A Summer in Zurich
A Summer in Zurich
Last month, I arrived in Zurich, Switzerland to start a two-month long visit, and I am working in the offices of EBP (our parent company) for the summer. I am working a lot with existing US-based projects and clients, but also have many other exciting opportunities to support our Swiss colleagues and build relationships that will be beneficial to EDR Group’s current and future work.
The time in Zurich itself offers an interesting study in planning processes and outcomes. The city has extensively dedicated public right of way to trams, streetcars, electric trolley buses, and transit buses, and offers more extensive opportunities for carsharing. New on-demand services provided by TNCs appear to be less developed in the city, but EBP is one of the leading firms planning for a more automated and connected future. Zurich is experiencing the same explosion of dockless bike share providers as Boston, and you can even find the same companies as in the greater Boston area (check out this Limebike).
I’m very excited to exchange knowledge with EBP colleagues about evaluation methods and frameworks we have each been developing and applying for clients as well as how each firm has been addressing new mobility offerings in both policy analyses and evaluation settings.
EDR Group and EBP are also working together closely on supporting agencies and utilities in preparing for a future with more electro mobility and what this means for planning agencies, real estate managers, infrastructure and energy providers. These experiences cover both assessing different market development scenarios and the effect of public policies as well as specific siting of charging infrastructure and electrical infrastructure suitability.