Graduate School
Harvard Kennedy School

Placement
MBTA

Supervisor
Kat Benesh, Chief of Operations Policy, Strategy and Oversight

Project Description
Safeer worked with the MBTA’s Transit Priority team to implement rapid-response bus lanes during the COVID-19 pandemic. This increase in capacity is critical for ensuring that public transit remains safe and accessible for all. He developed a performance evaluation plan for Bus Transit Priority projects, which will be used to ensure that projects meet program objectives of improving reliability, efficiency and the overall quality of service. He also worked on a regional procurement RFP with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council alongside multiple state agencies and municipalities, which is estimated to have saved $6 million in project costs. Gaining practical experience in implementation and working with municipalities has been a terrific experience for him, and He’s enjoyed the opportunity to apply the skills he gained during my time as a graduate student at Harvard.