New Sessions of Our Intensive Transit Network Design Course: Portland and Chicago

Key Takeaways

• Course runs July 30-31 in Portland, $525 per student.
• October 1-2 session in Chicago costs $745 per student.
• Jarrett Walker leads both intensive two‑day workshops.
• AICP credit offered, appealing to professional planners.
• Target audience includes planners, advocates, developers, city officials.

Pulse Analysis

Jarrett Walker’s reputation as a leading transit thinker makes his intensive design workshops a magnet for professionals seeking actionable insights. Since its inception in 2011, the two‑day format blends theory with hands‑on exercises, allowing participants to grapple with real‑world network challenges—from route spacing to service frequency. By concentrating learning into a focused weekend, the course sidesteps the dilution often found in longer academic programs, delivering immediate, implementable strategies for improving public transit systems.

The upcoming sessions are strategically timed and priced to attract a broad audience. The Portland workshop, held on the university campus, benefits from lower overhead, allowing a $525 tuition that undercuts the Chicago offering, which is set at $745 due to travel and venue costs. Both dates avoid major industry conferences, yet the Chicago session lands just before APTA’s TransForm event, positioning attendees to network with peers and apply fresh concepts in a timely manner. The inclusion of AICP credit further enhances the courses’ appeal, providing a tangible professional development credential that can be leveraged in career advancement.

Beyond the immediate skill boost, these intensive courses address a growing market need for transit‑savvy decision‑makers. Cities across the United States are grappling with congestion, equity, and climate goals, and effective network design is a cornerstone of sustainable mobility. By bringing together planners, developers, and civic leaders, the workshops foster cross‑sector collaboration that can translate into more coherent, rider‑focused transit plans. In an era where public transit is both a climate solution and an economic catalyst, such focused training helps ensure that the next generation of projects are grounded in proven design principles.