Get to Know Melissa Reggiardo, Stanford Transportation’s New Director of Sustainable Transportation Planning and Mobility

Usually, when people experience something transformative – whether it's a book, an exercise program, or an under-the-radar vacation spot – they can’t wait to spread the word. Our new director of Sustainable Transportation Planning and Mobility (STPM), Melissa Reggiardo, is on a mission to share the pleasures and treasures of riding public transportation, which she calls “life-changing. I love it so much. My commute on Caltrain is one of my favorite parts of the day. Along with no parking or traffic hassles, what’s so exciting is that you can do whatever you want for a few unprogrammed minutes – read a book, listen to music, text a friend, sleep, or literally do nothing but watch the world go by,” said the mother of a five-month-old and a three-and-a-half-year-old.

In addition to leading Stanford’s STPM team, Melissa will lead the strategic planning and implementation of programs that support campus mobility, reduce congestion, and promote sustainable travel. She will also serve as a liaison to external stakeholders, including local transit providers. “I’m thrilled to contribute to Stanford’s mobility initiatives and look forward to encouraging members of our community to consider more sustainable commutes,” said Melissa.

With a master's degree in Transportation Planning from UCLA, Melissa brings over a decade of expertise in access, bike infrastructure, micromobility, transit-oriented development, and major station planning. Most recently, she worked on transit planning projects for both SamTrans and Caltrain.

Melissa lives in San Jose with her husband, their sons, and two cats. Understandably, she doesn’t have much time for hobbies lately, but she loves riding her Peloton bike and reading to her kids. Her toddler is making good headway toward becoming a future sustainable commuter – he loves transit and can already ride a pedal bike.

Now, she’s set her sights on creating change within the Stanford community. “If only I can encourage others to experience the same happiness public transit brings me, I’ll have done my job.”