Ricky Zapata brings a versatile blend of experience in transportation analysis, data science, and urban planning to his work at RSG. His expertise includes survey data processing, travel demand forecasting, geospatial analysis, and the application of models such as the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Simplified Trips-on-Project (STOPS) software. He has also developed R packages and data pipelines that streamline workflows and improve efficiency for both clients and internal teams.
At RSG, Ricky has contributed to major research and forecasting projects for federal, state, and regional agencies, including the FTA, Chicago Transit Authority, Utah Transit Authority, and NJ Transit. His work spans customer satisfaction and origin-destination surveys, focus groups, long-range planning models, and the integration of traditional and passively collected data. Fluent in Spanish, he plays a key role in ensuring language accessibility and quality in bilingual research and reporting.
Ricky is known for his thoughtful analysis, strong methodological practices, and commitment to equitable, data-informed planning.
Career Highlights
- Cidell, J., Acosta-Cordova, J., Pimentel-Rivera, A., Zapata, R. (2021). Critical Geographies of Transport and Mobility: Studying power relations through practice, academia, and activism. Geography Compass, 15(12). https://doi.org/10.1111/gec3.12600
Education
- MA, Geography, University of Illinois
- BA, Economics, University of Illinois
