We’re thrilled to announce the opening of a new office in Philadelphia. After working on signature projects in this historic city for decades, we’re now opening the doors to a Toole Design Philadelphia office. Our growing Philadelphia team includes engineering and planning staff, with Philadelphia Office Director Carrie Long at the helm.
To learn more about what’s in store for the Toole Design Philadelphia office, read our interview with Carrie below.
Why Launch a Toole Design Philadelphia Office Now?
Having a dedicated space here in Philly is a huge step for our visibility and for building even stronger relationships with our local partners and clients. We’re eager to get out and connect with the community of practitioners in the area. Our office is right in Center City, near some excellent spots to grab lunch or coffee, which makes it easy to meet up with folks and build those connections.
Until now, our Philadelphia team hasn’t gotten to collaborate in person as much as we’d like. Now, being in one place makes it easier to work together and collaborate in real time in a different way — while maintaining a hybrid schedule so we still have flexibility.
What types of projects has Toole Design already been involved with in Philadelphia?
Toole Design has been a well-known firm in Philadelphia for years. We wrote the City’s first pedestrian and bike plan back in 2012 and have since been part of some landmark projects, including the Complete Streets on-call, which has a variety of interesting subprojects. We also helped design Spruce and Pine’s buffered bike lanes and protected intersections. Other notable efforts include safety improvements on Roosevelt Boulevard, the initial station siting and rollout for Indego bikeshare, and ongoing Vision Zero initiatives. And we’re involved in the Philadelphia Neighborhood Slow Zones Program, which focuses on creating safer neighborhood streets for all.
What’s special about the neighborhood around your office?
We’re in the Gayborhood, which is a vibrant and beloved neighborhood. It’s known for its unique character with a great mix of restaurants and shops. The area has a dense street network of historic and interesting streets. Just a couple of blocks away, you’ll find streets with restored wooden brick paving and, of course, the iconic rainbow crosswalks.
Best of all, our location is very multimodal. We’re near several SEPTA Metro stops, close to the PATCO line, and within easy reach of bike share stations and bus routes. It’s a perfect spot for a company focused on sustainable and inclusive mobility.
How Did You Get Your Start in Transportation Planning?
I was working in community development and housing policy in New York City when Janette Sadik-Khan was Commissioner of the NYC Department of Transportation. During that time, the City undertook some really transformative projects, reclaiming streets and spaces for people in ways that were eye-opening for me. It made me realize that I could pursue the same community-centered objectives I was working on by focusing on streets and transportation.
My first planning job was with the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. I then went on to get my planning degree at the University of Pennsylvania. I stayed on for several years to lead Penn’s Center for Safe Mobility, a research center focused on the human experience of infrastructure.
What’s Your Favorite Way to Get Around Philly?
Walking, for sure. Philadelphia’s historic layout makes it incredibly walkable, and in the core of the city you can reach almost anywhere on foot. I love showing visitors around, though they’re often surprised (and a little exhausted) by how much ground we cover! The mix of old and new architecture is amazing, from colorful cornices on rowhomes to the details on our art deco landmarks, and so many other neat murals and mosaics.
I also bike around a lot. On weekends, you may catch me riding with a trailer carrying my two dogs, Colby and Maya. And, of course, I hop on the 17 bus or another SEPTA service for longer trips.
What’s on the horizon for Philadelphia transportation?
There’s so much momentum in Philly not just for bike and pedestrian planning but also for reimagining streetscapes. The City is exploring innovative street designs, like open streets and shared streets. I’m excited to see more of that here.
The region is also making a significant investment toward expanding its trail network and building connections to what’s already there. The more connected a network is, the more people feel comfortable using it. Toole Design has helped to create extensive trail networks in other places throughout the United States, and I hope to contribute our expertise to the amazing regional trail network here.
What’s Your Favorite Part of Working at Toole Design?
I’m genuinely obsessed with working on design guides. I love workshopping ideas and bringing together teams from across the company to brainstorm approaches to street design challenges. Every guide is an opportunity to learn and contribute. Recently, I had the chance to work on the Curbless and Shared Streets Design Guide for Montgomery County, MD, which may be my favorite project so far.
My other favorite part is collaborating with thought leaders and industry experts here at Toole Design. People are so generous with their time and ideas in a way I hadn’t experienced before.
