Meet Nolan Rundquist, Hallie O’Brien, and Armand Shahbazian, Team SDOT environmental enthusiasts! Photo credit: Nolan, Hallie, Armand. Blog stats: 1,300 words | 7-minute read
At-a-Glance:
- April 22 is Earth Day! These SDOT team members work year-round to help advance the City’s climate and environmental goals.
- Meet Nolan Rundquist, SDOT’s City Arborist on the Urban Forestry Team.
- Meet Hallie O’Brien, Senior Transportation Planner on the Bike Master Plan & Bike Network Team.
- Meet Armand Shahbazian, Electric & Automated Mobility Lead on the Transit & Mobility Team.
Happy Earth Day! This year’s theme is “Invest in Our Planet.” In this blog post, we’re celebrating three SDOT team members who are working to create a more sustainable, climate-resilient Seattle.
Meet Nolan Rundquist, SDOT’s City Arborist on the Urban Forestry Team
Tell us about your current role at SDOT. How long have you worked at the City?
I’ve worked at SDOT as City Arborist for the past 25 years. I work with SDOT Urban Forestry policy development and manage a team that responds to resident requests regarding street trees, processes Urban Forestry permit applications, and works with other SDOT divisions and City departments to protect and manage our street tree resources.
How does your work contribute to the City’s environmental and climate goals?
Since the public right-of-way makes up over 25% of the total land area in Seattle, tree cover along the streets makes a huge contribution toward mitigating stormwater runoff and reducing the heat island effect that is becoming a major issue in cities today. A shaded street can be more than 10 degrees cooler on our increasingly hot summer days. Planting new trees and protecting/retaining existing mature trees is vital in protecting the health of Seattle residents.
What excites you the most about your work?
Promoting trees and their benefits is one of my favorite things. The decisions we make to manage and protect our urban forest have such lasting impacts on the livability of our city. It’s very fulfilling to work in a position that can have a positive impact on current and future generations.
What does Earth Day mean to you, and how do you celebrate it?
Given the timing of Earth Day (with fall being a better time to plant trees in Seattle), I like to promote taking care of the trees that we already have established in our yards and planting strips. Removing ivy from tree trunks; creating a mulch ring around a young tree to increase soil moisture and health (and reduce string trimmer and mower damage); taking a walk in a ‘green space’ and just appreciating nature. One of my favorite things is to work with a class of middle school kids, and be energized by their enthusiasm about nature and the environment.
Meet Hallie O’Brien, Senior Transportation Planner on the Bike Master Plan & Bike Network Team
Tell us about your current role at SDOT. How long have you worked at the City?
I am currently a Senior Transportation Planner on the Bike Team in the project development division of SDOT. I first started at the City in June 2016 as an intern working on paving projects. So, almost 7 years!
How does your work contribute to the City’s environmental and climate goals?
By building safe bicycle infrastructure on our city’s streets, we give people an active, affordable, and enjoyable mode of transportation with zero greenhouse gas emissions. A new project that does this is the Beacon Ave S and 15th Ave S safety project. This project will build sections of new sidewalk and protected bike lanes in Beacon Hill along 15th Ave S and Beacon Ave S, from Jefferson Park to the Dr. Jose Rizal Bridge.
What excites you the most about your work?
I get excited about building new and safe infrastructure in neighborhoods that have seen historic underinvestment and disconnected bike facilities.
What does Earth Day mean to you, and how do you celebrate it?
Before I worked at the City of Seattle, I worked in environmental restoration where I took out Himalayan blackberries for 8 hours a day. So to me, Earth Day is all about giving back to the land that supports us all by removing some invasive species and helping our native plants.
Meet Armand Shahbazian, Electric & Automated Mobility Lead on the Transit & Mobility Team
Tell us about your current role at SDOT. How long have you worked at the City?
I work in the New Mobility team at SDOT as the Electric and Automated Mobility Policy Advisor. My portfolio includes managing SDOT’s autonomous vehicle testing permit program and coordinating SDOT’s contributions to the City’s Transportation Electrification Blueprint goals.
I started in this role almost exactly a year ago at the end of April 2022. Prior to that, I worked at Tacoma Power coordinating technical design for public charging programs and then at Seattle City Light (SCL) in various engineering roles, including managing power service removal for the SR 99 viaduct demolition and new streetlighting design for the Waterfront Seattle project.
I started my career as a college engineering intern at SCL back in 2015 and have spent my entire career in public service.
How does your work contribute to the City’s environmental and climate goals?
My current role lets me work across departments, including SCL and the Office of Sustainability & Environment (OSE) on achieving the City’s Transportation Electrification Blueprint goals. Some highlights of my time thus far have included the great teamwork between SDOT and SCL as we work to deliver 31 curbside level 2 electric vehicle chargers in the public right-of-way.
SDOT is gearing up on fleet electrification efforts, including evaluating electric options for sweepers, backhoes, and other heavy-duty equipment. I am excited to contribute my experience as a former SCL engineer as SDOT evaluates charging assets and the change management that will come with this transition.
What excites you the most about your work?
Much of my current work is dictated by public demand and available funding – for now, that often means charging infrastructure for personal vehicles. I am excited and energized by the work my colleagues are doing on mode shift, micro-mobility, and creating options for people to get around without a personal vehicle.
I’m also excited to continue working to make sure that emerging technology, such as automated vehicles and sidewalk delivery robots, are introduced in ways that prioritize traditionally disinvested groups so that these new technologies create value and contribute to a transportation system that provides safe, affordable, and equitable access.
What does Earth Day mean to you, and how do you celebrate it?
Earth Day is a special day for me, it’s my birthday! I’ve always felt very lucky to share my birthday with this meaningful day. Environmentalism has always been near to me, I used to be a lunchtime trash monitor in high school and audited the trash to make sure compost and recycling were diverted correctly.
Typically, I try to celebrate by getting outside, riding my bikes, and eating my favorite childhood spring treat – green fresh almonds. They’re only available in April and May, so I really take advantage!
Here at SDOT, sustainability is a core value.
