Autumn Bernstein

Autumn Bernstein is a Senior Transportation Planner in Arup's Oakland office. Autumn was a Switzer Environmental Fellow in 2016, when she was pursuing a Master of Science Degree in Transportation Technology and Policy at UC Davis. Her academic research focused on a pilot program in California that promotes sustainable transportation and housing projects in disadvantaged communities. Autumn also holds a BS with honors in Conservation Biology from UC Davis.

Prior to enrolling at UC Davis, Autumn spent 15 years as a grassroots organizer, policy advocate and coalition-builder in communities across California. Her work focused on state and local policy reform to stop urban sprawl, invest in public transit, and promote sustainable and equitable community development.

Most recently Autumn was the founding Director of ClimatePlan, where she built and led a statewide coalition of environmental, social equity, transportation, housing and public health organizations. Under Autumn’s leadership, ClimatePlan was at the forefront of implementing SB 375, California’s groundbreaking 2008 law to advance sustainable communities and green transportation.

Prior to her 7-year tenure at ClimatePlan, Autumn worked for grassroots environmental organizations in California including Greenbelt Alliance, Sierra Nevada Alliance, and the Planning and Conservation League.

In 2010, Autumn was awarded a Fellowship in Urban and Regional Policy from the German Marshall Fund, which she used to travel to Europe to research urban sustainability practices. In 2014, Autumn embarked on a solo 5-month bicycle tour through China, Laos, Thailand and Japan. Writings and photos from her travels in Asia and Europe are at autumnbernstein.net.