Christopher Hart

Director of Urban and Transportation Projects
617-695-1225, x244
chart@HumanCenteredDesign.org

Christopher Hart has extensive experience in urban design, disability work and the design, operation and funding of infrastructure. Born with cerebral palsy, he began his involvement with accessibility in his teens through his work with his town’s commission on disability. As chairman, he provided plan and site review for accessibility for his town and later served on his town’s Municipal Space Needs building committee. Chris continued his work in the access field by working for the MBTA’s Office for Transportation Access for 3+ years.

Chris joined the Institute for Human Centered Design as a Project Coordinator in 2000. While finally earning his Community Planning degree at the Univ. of Massachusetts Boston, Chris took over IHCD's project, Neighborhoods Fit for People and expanded it to cover all master planning and large projects within the City. In this capacity, he serves on various boards & committees including Boston’s Ch. 91 Municipal Harbor Planning Committee. Currently, as IHCD’s Director of Urban and Public Transportation Projects, Chris uses his expertise in universal / human centered design in a variety of capacities, most notably within the urban realm and pedestrian design projects including providing pedestrian design review for the “Big Dig” and national research focused on pedestrian design. His local pedestrian work, including his work on sidewalk surfaces, earned him WalkBoston’s 2006 Golden Shoe Award.

At IHCD, he also leads their transit work including design review of MBTA projects as well as co-authoring the 1st MBTA Riders Guide – “Getting Around Boston, A Guide for Riders of All Abilities” in 2004 and subsequent editions. In 2005-2006, Chris served as the technical advisor during ADA class action settlement negotiations between the MBTA and Greater Boston Legal Services and assisted in the writing of the final settlement. Prior to settlement negotiations, Chris provided four years of strategic advice to the Plaintiffs’ counsel as the discovery process proceeded. Presently, Chris is actively advising both the Plaintiffs and MBTA as they proceed with implementation and are overseen by an Independent Monitor. In Massachusetts, Chris is intertwined with the development of state-wide transportation policy as well as shaping the debate around transportation funding.

Nationally, Chris is appointed to the US Transportation Research Board’s Committee for Accessible Transportation and Mobility as well as Easter Seals Project Action’s (ESPA) National Steering Committee. He works in a variety of coalitions working on transportation policy and funding matters nationally. Additionally, he has served as a faculty member for Easter Seals Project Action’s national transit symposiums and regularly participates in TRB & APTA meetings and forums.

In his spare time, Chris serves on the boards of Livable Streets Alliance, Agassiz Village, MA Disability Law Center, and Partners for Youth with Disabilities. He is sought for design competition juries, writing and public speaking engagements focused on universal design, transportation and disability topics. Chris has traveled to 44 states and four continents; he is an avid skier and in the off-season, frequently handcycles, sails, enjoys photography, tries to meet the love of his life, and looks forward to establishing his own foundation to support world-wide universal design initiatives.