PORTFOLIO

Mazen ChaanineMaster of City Planning ‘15University of Pennsylvania

INTRODUCTION

I am a firm believer in transportation’s capacity to spearhead economic growth and development. As a graduate transportation planner from the University of Pennsylvania, I am primarily interested in devising sustainable transportation strategies for cities to promote efficiency, resilience, and quality of life. My career goals are to plan, design, and manage large-scale transportation projects, namely airports, but also high-speed rail and metro systems. My background in economics, experience in working for the public sector, and thorough planning education, have reinforced my technical, analytic, and communication skills which I aim to put to good use in the transportation field.

This portfolio highlights the work I have accomplished during my graduate years at the University of Pennsylvania. The projects I have focused on span everything from comprehensive planning for cities, to airport growth evaluation, and rail infrastructure assessment. The maps and diagrams presented here are entirely my work.

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1. KING OF PRUSSIA COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

The first-year planning worshop focused on devising a comprehensive plan for a city or place in the United States. With a team of seven students, we set out to develop a proposal for King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, as we envision it in 2035. I was personally responsible for the transportation plan, which included:

(i) The extension of the Norristown High Speed Line (NHSL) to serve the King of Prussia Mall and employment center;

(ii) A revised network of bicycle lanes;

(iii) An improved pedestrian and transit experience throughout the district.

- Regional Map of King of Prussia

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- Proposed Alignment of NHSL

- Proposed Bicycle Lanes - Proposed Road Design

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2. EVALUATING AIRPORT ATTRACTIVENESS

This project identified and ranked the most attractive airports in the United States, those with the highest growth potential and capacity to lure investors. In particular, twenty secondary airports were examined, defined as those that serve metropolitan areas with a population between one and two million. Using ArcGIS, attractiveness indices were generated and subsequently mapped. These indices are based on geographic location, regional demographic and economic growth, enplanement growth, and airport financials. The results found Austin, Salt Lake City, and Oklahoma City airports as the most attractive.

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- Normalized Distance-Based Attractiveness

- Most Attractive Secondary Airports

- Normalized Passenger Enplanement Growth

(1992 - 2012)

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3. NEW YORK - NEW JERSEY CROSSRAIL

The New York - New Jersey Crossrail was the focus project of the second-year transportation studio. The main idea behind this potential infrastructure investment is to integrate the fragmented regional rail system of the New York metropolitan area, currently operated by New Jersey Transit, Long Island Railroad, and Metro North. Through a series of strategic transportation developments, the project would have greater socio-economic benefits for the entire region.

For this, I worked within the transportation team, which was tasked with devising a phasing and service plan for the rail project, and coming up with suitable cost estimates for all construction components.

- The Northeast Corridor Snaking Through New York

- The New Hudson Tunnels Under Construction7

JAMAICA

JFK Airport

LEGEND

SECAUCUS

NEWARK Penn

EWR Airport

To Stamford

To Hicksville

To PortWashington

To Babylon

To Trenton

PENN

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Eastbound Through-Running Trains per Hour

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Westbound Through-Running Trains per Hour

Holland Tunnel

PENN STATION

Amtrak Hudson Tunnels

Lincoln Tunnel

PATH Uptown Tubes

PATH Downtown Tubes

- Vision Plan of the NY-NJ Crossrail

- Proposed Service Plan of the NY-NJ Crossrail

- An Integrated Regional Rail Network

- Existing Tunnels Under the Hudson 8

4. TRANSIT OPTIONS ON WASHINGTON AVE.

Part of the Transportation Planning Methods class, this final project involved analyzing various transportation alternatives on Washington Avenue in Philadelphia, and deciding on the most suitable option. The alternatives included: (i) a BRT line, (ii) a light-rail line, and (iii) a bicycle and pedestrian boulevard. Additionally, the analysis required the use of VISUM in order to simulate ridership changes on the proposed systems. Based on my evaluation, the bike and pedestrian boulevard and BRT alternatives both scored the highest.

- Proposed Alignment of the Washington Avenue BRT

Line, the “Washington Express”

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- Volume and Volume to Capacity Maps

for Private Transportation

- Traffic Flow Bundles on Washington Avenue

(Eastward & Westward)

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CONTACTMazen Chaanine

- Address:135 South 19th StreetPhiladelphia 19103PA, United States

- Phone:+1 215 350 8086

- Email:mazenchaanine@gmail.commazenc@upenn.edu

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