SPUR Board Member Leyla Hedayat serves as the planning program manager for the BART Silicon Valley Extension Project. For the last decade, she has worked with the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority to manage the development of Phase 1 of the BART Berryessa extension, which includes the design of the Milpitas and Berryessa stations. She is now taking on a similar role for Phase 2, which will extend BART service to downtown San Jose.
Leyla has nearly 25 years of experience working in all aspects of transit planning and engineering for multimodal transit infrastructure projects. She is a principal at Kimley-Horn, where she works with senior project managers and public and private clients on a wide range of projects. She currently serves as Kimley-Horn’s California Regional Marketing Manager, directing the efforts of marketing staff and partnering with our senior project managers on marketing and new business development initiatives.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I grew up in Chicago and made the move to California to be close to family and to start Kimley-Horns’s transit practice in Northern California. I opened the San Jose office more than a decade ago. Although I live in San Jose, my role takes me to more than a dozen offices across the state.
How did you first become interested in cities?
I grew up in one of the best cities in the world. But I didn’t realize how well planned Chicago was until I moved. I would like to see more thoughtful planning in the Bay Area.
How did you first learn about SPUR?
SPUR is a recognized partner to transit agencies in the Bay, so first I learned about it through my work in the transportation business. I also found out about all the great speakers and educational forums. Lastly, I learned about SPUR’s impact on great city planning when the organization came to San Jose. SPUR really brings great people together to help develop great cities.
What's your favorite city and why?
I believe that Chicago is one of the best planned cities in the U.S. The best city planners redefined the city after the Chicago fire. It has beautiful architecture, is culturally diverse and the people are welcoming.
Favorite book, work of art or film about cities?
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. I recommend it to anyone who loves city planning and history.