Schaller Consulting

He is the author of several recent reports on app-based ride services such as Uber and Lyft (also called Transportation Network Companies, or TNCs), covering their impacts on traffic and transit; opportunities for collaboration with transit agencies and cities, and regulatory policy at the state and local level.

He also served on a Transportation Research Board policy committee and co-authored the committee's policy study of emerging mobility services.

He served as the New York City Department of Transportation's first Deputy Commissioner for Traffic and Planning (2012-14) and the first Deputy Commissioner for Planning and Sustainability (2007-11), providing senior executive leadership for development and implementation of DOT’s innovative, world-class programs for the safe, efficient and environmentally responsible movement of people and goods on the City's streets.

NYCDOT accomplishments include:

• Development of Vision Zero plan.
• Implementation of seven new bus rapid transit (BRT) corridors in all five boroughs and development of BRT master plan.
• Citywide roll-out of Munimeters that accept credit and debit cards and enable more efficient meter collections and maintenance.
• Implementation of peak-rate parking pricing pilots.
• Development of extensive traffic simulation model covering Manhattan and immediately surrounding areas.
• Merger to the Division of Planning and Sustainability with the Division of Traffic Planning, creating a smoother and closely coordinated process for project development and implementation.
• Publication of Sustainable Streets Index, Street Design Manual, Making Safer Streets and Measuring the Street reports, which highlight critical trends in transportation, document the benefits of DOT projects and provide guidance for innovative street designs.
• Development and institutionalization of community-based planning processes that led to successful projects with broad community support in diverse neighborhoods throughout the five boroughs.
• Led response to Superstorm Sandy, including repair of traffic signals, signs and street lights and implementation of “bus bridge” to fill gap from closure of East River subway tunnels.

From 1998 to 2007, Mr. Schaller consulted for public, private and non-profit groups on transportation policy and operational issues. Clients included local governments and transit and airport authorities in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, San Diego, San Jose, Austin, New Orleans, Laredo, Rochester (NY) and Ottawa, Canada and in the Los Angeles, Boston, Dallas and Washington DC areas. Non-profit and private sector clients include the Regional Plan Association, the Design Trust for Public Space, transit advocacy groups, international unions and major banks.

He has also worked for MTA New York City Transit, the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission and several other New York City agencies.

He has been called "a prominent transportation expert" (New York Times), "a widely acknowledged expert" on issues related to taxis, Uber and Lyft (Politico) and a "nationally recognized expert” on for-hire transportation issues (Washington Post).

Mr. Schaller is the author of numerous publications, including papers published in Transportation Policy, Transportation, Journal of Public Transportation, Transportation Quarterly, Transportation Research Record, Mass Transit and the New York Transportation Journal. He has presented his work at conferences held by the Transportation Research Board, American Public Transit Association, National Association of Transportation Officials, National Parking Association, Institute of Transportation Engineers, International Association of Transportation Regulators, International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association, International Transport Forum, ITS World Congress, and Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.

Mr. Schaller has been quoted in publications including The New York Times, New Yorker, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Crain's New York, Crain's Chicago, Wired, Citylab, New York Daily News, USA Today, National Public Radio, the BBC and the Canadian Broadcasting Network.

A 30-year resident of Brooklyn, Mr. Schaller has a Masters in Public Policy from the University of California at Berkeley and a BA from Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio.

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