Ithaca-Tompkins County Transportation Council announces Tom Knipe new director

The Ithaca-Tompkins County Transportation Council (ITCTC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Tom Knipe as Director, beginning in September. Knipe brings a wealth of local experience in transportation planning, economic development, program management and government administration, having previously served as Deputy Director of Economic Development for the City of Ithaca and Director of the Tompkins County Tourism Program.

Knipe has played a key role in many transformative local projects and organizations including recently the establishment of the Ithaca Downtown Conference Center and Shared Kitchen Ithaca.

His extensive transportation background includes authorship of the Ithaca Bicycle Boulevard Plan and Tompkins County Priority Trails Strategy. Prior to coming to Ithaca for a graduate degree in Urban and Regional Planning at Cornell University, Knipe worked for eleven years in the bicycle transportation field in Portland, Oregon. He is also a co-founder of Bike Walk Tompkins.

Knipe replaces Fernando de Aragón who is retiring after more than 27 years of distinguished service with the ITCTC. Under Fernando’s leadership the ITCTC has been successful in attracting millions of dollars for transportation infrastructure and programming for Tompkins County communities. He was a key participant in many initiatives including development of the Cayuga Waterfront Trail and the formation of Ithaca Carshare.

The ITCTC is Tompkins County’s Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and is charged with facilitating countywide transportation planning. MPOs are federally mandated organizations responsible for transportation planning in urbanized areas. Tompkins County’s MPO was established in 1992 and is responsible for developing the County’s Long Range Transportation Plan and Transportation Improvement Program, while ensuring a continuing, comprehensive and cooperative transportation planning process.

About the appointment, Rod Howe, Chair of ITCTC’s Policy Committee, said, “Tom is a creative leader with strong interpersonal, administrative, and planning skills. His knowledge of and commitment to Ithaca and Tompkins County will be a tremendous asset. The ITCTC is excited to welcome him as our next Director.”