Jeff Wood Named To Mass Transit Top 40 Under 40
Reconnecting America’s Jeff Wood has been named one of Mass Transit magazine’s Top 40 Under 40 list. Wood, who is the chief cartographer and new media director for Reconnecting America, was nominated by his peers as a professional who has made significant contributions to the public transit industry. Wood’s work was judged on criteria that included job commitment, industry involvement and contribution, achievement in his position and innovation in his field.
“Millions of people utilize public transportation every year, relying on it to transport them to work, school, social and sporting activities,” said Publisher John Hollenhorst in announcing the honorees this year. “The individuals chosen for this year’s list have been standouts in their respective areas and show a strong passion and commitment that exemplifies the best of the best.”
A 6-year veteran of Reconnecting America, Wood does mapping analysis for Reconnecting America and the Center for Transit-Oriented Development and conducts research on transit mode funding, technology, and the relationship of transit to development. Much of his mapping analysis which focuses on land use and transit can be found in Reconnecting America’s Map Room. (http://ractod.org/pO7YEl) His new media outreach and communications work includes a popular daily email newsletter, The Other Side of the Tracks, which is distributed weekdays to more than 1,200 subscribers. Previous to his work at Reconnecting America, Jeff co-founded Connect Austin, an umbrella organization for nonprofits in Austin that promoted streetcars. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and a Master of Science in Community and Regional Planning from the University of Texas at Austin.
“I really enjoy meeting all the people around the country that are doing the hard work of organizing on the ground, getting transit lines and development around them through the political quicksand that pops up in every city,” said Wood. “In the blogosphere, planning departments, and transit agencies around the country there are a lot of unrecognized heroes out there that have a story to tell. Learning what they have done is inspiring and hopefully I can help them with their work in some way or another and tell their stories.”
Last year, Reconnecting America Policy Director Sarah Kline, then the director of policy and government relations for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, was a Mass Transit 40 Under 40 honoree.
John Robert Smith, President and CEO of Reconnecting America, praised Wood’s selection, saying, “We are extremely proud that the caliber of Jeff’s talent has earned him this ‘Top 40 Under 40’ selection. He is an indispensable part of our team. Reconnecting America prides itself on the skills of its staff and having Jeff and Sarah receive this honor in back-to-back years proves that we indeed have a strong team.”
