Join us on October 29th for A Conversation with Taiwo Jaiyeoba
Equity & Upward Mobility in Transportation
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Taiwo Jaiyeoba,
Assistant city manager/director of planning, design & development
City of Charlotte, NC
The WTS Charlotte Metro Chapter is pleased to host Taiwo Jaiyeoba, Assistant City Manager and Director of Planning, Design and Development for the City of Charlotte, on Thursday, October 29th, 2020 for a virtual program.
For the City of Charlotte, 2020 was to be a time of renewed focus on improving mobility (transportation) for all. However, a few months into the year, Charlotte, along with the rest of the world, encountered the coronavirus pandemic, and the resurfacing of outrage against systemic racism and injustices experienced by communities of color, particularly the Black community. While inequity has historically defined our city’s make-up for many years, resulting in the more prosperous wedge and a less affluent crescent, improved connectivity is a way of leveling the field so as to get residents, especially to jobs and housing that they could afford. Despite the tragic nature of the pandemic, we are presented an opportunity to redefine our city in an equitable manner, creating the Next Charlotte. Cities that will be able to pivot successfully are cities that invest in different mobility options to get people to where they need to go and when they need to get there. This is why the Mayor and Council launched Charlotte Moves Task Force in February 2020 to position our city to implement an integrated but safe and equitable mobility network for all travelers regardless of age, income, ability, race, where they live, or how they choose to travel.
Join a conversation with Taiwo, where he will present on the City of Charlotte’s bold planning efforts and strategies to address challenges surrounding connectivity, mobility and equity in the City of Charlotte.
About Taiwo Jaiyeoba
Taiwo currently serves as Assistant City Manager and Director of Planning, Design and Development with the City of Charlotte.
As Assistant City Manager, Taiwo is a member of the City’s Executive Leadership team and provides support to Planning, Transportation and Charlotte Area Transit Services Departments.
As Director, Taiwo directs a staff of more than 100 employees in a Department responsible for planning activities in the City and unincorporated portions of Mecklenburg County. He oversees a Department with five Divisions: Charlotte Urban Design Center, Long Range & Strategic Planning, Charlotte Regional Transportation Organization (the regional Metropolitan Planning Organization), Rezoning/Annexation and Land Development. He currently oversees the City’s rewrite of a 20-year comprehensive plan (the first since 1975) as well as the City’s Development Code (the Unified Development Ordinance). Recently, Taiwo led his staff to overhaul the City’s Transit Oriented Development (TOD) ordinance, the first time in 15 years.
His vision is for an equitable, livable, sustainable and inclusive Charlotte.
Taiwo has more than 26 years of work experience nationally and internationally. Prior to his time at the City of Charlotte, he worked in both public and private sectors: as Director of Planning for the Sacramento Regional Transit District; Director of Planning & Development for the Grand Rapids transit authority; and Senior Consultant and Executive with multinational consulting firms.
Taiwo has managed multi-million dollar federally-funded light rail (LRT), bus rapid transit (BRT) and streetcar projects across the United States, including the Silver Line BRT (the first operating BRT project in the State of Michigan) and the Columbus MAX BRT in Ohio.
Taiwo presents extensively on a variety of planning and development subjects. He was an Adjunct Professor of Community and Transportation Planning with the Grand Valley State University, Michigan. Taiwo is currently a Board member of the Charlotte Center City Partners (CCCP), University City Partners (UCP) and the Habitat for Humanity of Charlotte. He is a member of the American Planning Association (APA), Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) and the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).