Originally Posted on the VTC Website
After 25 years of dedicated service, Jon Carnegie, Executive Director of the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center, is retiring. With extensive experience in land use and transportation planning, Jon has led numerous impactful research and planning projects across topics like transit-oriented development, transportation equity, senior mobility, transport security, emergency management, and evacuation planning.
We had the opportunity to sit down with Jon to reflect on his remarkable career and the highlights of his time at VTC. In the following Q&A, we discuss his career, hear his advice for the next generation of transportation planners, explore future transportation trends, and learn about his favorite VTC memory and plans for the next chapter.
What were some of the most rewarding and challenging aspects of leading an organization in the transportation planning sector?
I think one of the most rewarding aspects of my career has been the opportunity to spend so much of it at the Voorhees Transportation Center. I helped to grow the center into what it is today, and I have gotten a great amount of reward knowing that I played a part in it. We’ve created a center that’s well respected in New Jersey and increasingly throughout the nation.
There are good things and bad things about being in transportation research. A really good thing is there is a constant flow of money available for transportation research projects, creating a strong environment for growing a research center. However, the field is highly competitive, with organizations within New Jersey and even within Rutgers competing for these resources. It’s just inherently competitive, so finding those opportunities can be both rewarding and really, really frustrating.
How has the transportation planning field evolved during your career? And what trends or advancements stand out to you the most?
I think the focus on equity has grown significantly over the 25 years I’ve been here. Our understanding of transportation equity—particularly in terms of accessibility—has evolved. With advancements in technology, like geographic information systems (GIS) and data processing software, we’re now better able to measure accessibility. That has been a significant change for the good.
I think one challenge we haven’t fully addressed is how rapid technological advancements affect both the way we work and the subjects we study. Innovations like AI, automated vehicles, advancements in electric vehicles, and tackling climate challenges should, in my opinion, be central to VTC’s future agenda to stay relevant. However, it’s been difficult to dive deeply into these areas because we’re not computer scientists or engineers. Our role lies in examining the policy implications and social impacts of these technologies, which is an important perspective to bring to the table.
What advice would you give to the next generation of transportation planners and leaders in the field?
Stay optimistic, forward-thinking, and interested in advancing the things that are important to you and to VTC, which are equity, quality research, technical assistance, and expertise to the parties who need it. I’ve been very lucky. I thoroughly enjoy the subject matter. It’s been a great place to work for the last 25 years. Working in a research institution offers both benefits and a sense of freedom. Always keep that in mind when you’re thinking about the work you’re doing and the intangible benefits that it will provide you personally and professionally.
Do you have any retirement plans or hobbies you might want to pick up?
We plan to travel in a renovated retro-style camper van to hopefully see all the national parks in the continental U.S., visit every state, and explore cities we’ve never had the chance to see before. We also want to travel to Europe.
It will be exciting to enjoy things without having to think and worry about deadlines.
What is your favorite VTC memory?
When the entire staff came together for our strategic planning retreat five years ago. I thought it was a great day. We don’t often get the chance to spend that much time together, reflecting on the work we do. The way the facilitator organized it was fantastic, and it was also an opportunity to learn more about our colleagues—what they like and what they’re passionate about. I learned something new about everyone at that event, and I think about it quite a lot. I even got a little emotional during the event when we did a timeline of the center’s history. It was the first time I realized that I had been at the center for 20 years and had played a part in all of that.
Some of Jon’s most significant projects include:
Safe Mobility at Any Age
- This project focused on meeting the mobility needs of older adults, especially when faced with surrendering their driver’s license and served as a framework for efforts by several state agencies.
NJ Division of Disability Services (DDS) Five-Year Transportation Plan
- The work from this plan and the Safe Mobility at Any Age project led to the creation of NJ FindaRide, nj211.org/transportation-options-in-new-jersey, a one stop online information resource for mobility options statewide.
- The findings also led to the establishment of the New Jersey Travel Independence Program (NJTIP) as a non-profit to provide travel training for people with disabilities. NJTIP eventually merged with VTC in 2013, vtc.rutgers.edu/njtip/.
Driver’s License Suspension Impacts and Fairness Study
- This study analyzed driver’s license suspensions in New Jersey and has been widely cited and used by advocates nationwide to address issues of fairness in suspensions for non-payment offenses.
Evacuation Planning after Hurricane Katrina
- For this project, VTC collaborated with state agencies to develop evacuation and shelter plans for all 21 NJ counties, including protocols for evacuating carless residents, used during Hurricanes Irene (2011) and Sandy (2012).
As we say goodbye, we celebrate Jon Carnegie, whose dedication and achievements have left an indelible mark on us all. Thank you for everything. You will truly be missed at VTC.