TPOL
Grad Serves as Virginia Transportation Planner
One
of the SPP Transportation Policy, Operations
and Logistics Program’s (TPOL) first
graduates is now in charge of Virginia’s
transportation plans. Marsha
Fiol, who graduated in August 2002, is the
Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)
State Transportation Planner. This high-level
position calls upon her to oversee all transportation
planning efforts that relate to roads, bikeways
and pedestrians.
After
working for 16 years in various VDOT positions,
Fiol came to her
new position with a sound knowledge of the
issues she would face. However, since taking
the job last fall, she has learned that fulfilling
a policy-making leadership role requires
an extra set of skills. “Basically, public
policies are developed for good reasons, with
good intentions. But people who are involved
in these efforts need more than good reasons
and good intentions,” she said, adding, “They
also need a good perspective and understanding.” |
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Marsha
Fiol graduated
from TPOL in August 2002. |
While
working as a policy planner, Fiol says that she has
learned the importance of
communication. “Through
communication, I am more likely to understand why a
person holds a certain belief related to the transportation
system. And through communication of the technical
analysis, policies and procedures, I can explain and
support my concerns,” she said.
She added that SPP played a big
part in helping her advance within her career. “SPP helped me see
a larger picture…I more fully understand not
only how the various modes of transportation are interconnected,
but also the economic and social impacts of the transportation
system,” she said.
One of Fiol’s goals is to strengthen VDOT’s
planning efforts. “ I want to increase the use
of technology, increase our efforts in bicycling and
pedestrian travel, initiate a sound freight planning
effort, and reaffirm our tradition of highway planning,” she
explained, later adding, “I see abundant opportunities
both right now, and in the future in transportation
planning.”
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