Joshua Benson is Assistant Commissioner, Street Improvement Projects, at NYC DOT. Previously he served as the Director of Bicycle & Pedestrian Programs for the New York City Department of Transportation. He manages the DOT’s Bicycle Program, Pedestrian Projects Group and Office of School Safety Engineering. Mr. Benson has overseen the City’s unprecedented expansion of the on-street bicycle network, development of temporary pedestrian plazas and targeted safety improvements at both public and private schools. Many of these bicycle and pedestrian projects employ innovative designs and cost-effective implementation techniques to deliver safety and livability benefits quickly and efficiently. Mr. Benson holds a Masters in Urban Planning from Columbia University with an undergraduate degree from NYU, lives in Brooklyn and is a regular bike commuter.