including the value of a master's degree for career entry and advancement. Travis also encourages young professionals to seek mentorship, engage in public discourse, and prepare diligently for meetings to exude confidence and earn trust.

25:03

🚀 Final Thoughts and Advice for Aspiring Planners

In the closing segment, Travis offers advice for those interested in planning, emphasizing the importance of networking within the relatively small professional community. He recommends exploring innovative perspectives through literature and understanding the role of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) in local transportation policy. Travis stresses the value of reaching out to professionals for guidance and leveraging personal and educational experiences to navigate the planning field effectively.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Planner

A planner is a professional who engages in urban, regional, or transportation planning. Planners develop long-term plans and policies for the use of land and resources. In the video, Travis Creighton is introduced as a planner who works on planning and development projects for Research Triangle Park.

💡Research Triangle Park

Research Triangle Park is a 7,000 acre research park in North Carolina. It is home to major technology and life sciences companies. The Research Triangle Foundation is the non-profit charged with stewarding and promoting development in Research Triangle Park.

💡Transportation planning

Transportation planning is a field within urban planning that focuses on developing transportation policies, infrastructure, and systems to move people and goods. Travis became interested in transportation planning after living in Washington D.C. and noticing deficiencies in rural transportation options during his childhood.

💡Public policy

Public policy refers to policies, plans, and courses of action created and implemented by governments at various levels. Travis initially majored in political science and public policy during undergrad, before pivoting to urban planning.

💡Master's degree

A master's degree refers to a postgraduate academic degree. Travis discusses how most planners obtain a master's degree in fields like urban planning or public administration. He completed a dual master's program at UNC Chapel Hill.

💡Bureaucracy

A bureaucracy is an administrative system composed of various departments and procedures. Travis notes that a challenge for planners is having to navigate bureaucratic institutions not designed for modern problems.

💡Public engagement

Public engagement refers to efforts by governments and organizations to connect with and involve the public in planning processes. Travis emphasizes the importance of public engagement skills for planners.

💡Greenway

A greenway is a long, narrow piece of land used for recreation, walking, or biking. One project Travis discusses is upgrading the park's 20 miles of trail greenways to modern standards.

💡Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)

MPOs are regional organizations mandated by the federal government to coordinate transportation planning and policies for urban areas. Travis suggests researching your local MPO to understand transportation issues in your community.

💡Facilitation

Facilitation refers to guiding a group discussion and decision-making process. Travis notes that facilitation skills are valuable for planners in convening diverse stakeholders.

Highlights

First significant research finding

Introduction of new theoretical model

Notable contribution to the field

Transcripts

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