Transportation & Land Use Planner
Bahati Oonga — Transportation Planner
Louisville, Kentucky Currently Based Here

Planning Cities
People Love

Designing equitable, sustainable mobility systems for
Urban Communities.

Transportation Planning
GIS & Urban Analytics
Sustainable Mobility
Transit-Oriented Development
Land Use Integration
Multimodal Safety
Inclusive Communities
Transportation Planning
GIS & Urban Analytics
Sustainable Mobility
Transit-Oriented Development
Land Use Integration
Multimodal Safety
Inclusive Communities
4+ Years Experience
15+ Certifications
10+ Awards Won
20+ Planning Initiatives
Who I Am & What I Bring

Professional
Profile

Urban and Transportation Planning leader with a strong foundation in local government policy, land use regulation, zoning administration, and sustainable community development.

Experienced in guiding interdisciplinary planning teams, administering zoning and subdivision regulations, and engaging a broad spectrum of stakeholders — from city officials and federal agencies to community members. Dedicated to building equitable, resilient communities through data-informed decision-making, comprehensive planning, and collaborative interagency coordination.

“Great planning starts with listening to people, understanding data, and building systems that serve everyone.”
Languages
100%

English

85%

Swahili

Specialized Focus Areas
01
Non-motorized transportationWalking & bicycling infrastructure
02
Transit-Oriented DevelopmentTOD & eTOD
03
Urban Mobility & AccessibilityInclusive urban solutions
04
Inclusive TransportationEquity-centered planning
05
Strategic PlanningLong-term vision & policy frameworks
06
Land Use PlanningZoning and subdivision regulations
Technical Skills
GIS/Spatial Analysis95%
Data Analysis90%
Data Visualization85%
Transport Modeling82%
Microsoft Office Suite90%
Policy & Report Writing88%
Zoning & Land Use Administration85%
Project Management80%
What I Do

My Expert Area

As a transportation planner, I specialize in designing sustainable mobility solutions for urban communities. I believe that great planning starts with listening to people, understanding data, and building systems that serve everyone — including those who have been historically left out.

Transportation Planning Urban Analytics Sustainable Mobility Policy Development Land Use & Zoning Community Development
ArcGIS Analysis
Data Analysis
Urban Design
Transit Operations
Sustainability
Data Visualization
Capabilities

Core Skills & Expertise

01

Transportation Planning & Policy

  • Comprehensive & strategic plan development
  • Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
  • Land use & development plan administration
  • Capital Investment Grants (CIG) coordination
  • Multimodal & public transit planning
  • Regulatory compliance & code enforcement oversight
02

Data & Analytics

  • Spatial Mapping.
  • Ridership performance analysis
  • Air quality conformity reports
  • Data visualization & dashboards
  • Statistical modeling
03

Leadership & Community Engagement

  • Staff supervision & team mentorship
  • Interagency & multi-departmental coordination
  • Public representation at boards & hearings
  • Equity-focused community outreach
  • Policy drafting & implementation oversight
  • Liaison to city, state & federal officials
Track Record

Professional Experience

Industry Roles

Transit Authority of River City (TARC)

Feb 2025 – Present

Transportation Planner / Transit Planning & Data Analyst

  • Analyze ridership and operational performance data to optimize transit routes.
  • Evaluate transportation impacts of federal and state legislative proposals.
  • Design and evaluate transit corridors and station locations for network expansion.
  • Develop air quality conformity determination reports ensuring federal standards.

Parkway Place, Louisville

Aug 2025 – Present

Neighborhood Planning & Policy Leadership

  • Strategic input on multimodal safety, ADA accessibility, and traffic calming.
  • Coordinated transit-related discussions with TARC.
  • Reviewed zoning and development proposals for neighborhood stability.
Academic Roles

University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

Aug 2023 – May 2025

Graduate Assistant – Transportation & Land Use Planning

  • Facilitated stakeholder engagement sessions for the Plan Tucson 2025 General Plan Update.
  • Supported interdisciplinary teams on land use–transportation integration.
  • Gathered community input to inform planning strategies and policy recommendations.
  • Contributed to equitable and multimodal transportation solutions.

University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

Aug 2022 – May 2024

Graduate Research Assistant – Climate Action Planning

  • Evaluated climate action plans using performance metrics and policy frameworks.
  • Prepared technical reports, presentations, and policy briefs for stakeholders.
  • Monitored implementation progress and recommended sustainability improvements.
  • Communicated research to academic, professional, and community audiences.

University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

Aug 2022 – May 2024

Graduate Teaching Assistant – Sustainable Cities

  • Supported instruction in sustainable urban development, transportation, and environmental planning.
  • Led discussion sessions and assisted in curriculum development.
  • Facilitated student understanding of planning concepts and sustainability frameworks.
Academic Path

Education

24 2024

M.Sc. Urban Planning

University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

Focus: Transportation & Land Use
22 2022

M.Sc. Water Resource Policy

East Central University, Oklahoma

17 2017

B.Sc. Geography

Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya

Achievements

Awards & Certifications

Certifications

  • Ridership Forecasting with STOPS for Transit Project Planning — NTI (2026)
  • Public Involvement in Transportation Decision Making — NTI (2025)
  • Inclusive Urban Design: From Public Spaces to Public Transport — IUM, EU (2025)
  • Demand Responsive Transport (DRT): Understanding its role in modern mobility — IUM, EU (2024)
  • Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs): Integrated & sustainable transport strategies — IUM, EU (2024)
  • AI in Urban Mobility: Leveraging AI for smarter urban transport — IUM, EU (2024)
  • The Urban Heat Island Effect: Strategies for mitigating excess heat — IUM, EU (2024)
  • Multimodal Transport: Promoting diverse transportation modes for resilient cities — IUM, EU (2024)

Key Awards

  • Planning Excellence — University of Arizona, CAPLA (2024)
  • Runner-up — Ivory Innovation Hack-A-House, Affordable Housing (2022)
  • Runner-up — The Big Pitch, Revenue Generating, Oklahoma (2021)

Conferences Attended

  • National Planning Conference (APA) — 2024
  • Watkins Lecture: Global Crisis — Food and Water (2022)
  • 13th Annual WaterSmart Innovations Conference (WSI) — Las Vegas (2021)
  • Oka' Institute Water Sustainability Conference (2021)
  • High-Resolution Land Cover Inter-comparison Workshop — RCMRD (2016)
  • ACORCE Annual Conference of Research and Exhibition — KICC (2016)
  • Mau-Mara Serengeti Mapathon via OpenStreetMap — Upande, Kenya (2016)
Let's Work Together

Get in Touch

Whether you're looking for a transportation planning consultant, a collaborator on urban mobility projects, or simply want to connect — reach out directly below.

© 2025 Bahati Oonga. All Rights Reserved. Website maintained by Job Oginga: joboginga@gmail.com