Colin Parent is the Chief Executive Officer and General Counsel at Circulate San Diego. He is also an elected member of the City Council of La Mesa, California.
In addition to overall management and legal matters for Circulate San Diego, Colin oversees advocacy and planning efforts for public transit, safe walkable neighborhoods, and environmental and sustainable land use policy.
Colin served on the Jerry Brown for Governor 2010 campaign, and was appointed by Governor Brown as the Director of External Affairs for the California Department of Housing and Community Development. Prior to working for Governor Brown, Colin practiced law for three years as a commercial litigator at the San Diego office of the international law firm of DLA Piper US LLP. During 2013 and 2014, Colin served as the Director of Policy at the San Diego Housing Commission.
He co-founded the San Diego Leadership Alliance, an organization that trains young San Diegans to be equipped for civic leadership. As a board member of the League of Conservation Voters San Diego, he chaired the first ever coalition to grade the environmental records of elected officials in the City of San Diego. Colin is an Eagle Scout and grew up in East County San Diego. He is a graduate of the NYU Law School, and U.C. San Diego.
Colin Parent's activity stream
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Colin Parent published Policy Letter: 2025 Annual Report on Homes in Policy Letters 2025-10-08 16:07:51 -0700
Policy Letter: 2025 Annual Report on Homes
Circulate provided some feedback on the City of San Diego’s 2025 Annual Report on Homes. To help decisionmakers evaluate the overall performance of the City’s housing programs, Circulate complied some top-line numbers from prior Annual Reports on Homes.
Read the full letter here. -
Colin Parent published The Powerless Brokers: Why California Can't Build Transit in Policy Reports 2025-08-06 13:02:22 -0700
The Powerless Brokers: Why California Can't Build Transit
Associated Content for this Report
,Download the Full Report [PDF]
Read the Mobile-First Version
Download the Executive Summary [PDF]
Download Appendix A [PDF]
Download Appendix B [PDF]Executive Summary
In California, building transit is slow and expensive. The transit we need to meet our climate and mobility goals too often remains aspirational.
Even when public transit projects are approved by elected officials or through ballot measures by the voters themselves, transit authorities do not have the power to construct them. Before they can build, they must seek third-party permits from local governments, special districts, state agencies, and public and private utilities.
This report focuses on the many third-party permitting challenges facing transit that are arbitrary, excessive, and avoidable. Within this report are case studies from across California documenting permitting issues that added costs and delays for needed transit projects. They range from the largest project in California – High-Speed Rail – to a small busway on the central coast.
The report tittle is a play on Robert Caro’s legendary biography of Robert Moses, “The Power Broker.” While Moses was the infamous and unstoppable master builder of New York, many transit agencies in California struggle to build, and find themselves powerless.
In recent decades, many reforms were adopted to prevent the abuses of Moses-style planning. Those same reforms have created their own challenges, adding an array of new hurdles and veto points, limiting state capacity to get projects done quickly and cost-effectively.
For California to secure abundant public transit, it must empower transit authorities to build. This report contains a variety of recommendations, including to:
- Reassign permitting responsibility from third-parties to transit authorities themselves,
- Incentivize local governments to prioritize transit, adopt transparent standards, and streamline permitting,
- Extend CEQA exemptions for sustainable transportation, and
- Encourage more transit leadership from Caltrans.
PRESS
- MEDIA ADVISORY: Press Conference for Release of The Powerless Brokers 8/4, August 1, 2025
- PRESS RELEASE: Circulate San Diego’s Releases Latest Report: “The Powerless Brokers: Why California Can’t Build Transit," August 4, 2025
- VIDEO OF PRESS CONFERENCE, August 4, 2025
- How a generation of permitting requirements slows down California's transit projects, Los Angeles Times, August 4, 2025
- Local governments are a roadblock to California transit, report says, Axios, August 4, 2025
- 700+ permits: Why California can’t build the transit it votes for, San Diego Post, August 4, 2025
- San Diego nonprofit report highlights obstacles for California mass transit projects, ABC 10, August 4, 2025
- California getting in its own way when it comes to building mass transit: Report, City News Service, August 4, 2025
- Video: Cutting the red tape, KCRA 3 Sacramento, August 4, 2025
- Video: San Diego Transit Report, Fox 5, August 4, 2025
- Video: California getting in its own way when it comes to building mass transit, NBC 7, August 4, 2025
- Demandan agilizar proyectos, El Latino, August 4, 2025
- How a generation of permitting requirements slows down California's transit projects, Mass Transit, August 5, 2025
- Group provides blueprint for transit development, The Daily Transcript, August 6, 2025
- Experts look to San Diego Trolley to help fix California high-speed rail crisis, Times of San Diego, August 7, 2025
- Radio: A San Diego group has come out with a report and a plan to improve mass transportation projects in this state, 600 KOGO, August 7, 2025
- Powerless Brokers: New Reports Puts Blame on Local Permitting for Cost Overruns, Slow Delivery Time, for State Mega-Projects, Streets Blog California, August 8, 2025
- Radio: Why can't California build more public transit?, KPBS Midday Edition, August 11, 2025
- Podcast: Abundance in transportation, Freeway Exit, August 12, 2025
- California’s famous overregulation claims new victim: High-speed rail | Opinion, The Fresno Bee, August 12, 2025
- Podcast: Episode 545: The Powerless Brokers, The Overhead Wire, August 13, 2025
- Weber: Death by 1,000 towns — How rural cities and counties slowed high-speed rail to a crawl, East Bay Times, August 15, 2025
- Talking Headways Podcast: The Powerless Brokers, Streetsblog USA, August 15, 2025
- Program Recording: Reducing the Friction in Permitting Transit, Spur Event Page, August 8, 2025
- California Has a Transit Cost Problem — and a New Appetite to Deal With It, Spur, August 21, 2025
- CP&DR News Briefs September 9, 2025: S.F. Reforms; Gonzales Mega-Development; New National Monument; and More, California Planning & Development Report, September 9, 2025
- National links: A new kind of public utility, Greater Greater Washington, September 5, 2025
- #2540 The Deadly Status Quo, Bike Talk, October 10, 2025
- The Powerless Brokers: Why California Can’t Build Transit, Metro Magazine, October 22, 2025
- CP&DR News Briefs November 4, 2025: San Francisco "Family Zoning;" Housing Costs; Los Angeles Co. Depopulation; and More, November 4, 2025
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Colin Parent published PRESS RELEASE: Circulate San Diego’s Releases Latest Report: “The Powerless Brokers: Why California Can’t Build Transit” in Press Room 2025-08-04 11:10:21 -0700
PRESS RELEASE: Circulate San Diego’s Releases Latest Report: “The Powerless Brokers: Why California Can’t Build Transit”
PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 4, 2025
Contact: Colin Parent, (619) 567-6856, [email protected]
Circulate San Diego’s Releases Latest Report: “The Powerless Brokers: Why California Can’t Build Transit”
On Monday, Aug. 4, at 9 a.m., Circulate San Diego released its latest report, “The Powerless Brokers: Why California Can’t Build Transit.” Congressman Scott Peters and California State Senator Catherine Blakespear were the keynote speakers for the press conference announcing the release.
An online media briefing is scheduled for today at 1 p.m. for those who could not attend the in-person press conference, at us02web.zoom.us/j/81844006159.
Californians understand building transit is slow and expensive. What many do not understand is that even when public transit projects are approved by elected officials or through ballot measures by the voters themselves, transit authorities do not have the power to construct them. Before they can build, they must seek third-party permits from local governments, special districts, state agencies, and public and private utilities.
The Powerless Brokers documents the many third-party permitting challenges facing transit that are arbitrary, excessive, and avoidable. It also provides recommendations for reform.
The report includes case studies from across California documenting permitting issues that added costs and delays for needed transit projects. They range from the largest project in California – High-Speed Rail – to a small busway on the Central Coast. The report highlights a generally positive case study of SANDAG’s construction of the Mid-Coast Trolley, and details unusual statutory authorities enjoyed by SANDAG that have never previously been reported in the media.
“In Congress, I’ve been working to reform our permitting processes because it’s time to take action and treat climate change, California’s housing shortage, and our sky-high cost of living like the crises we say they are,” said Rep. Scott Peters. “Making it easier to build public transportation and homes near transit is a win-win that gives us more resources to invest – in our families, communities, and infrastructure. Thank you to Circulate San Diego for their work on this report to highlight how our outdated permitting laws are slowing down much-needed transportation projects.”
"Transit projects should be delivered quickly, on time, and on budget, but as this report shows, we're stuck in a system where processes are delaying the transit projects needed to connect communities and meet our air quality goals," said Senator Catherine S. Blakespear. "We need practical and meaningful reforms that maintain important environmental and community protections while empowering our transit agencies to build efficiently and quickly, without bureaucratic gridlock."
“Californians deserve affordable and abundant public transit,” said Colin Parent, the CEO and General Counsel of Circulate San Diego and the author of The Powerless Brokers. “The Governor and Legislature have the power to reform our systems, and ensure we get the transit we need.”
The report title is a play on Robert Caro’s legendary biography of Robert Moses, “The Power Broker.” While Moses was the infamous and unstoppable master builder of New York, many transit agencies in California struggle to build – they find themselves powerless.
Following many of the themes from the recent New York Times Bestseller “Abundance” by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson, The Powerless Brokers details how many laws in California have created hurdles and veto points, limiting state capacity to get projects done quickly and cost-effectively.
Circulate’s report contains a variety of recommendations, including to:
- Reassign permitting responsibility from third-parties to transit authorities themselves,
- Incentivize local governments to prioritize transit, adopt transparent standards, and streamline permitting,
- Extend CEQA exemptions for sustainable transportation, and
- Encourage more transit leadership from Caltrans.
The full report is available at https://www.circulatesd.org/powerlessbrokers
Attached to this release is a copy of the report, a graphic of the cover page, and photos from the press conference this morning. Video from the morning press conference is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZDQq46dLF0
About Circulate San Diego
Circulate San Diegois a regional nonprofit think tank dedicated to advancing mobility and making the region a better place to move, work, learn and play. Our work focuses on creating great mobility choices, more walkable and bikeable neighborhoods, and land uses that promote sustainable growth. For more information, go towww.circulatesd.org.
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Colin Parent published MEDIA ADVISORY: Press Conference for Release of The Powerless Brokers 8/4 in Press Room 2025-08-01 16:09:16 -0700
MEDIA ADVISORY: Press Conference for Release of The Powerless Brokers 8/4
MEDIA ADVISORY – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 1, 2025
Contact: Colin Parent, (619) 567-6856, [email protected]
PRESS CONFERENCE AND ONLINE MEDIA BRIEFING
Release of Circulate San Diego’s Latest Report:
“The Powerless Brokers: Why California Can’t Build Transit”
What:
On Monday, Aug. 4, at 9 a.m., Circulate San Diego will debut its latest report, “The Powerless Brokers: Why California Can’t Build Transit.” The press conference will be at the Tecolote Station on the UC San Diego Blue Line with a virtual media briefing that afternoon.
Why:
From High-Speed Rail, to long-delayed bus rapid transit, California’s public transit agencies struggle to build the projects we need. This is a crucial time for public transit in California, with Trump threatening to pull back High-Speed Rail funds, and permitting reforms pending in the legislature.
The report includes a case study of SANDAG’s construction of the Mid-Coast Trolley, often held out as a model for project delivery. The report details unusual statutory authorities enjoyed by SANDAG, that have never been discussed in the media.
The report title ties to Robert Caro’s legendary biography of Robert Moses, “The Power Broker.” While Robert Moses was the infamous and unstoppable master builder of New York, many California transit agencies struggle – they find themselves powerless.When:
- In-Person Press Conference on Monday, Aug. 4, at 9 a.m.
- Online Media Briefing on Monday, Aug. 4, at 1 p.m.
Where:
- In-Person Press Conference: Tecolote Road Station, San Diego, CA 92110
- Online Media Briefing: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81844006159
Who:
- Congressman Scott Peters (In-person press conference only)
- Senator Catherine Blakespear, California State Senator District 38, Former Chair of SANDAG (In-person press conference only)
- Colin Parent, CEO and General Counsel of Circulate San Diego and Report Author
Visuals: For the press conference, Trolley cars, speakers at a podium at a station for the recently built Mid-Coast Trolley light rail extension. There will also be a poster-sized image from the report’s cover.
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Colin Parent published Policy Letter: Senate Bill 445 (Support) and Preview of “Powerless Brokers” Report in Policy Letters 2025-06-26 14:33:49 -0700
Policy Letter: Senate Bill 445 (Support) and Preview of “Powerless Brokers” Report
Circulate San Diego and SPUR wrote to support Senate Bill 445. This legislation is necessary to help transit agencies build the public transit projects that will benefit Californians.
In this letter, we also previewed that later this year, Circulate and SPUR will publish a report on the permitting challenges facing California’s public transit agencies, entitled “The Powerless Brokers.” Read the letter here.
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Colin Parent published Policy Letter - San Diego should allow ordinary homeowners to sell ADUs separately from their primary dwelling. in Policy Letters 2025-05-14 10:37:31 -0700
Policy Letter - San Diego should allow ordinary homeowners to sell ADUs separately from their primary dwelling.
The most impactful pro-housing policy San Diego can adopt for ADUs is to allow homeowners to sell them separately from their primary dwelling.
San Diego can implement the recently adopted Assembly Bill 1033, and allow homeowners to sell their ADUs separately from their primary dwelling. That will allow homeowners to recapture their investments early if they wish, and simultaneously create more affordable homeownership opportunities.
Read the full letter here.
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Colin Parent published PRESS RELEASE: Circulate San Diego and Casita Coalition call on the City of San Diego to reorient its ADU program to help ordinary homeowners in Press Room 2025-04-29 06:15:49 -0700
PRESS RELEASE: Circulate San Diego and Casita Coalition call on the City of San Diego to reorient its ADU program to help ordinary homeowners
PRESS RELEASE
Circulate San Diego and Casita Coalition call on the City of San Diego to reorient its ADU program to help ordinary homeowners.
Contact: Colin Parent, CEO and General Counsel, Circulate San Diego
(619) 567-6856 | [email protected]On April 28, 2025, Circulate San Diego and Casita Coalition sent a joint letter to the City of San Diego calling for a reorientation of its ADU program to help ordinary homeowners.
Most recent media coverage for San Diego’s ADU program has been on the subject of a few large outlier projects.
The letter from Circulate and Casita releases new data that shows San Diego is actually producing fewer ADUs than many of its peer jurisdictions. Data also shows that the vast majority of ADUs produced are in projects that are four units or fewer.
“San Diego has an opportunity to prevent large outlier ADU projects, while simultaneously making it easier for homeowners to build an ordinary small-scale ADU if they want to,” said Colin Parent, CEO and General Counsel for Circulate San Diego.
The letter includes new data analyses showing that among large cities in California, both Los Angeles and Long Beach are producing more ADUs per capita than San Diego. San Diego is still above average among large cities in California. Within the San Diego region, most jurisdictions are producing more ADUs per captia than San Diego. This indicates that while there have been some large outlier projects, it is still too difficult for ordinary homeowners in the City of San Diego looking to build a single ADU on their properties.
The letter recognizes that some investor-driven large ADU projects have generated significant opposition to San Diego’s ADU policy, and acknowledges that reforms are appropriate to ensure the long-term success of San Diego’s ADU program.
The letter also calls on the City to reorient the ADU program to help more ordinary homeowners, who are far more likely to want to build few, or only one ADU on their properties.
The full letter is available at https://www.circulatesd.org/adusforhomeowners.
The City of San Diego Planning Commission will be considering amendments to the City’s AUD policy on May 1st at 9:00 AM. The agenda is available at https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/2025-04/pc-agenda-5-1-2025-approved.pdf.
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About Circulate San Diego
Circulate San Diego is a regional nonprofit think tank dedicated to advancing mobility and making the region a better place to move, work, learn, and play. Our work focuses on creating great mobility choices, more walkable and bikeable neighborhoods, and land uses that promote sustainable growth. For more information, go to www.circulatesd.org.
About Casita Coalition
Casita Coalition is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in California with a national reach, leading a broad multi-sector coalition to advance middle housing solutions. We bring together leaders from the public and private sector to create more neighborhood homes including “missing middle” homes such as ADUs, ‘plexes, and townhomes. For more information, go to https://www.casitacoalition.org.
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Colin Parent published Policy Letter - San Diego should reorient its ADU program to help ordinary homeowners in Policy Letters 2025-04-28 16:46:07 -0700
Policy Letter - San Diego should reorient its ADU program to help ordinary homeowners
Circulate San Diego and the Casita Coalition wrote to encourage the City of San Diego to reorient its Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) program to help more ordinary homeowners.
In our letter, we recognize that some investor-driven large ADU projects have generated significant opposition to San Diego’s ADU policy. A successful ADU program must create units in the near term, and have the political sustainability to create new homes into the future. Some reforms are appropriate to ensure the long-term success of San Diego’s ADU program.
As San Diego considers restrictions on larger ADU bonus projects, the City should simultaneously update its program to make it easier to build single and small-number ADU projects. That will reorient the program to help more ordinary homeowners, who are far more likely to want to build few, or only one ADU on their properties. Read the letter here.
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Caltrans Memorial 2025
On April 22, 2025, Circulate's CEO and General Counsel Colin Parent provided remarks at the Highway Worker Memorial for Caltrans District 11.
Since 1921, 194 Caltrans employees have been killed on the job. One of the biggest hazards faced by highway workers are inattentive and distracted motorists.
The Fallen Workers' Memorial is a time to remember those who lost their lives building, maintaining, and operating California’s world-class transportation system. This observance also highlights safety awareness for employees in work zones, as well as the motoring public.
Parent’s remarks are provided below.
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Colin Parent published Policy Letter - Support for Leucadia Streetscape Project in Policy Letters 2024-04-24 18:42:41 -0700
Policy Letter - Support for Leucadia Streetscape Project
Circulate sent this letter to support the Support for Leucadia Streetscape Project [pdf]
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Colin Parent donated 2023-04-07 16:58:46 -0700
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Colin Parent published Colin Parent talks Fast Bus!, SANDAG, and VMT fees on the “Talking Headways” podcast. in Blog Posts 2023-02-02 14:02:24 -0800
Colin Parent talks Fast Bus!, SANDAG, and VMT fees on the “Talking Headways” podcast.
This week our Executive Director and General Counsel Colin Parent was interviewed by the “Talking Headways” podcast, one of the leading national podcasts on transit and urban issues.
The interview focused on our recent report “Fast Bus!” about how simple and affordable choices can improve the bus, the workhorse of our region’s transit network.
The interview covered a lot of ground, including what’s good, and what’s not-so-good about SANDAG’s recent transportation plan. And they discuss how the City of San Diego is investing in bus-only lanes, but not in the best locations.
You can also listen in to hear about how Circulate’s recent strategic planning effort is shaping how we do our advocacy work. We are doubling-down on our big research efforts, with long-tail implications to drive policy conversation into he future.
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Colin Parent published Press Release - Circulate San Diego Congratulates the City of San Diego for Winning Prestigious National Housing Policy Leadership Award. in Press Room 2022-10-26 10:55:17 -0700
Press Release - Circulate San Diego Congratulates the City of San Diego for Winning Prestigious National Housing Policy Leadership Award.
PRESS RELEASE – October 26, 2022
Contact: Colin Parent, Executive Director and General Counsel
(619) 567-6856 – [email protected]Circulate San Diego Congratulates the City of San Diego for Winning Prestigious National Housing Policy Leadership Award.
Today Circulate San Diego congratulated the City of San Diego for being awarded the national 2022 Larson Housing Policy Leadership Award by the Urban Lands Institute. The award was announced today to honor the City of San Diego for creating their successful Affordable Homes Bonus Program (ABPB).
“Circulate congratulates the City of San Diego for receiving national recognition for their citywide housing affordability programs,” said Colin Parent, Executive Director and General Counsel for circulate San Diego.
Below is an excerpt from the Urban Lands Institute press release available here – https://americas.uli.org/2022-larson-housing-award-winners:
The City of San Diego enacted its Affordable Homes Bonus Program in 2016, which substantially increased the production of both market-rate and deed-restricted affordable homes. The program builds upon the California Density Bonus Law and allows developers to build more homes if they agree to set aside a subset of a new project as affordable.
Circulate San Diego led a coalition of advocates in 2016 to champion the adoption of the AHBP. Circulate also sponsored Assembly Bill 2345 in 2020 (Gonzalez Fletcher) that extended the AHBP throughout California. In 2020, AB 2345 was the most significant housing production bill signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Earlier this year, Circulate San Diego published a report “Home Run for Homes,” which documents the success of the AHBP. That report showed that in 2020, nearly half of the units entitled in the City of San Diego benefitted from the AHBP. Circulate included data from “Home Run for Homes” when it nominated the City of San Diego for the ULI Larson Housing Policy Leadership Award. The full report is available here: https://www.circulatesd.org/home_run_for_homes.
A copy of “Home Run for Homes” and the press release from the Urban Lands Institute are attached to this release.
About Circulate San Diego
Circulate San Diego is a regional nonprofit think tank dedicated to advancing mobility and making the region a better place to move, work, learn and play. Our work focuses on creating great mobility choices, more walkable and bikeable neighborhoods, and land uses that promote sustainable growth. For more information, go to www.circulatesd.org.
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Colin Parent published Assistant or Associate Planner in Work with Us – Volunteer Internships 2022-10-13 17:25:50 -0700
Assistant or Associate Planner
JOB DESCRIPTION
Position: Assistant or Associate Planner
Hours: Full time, Salaried (some evening and weekend work required)
Supervisor: Executive Director and Director of Planning
Salary: Assistant Planner: $50,000 to $65,000/ Associate Planner: $60,000 to $75,000
Start Date: November 2022
Position Summary
This is a unique opportunity for an entry level to medium level planning professional to join a high-profile organization and a team of collaborative and dynamic planners. This position is perfect for a lateral jump into a nonprofit, or for an up-and-comer looking to take the next step in their career to develop leadership, management, and business skills.
Under the supervision of the Director of Planning, and the Executive Director where appropriate, the Assistant or Associate Planner is responsible for contributing to all activities and functions of Circulate’s value-oriented fee-for-service planning division. As a nonprofit think tank, Circulate uses advocacy, research, and planning to advance our mission of creating excellent mobility choices and vibrant, healthy neighborhoods.
Duties include project management, planning and programmatic work, community engagement, business development, and proposal writing. Our planning team delivers high quality active transportation planning and outreach services. In addition to the competitive salary, the organization also offers generous benefits, a friendly work environment, 401(k), parental leave, sick time, and vacation.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Provides a range of excellent planning services for our active transportation and community outreach clients and partners.
- Cultivates relationships with current and potential private, government, and non-government clients, funders, and project partners to maintain and expand a current book of fee-for-service business and grant-funded planning and other activities.
- Assists the Director of Planning with writing proposals and grants to fund projects, prepares budgets, and project scopes.
- Represents the organization in meetings and acts as representative to a variety of public agencies, businesses, community groups, and other nonprofit organizations; fosters collaborative working relationships to accomplish mutual goals and objectives.
- Prioritizes and allocates available project resources; reviews and evaluates service delivery, makes recommendations for and executes changes in operations where necessary; assists in developing new projects, including researching, compiling and analyzing support data.
- Partners with Executive Director and policy staff to identify where planning efforts and policy advocacy can collaborate to advance the overall organizational mission to create excellent mobility choices and vibrant, healthy neighborhoods.
- Develops systems and maintains records that provide for the evaluation, control, and documentation of assigned projects; assists with invoicing processes, prepares a variety of written correspondence, reports, procedures, directives, and other materials, as required.
- Develops, analyzes, synthesizes, and uses reports and other materials as a policy development tool; develops recommendations and reports to address community concerns and goals.
- Utilizes software tools such as GIS, Adobe Creative Suite, and Microsoft Office to meet organizational needs.
- Performs related work as required dependent on the necessary skills, experience and aptitudes, and subject to such additional responsibilities falling within the general duties of the position.
General Duties
As a staff member of Circulate San Diego, the Associate or Senior Planner is expected to contribute to its overall mission, and:
- Contribute to the friendly and collaborative work environment of Circulate San Diego
- Approach all of our work through the lens of advancing our value-oriented mission
- Assume responsibility for following all policies and procedures
- Attend Board, committee and other internal meetings, as required
- Provide a high level of client service at all times
- Project and maintain a positive image on behalf of Circulate San Diego
Desired Qualifications
- Bachelors or Graduate Degree (or comparable experience) in Planning, Engineering, or other relevant field,
- Experience in active transportation planning, community engagement, and/or relevant field. 2-4 years for Associate Planner, 4+ years for Senior Planner.
- Familiarity with preparing proposals for fee-for-service planning work
- Ability to prospect and write grants to philanthropic funders
- Strong oral and written communications skills
- Experience working with GIS, and the Adobe Creative Suite.
- Spanish fluency a plus
Compensation and Benefits
- Competitive salary: Assistant Planner: $50,000 to 65,000; or Associate Planner: $60,000 to $75,000
- Health and dental coverage
- 401(k) match of up to 7% employer contribution with 3% employee contribution
- 10 annual vacation days
- 10 paid holidays
- 10 annual sick days
- Paid parental leave
- Professional development fund
- Flexible and hybrid work environment
How to Apply
Circulate San Diego values diversity and is an equal opportunity employer. Women, people of color, people with disabilities, and gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people are encouraged to apply.
Interested applicants should e-mail a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and any relevant work product examples to [email protected], and with the subject line “Planner Application.” No phone calls please.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by the incumbent(s) of this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and activities required of the position. This job description is subject to review and amendment in light of experience and in the annual employee review process.
- Provides a range of excellent planning services for our active transportation and community outreach clients and partners.
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Colin Parent published Letter: Request for Governor's Signature on AB 2097 in Policy Letters 2022-09-21 15:00:19 -0700
Letter: Request for Governor's Signature on AB 2097
Circulate sent a letter requesting that Governor Gavin Newsom sign AB 2097 (Friedman). This bill would prohibit local governments from requiring excessive parking for new developments near transit. [PDF]
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Colin Parent published Policy Letter: Support for Regional Transit Fare Impact Study in Policy Letters 2022-08-07 15:04:05 -0700
Policy Letter: Support for Regional Transit Fare Impact Study
Circulate sent a letter of support for SANDAG’s application for funding for a Regional Transit Fare Impact Study. We also strongly encouraged SANDAG to take into account the preferences of current and potential transit riders not just the views of advocacy organizations and professional transit planners. Our letter noted that many foundation-funded advocacy nonprofits have advocated for eliminating fares from transit. We also noted that this was in contrast to surveys form actual low-income riders, which generally show that they are more concerned with improving trip speeds over lowering fares. Read the full letter here. [PDF]
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