Orange County Branch Newsletter

January 2023

ASCE OC Publications

Transfers Magazine: From Knowledge To Action

By Marionne Lapitan, EIT, ENV SP | Publications Committee Editor-In-Chief

I recently discovered the Transfers Magazine in my Regional Transportation Policy class in my MSCE Master's Program at Cal Poly Pomona. It is a federally-funded publication by the Pacific Southwest Region University Transportation Center (PSR) with eight partner campuses across Arizona, California, and Hawaii. It aims to provide policymakers with essential research knowledge from transportation professionals/experts to improve people's lives.

Transfers identify pressing issues in the transportation industry with various topics, ranging from active transportation to transportation equity. The peer-reviewed research articles were written by faculty, staff, and students of partnering universities throughout the region. 

It delivers insight into the public's experiences while providing statistical information and strategies on critical transportation questions. As I read the articles, I reflected upon our engineering projects' impact on everyday lives and asked the questions:

• How can we further help?
• How can we make our transportation systems better?
• How can we equip the next generation?

With advancing technologies leading to a new era of safety, efficiency, and sustainability, policies that affect mobility for all modes of transportation are at the forefront. Research on existing transportation challenges poses a call for action to design a transportation system built for all. As local engineers, we are a part of the community that can provide a unique perspective on these transportation issues. Staying up-to-date on these topics allows for an open conversation that can positively impact the public. 

Check out the Transfers Magazine Publications at https://transfersmagazine.org/.

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About the Author:

Marionne Lapitan is a Civil Associate in the Traffic/ITS Department at Michael Baker International, an MSCE Graduate Student at Cal Poly Pomona, and a CSU Long Beach Alumni. She is currently the ASCE OC Publications Committee Editor-In-Chief and the ASCE OC YMF Communications Committee Co-Chair. Actively involved in various professional organizations, she is passionate about designing and building communities, both structurally and socially. She aims to make a difference in the world through civil engineering in hopes of building a brighter future for the next generation. She also enjoys traveling, graphic designing, and reading books in her free time. Marionne can be contacted via marionne.lapitan@mbakerintl.com or LinkedIn.

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