October 2026 Member Highlight: Walker Wilkins

October 2026 Member Highlight:

Walker Wilkins

Transportation Planner at GOROVE SLADE

Walker is a Transportation Planner at Gorove Slade, where he analyzes travel data and community needs to plan safe, efficient roads, transit, and bicycle and pedestrian networks in the DC Metro Region. He is passionate about creating transportation solutions that benefit communities through sustainable development and innovative solutions. Walker Wilkins has been an active member of YPT-DC, and we sat down with him to learn a little more about him and his interests!

1. What is your preferred way to get around the District?

Metro!!! But I will never turn down the opportunity to get around using a Capital Bikeshare bike.

2. What is your favorite part of being a YPT-DC member?

The guest events. Hearing from industry experts speak about topics I find super interesting is a great opportunity to learn something new while catching up with other professionals in the area.

3. What inspired you to pursue a career in transportation?

I have always been curious about how people get around. I grew up in a small rural town, spent my college years in Blacksburg, VA, and now live in the DC area, and each of those places moves in a completely different way. Experiencing that change made me interested in planning, city development, and how the pieces of a community fit together into one system. Transportation is one of the biggest pieces of that puzzle, and it turned out to be the one I most wanted to spend my time on.

4. What’s a job or project that you are most proud of?

One that stands out is a corridor improvement study I worked on with the City of Alexandria. The goal was to figure out where bike lanes and other street redesign options could realistically fit within the space the road already had, balancing them against parking, bus stops, and travel lanes. It was planning-level work, meant to give the City a clear set of options rather than a final design. The best part was knowing that the recommendations we were making would be presented to the community.

5. What is the best professional advice that you've received?

"Be a Sponge."

6. What’s a non-transportation fun fact about you?

I have a twin sister!