BAHATI OONGA
Louisville,USA
Summary
Multidisciplinary Transportation and Land Use Planner with expertise in environmental planning, equitable mobility, and community-centered urban development. Proficient in equitable transit-oriented development (eTOD), CMAQ air quality mitigation, and data-driven spatial analysis. Experienced in integrated urban water systems, infrastructure management, and real estate & community development. Skilled in public participation processes, dispute resolution, and stakeholder engagement. Committed to building inclusive, resilient, and sustainable cities through integrated planning and policy implementation.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Transportation Planner / Transit Planning and Data Analyst
Transit Authority of River City (TARC)
02.2025 - Current
- Analyze ridership and performance data to optimize transit routes, schedules, and service delivery.
- Design and evaluate proposed transit corridors and station locations to support long-term network expansion.
- Collaborate with developers, urban planners, and local government agencies on integrated transportation and land use planning.
- Assess the impact of land use changes and proposed developments on current and future transit demand.
- Implement innovative technologies and data-driven solutions to enhance operational efficiency and rider experience.
Graduate Assistant
University of Arizona
08.2023 - 05.2025
- 2025 Plan Tucson Update Subcommittee Member – Land Use and Transportation Working Team Facilitator
- Participated in the comprehensive update of Tucson’s General Plan Updates 2025, focusing on the intersection of land use and transportation planning
- Facilitated working team sessions to gather stakeholder input, build consensus, and develop actionable strategies
- Contributed to the formulation of integrated policies aimed at promoting sustainable growth, multimodal connectivity, and equitable community development
Member
East Central University
11.2021 - 09.2024
Member of East Central University Water Resources. Serving on Blue Thumb team which monitors water quality in Oklahoma's streams.
- Serving on Blue Thumb team which monitors water quality in Oklahoma's streams.
- Conducting laboratory tests for variety of parameters.
- Reporting findings to the State of Oklahoma.
- Member of East Central University Water Resources. Serving on Blue Thumb team which monitors water quality in Oklahoma's streams.
Graduate Teaching Assistant
University of Arizona
08.2022 - 05.2024
Graduate Teaching Assistant: University of Arizona
- Sustainable Cities (RNR 256, PLG256, GEOG256)
- Taught small groups of students focused on specific parts of coursework.
- Assisted with development and implementation of new course materials to enhance learning experience.
- Collaborated with staff in curriculum reviews to improve course and program offerings.
Graduate Research Assistant
University of Arizona
08.2022 - 05.2024
Graduate Research Assistant : University of Arizona (CLIMATE ACTION PLAN QUALITY EVALUATION)
- Prepare research reports, technical documents, and presentations for stakeholders.
- Present findings to supervisors, research teams, or community groups. https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/b01d63aee41c48b0804b77569f78cf21
- Southwest Urban Corridor Integrated Field Laboratory (SW-IFL)
Education
M.Sc. - Urban Planning, Regional &Community Development
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ05-2024
MSc. - Water Resource Policy and management
East Central University
Ada, Oklahoma05-2022
Bachelor of Science - Geography
Kenyatta University
12-2017
Skills
- Urban Governance & Policy
- Social Inclusion & Spatial Equity
- Land Use Planning & Development
- Transportation & Mobility Planning
- Equitable Transit-Oriented Development (eTOD)
- Sustainable Urban Development
- Climate-Responsive Planning
- Community Engagement & Participatory Planning
- Resilience & Adaptation Planning
- Stakeholder Mediation & Negotiation
- Spatial Analysis & Data-Driven Decision Making
- Integrated Planning Approaches
- Policy Development & Implementation
- Affordable Housing & Urban Shelter
- Air Quality Mitigation & CMAQ Program Management
Certification
- Demand Responsive Transport (DRT): Understanding its role within modern mobility systems, Institute of Urban Mobility (EU), 2024-01-01
- Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs): Frameworks for integrated and sustainable transport strategies, Institute of Urban Mobility (EU), 2024-01-01
- Artificial Intelligence in Urban Mobility: Leveraging AI for smarter, more efficient urban transport, Institute of Urban Mobility (EU), 2024-01-01
- The Urban Heat Island Effect: Strategies for mitigating excess heat in urban environments, Institute of Urban Mobility (EU), 2024-01-01
- Multimodal Transport: Promoting diverse transportation modes for healthier, more resilient cities, Institute of Urban Mobility (EU), 2024-01-01
Awards
- Runner up The Big Pitch, Revenue Generating, 2021, Oklahoma
- Runner up Ivory Innovation Hack-A-House Competition, Affordable Housing, 2022
- Planning Excellence, University of Arizona, College of Architecture, Planning, & Landscape Architecture, 2024
- National Planning Conference (APA), 2024
- Watkins Lecture conference on Global Crisis: Food and Water, 2022
- The 13th annual WaterSmart Innovations Conference and Exposition (WSI), 2021, Las Vegas
- Oka 'Institute Water Sustainability Conference, 2021
- High-Resolution Land Cover Inter-comparison and Validation workshop at The Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD), 2016
- ACORCE, 2016 conference at KICC (Annual Conference of Research and Exhibition), 2016
- Mau - Mara Serengeti (MaMase) mapathon contributions via OpenStreet Maps (OSM) at Upande, Kenya, 2016
Training
Webinar Participation, 2025, National Transit Institute (NTI), Geospatial Data for Demand Response Modes (B-15): Explored tools, resources, and best practices for transit agencies utilizing geospatial data to improve demand response services and inform data-driven decision-making.
Timeline
Transportation Planner / Transit Planning and Data Analyst
Transit Authority of River City (TARC)
02.2025 - Current
Graduate Assistant
University of Arizona
08.2023 - 05.2025
Graduate Teaching Assistant
University of Arizona
08.2022 - 05.2024
Graduate Research Assistant
University of Arizona
08.2022 - 05.2024
Member
East Central University
11.2021 - 09.2024
M.Sc. - Urban Planning, Regional &Community Development
University of Arizona
MSc. - Water Resource Policy and management
East Central University
Bachelor of Science - Geography
Kenyatta University
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