Portfolio
Policy Proposals, Plans, and Analyses
Rolling Forward: Assessing Divvy BikeShare in Chicago
Urban Studies Capstone Project - 2023
Divvy is Chicago's bike-share network managed by the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) in partnership with Lyft. Since the formation of the original network, new stations and bikes have been purchased to expand the bike-share boundaries to cover the entire city. During the next expansion, CDOT wants to ensure equitable access to Divvy bikes and has asked our student team to provide creative ideas to ensure that goal. This task involved analyzing who currently lacks access and what spatial or demographic factors affect access to the system. The scope of this project involved three major tasks. The first was a citywide survey on Divvy bike usage and barriers. The survey ran from late February to mid-April, allowing the student team to gauge socioeconomic factors that may disincentivize access to Divvy bikes. The second component was a spatial analysis using ArcGIS to discover any spatial factors that may create barriers to Divvy usage. The final component is a written report summarizing the findings and recommendations for increasing access to the Divvy system, which CDOT used in its expansion efforts. This project was presented as a poster at two conferences: The Illinois GIS Association's 2023 Annual Conference and the 2023 West Lakes Regional Division Meeting of the American Association of Geographers (AAG). The poster won 3rd place for undergrad project posters at AAG.
Rolling Forward Divvy Bikeshare Analysis.pdf
PPOL 309 Assignment 1 Crowther.pdfBudget Process and Transportation Spending Equity: An Analysis of New York and California
2023
This budget Analysis compares the state budget process for New York and California and overall spending trends. An equity analysis is also included to determine trends in transportation spending between the two states. It was created for UIC's course on Public Budgeting and Financial Management.
Halsted Street Corridor Plan.pdfHalsted Street Corridor Plan
2022
This hypothetical corridor plan recommends physical, economic, and social improvements to Halsted Street in Chicago from Van Buren to Fulton Market. This was created as a group project for the UIC's Researching the City course.
UPP 403 Final Project Phase I Crowther and Galliot.pdfUIC Climate Action Implementation Plan Evaluation
2022
This is an evaluation of the University of Illinois at Chicago's Climate Action Implementation Plan. It was created as part of a group project for UIC's Planning Practices for Great Cities Course.
US 140 SP21 HW4 Crowther.docxAnalysis of Boston's Long-Range Transportation Plan
2021
This is a research analysis of the Boston Metropolitan Planning Organization's long-range transportation plan, "Destination 2040." It focuses in three sections on the urban area, its transportation system, and the overall analysis. I wrote this as a final research project for my urban transportation class.
Policy Brief.docxAshland Avenue Bus Rapid Transit Policy Analysis
2020
This is a Public Policy analysis regarding the planned Ashland Avenue Bus Rapid Transit Project as proposed by the Chicago Transit Authority. It focuses on the proposal's urban economic impacts. I wrote it as a final project for my urban studies class on urban and community economics.
PPOL 100 Policy Paper Final.pdfTransit Equity in Chicago’s South Side
2019
This is a combined policy analysis originally written in two parts for my public policy class on individual action and democratic citizenship. This project discusses strategies and recommendations for transit projects to further equitable transit-oriented development within Chicago's South Side.
Crowther_Wylie_Congestion Pricing The Clear Solution for Downtown Traffic.docxCongestion Pricing: Chicago
2019
This is a research paper and video presentation with recommendations on the congestion pricing policy to help relieve some of the climate contamination within downtown Chicago. This paper was written in conjunction with the video presentation as a final project for a class on urban sustainability.
Creative Projects
Centers for New Horizons Location Maps
2024
These four maps were created for the Centers for New Horizons (CNH), a nonprofit focused on youth development, family services, and community building. Designed as public-facing resources for clients and stakeholders, the maps allow spatial identification of CNH locations and nearby schools within a half-mile radius. They also serve internal purposes for planning and research. In addition to office and school locations, the maps feature ward boundaries, streets, parks, and highlight the Bronzeville Historic District—CNH's main operation area. One overview map presents all locations, while the Bronzeville, West Side, and Far South maps provide detailed views of each respective area.
Overview
Overview.pdfBronzeville
Bronzeville.pdfWest Side
West Side.pdfFar South Side
Far South.pdf
Mapping All-Gender Bathrooms at UIC
2022
This group project was created in collaboration with UIC's Gender and Sexuality Center. It aims to be both a guide for students and a point of awareness about the importance of accessible all-gender restrooms on campus. The project is linked on the GSC's website and includes an explanatory Storymap through ArcGIS.
This project involved extensive field research to identify, pinpoint, and describe restroom locations using ArcGIS Collector. It was presented as a poster at the Illinois GIS Association's (ILGISA) 2023 Annual Conference and the 2023 West Lakes Regional Division Meeting of the American Association of Geographers. It was presented again as a 30-minute discussion on the importance of user-centered design in mapping at the 2024 ILGISA Chicago Regional Conference.
US 304 Final Project Crowther PDF.pdfSouthbank Park
2022
This booklet details the current feel and status of Southbank Park in Chicago. It was created as a final project for my class on visualizing cities and utilized Sketchup, Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign.
Crowther_MapAssignment1_02.06.2022.pdfOutdoor Spaces in my Neighborhood
2022
I created this map for Urban Studies 361: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems. It includes field-collected location data on open spaces in my neighborhood according to my ranking. I also personally edited shapefiles of Streets and building footprints.
Final Poster Crowther.pdfHow Chicago Works
2021
As a final project for my introduction to GIS class, I created a deliverable poster that compared population density and median household income to the times left for work.
Research Papers
US 202 Final Paper.pdfInequali-“T:" The MBTA's Relationship with Low-Income Neighborhoods
2020
This research paper on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation System's relationship with low-income neighborhoods discusses the significant exclusion of low-income neighborhoods within Boston's light and heavy rail and bus network. This project was done as a final report for my class on social justice and cities.
Senior Thesis.pdfHigh School Senior Thesis
2019
This research paper was written as a capstone project for my high school, Good Hope Country Day. I used this opportunity to explore my interests in urban planning, a subject not taught in my high school.