Michael Smart

Dr. Michael Smart is an Associate Professor and Director of the PhD Program in Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University's Edward J. Bloustein School. His research focuses on socio-spatial influences on transportation decisions, particularly in immigrant and LGBTQ+ neighborhoods, and employs advanced GIS techniques to analyze urban patterns. He holds a PhD in Urban Planning from UCLA (2011), an MCRP from the University of Pennsylvania (2006), and a BA in German from Yale (2000).

Education:

• PhD in Urban Planning, UCLA (2011)
• M.C.R.P., University of Pennsylvania (2006)
• B.A. in German, Yale University (2000)

Research Interests: Dr. Smart investigates how neighborhood social networks and built environments shape travel behaviors. Key areas include immigrant neighborhood dynamics, bike/walk modal shifts, and the role of cars in economic mobility. He develops novel methods to quantify neighborhood 'inwardness' and has pioneered studies on LGBTQ+ spatial clusters. Recent work addresses equity in transit access, ridesourcing impacts, and telework trends.

Publications reflect a focus on transportation equity, urban modeling, and social justice. Notable themes include racial disparities in traffic stops, bikeshare equity, and the evolving relationship between millennials and car ownership. Over 50 peer-reviewed articles span journals like Urban Studies, Transportation Research, and Journal of Planning Education and Research.

His work bridges academia and practice through tools like the EPIC intermodal evaluation framework and TASC station analysis tool. Current projects explore police traffic stop bias and transit-oriented development effectiveness.