Erika Rush, PP, AICP, led Urban's nationwide planning practice for nearly 20 years. Within this role, she oversaw the firm’s multi-modal circulation planning; bicycle and pedestrian planning; streetscape master plans; and public engagement projects.

For over 30 years, Erika has worked with communities at neighborhood, small town, suburban and city scales to enhance their quality of life with integrated land use, transportation, environmental and economic planning. Recently, Erika led a team to develop a Complete Streets Master Plan for New Britain, Connecticut’s downtown. The City wanted to create a more pedestrian-friendly, attractive and livable environment to both support and benefit from the new regional bus rapid transit line where New Britain is the southern terminus.  The project received awards from numerous entities, including Main Street Connecticut, the Connecticut Society of Civil Engineers, and the Connecticut chapter and National American Council of Engineering Companies. 

When she isn’t busy improving communities nationwide, Erika volunteers in her own community and works on renovating her circa 1910 home. She is also a collector of early 20th century electric toasters. Why toasters? “The design, the engineering, the manufacturing - they are such an interesting window into that time,” she says.  How many?  “Let’s just say ‘somewhere north of 350’ and leave it at that.” 

A Certified Planner with the American Institute of Certified Planners and a Professional Planner in New Jersey, Erika earned her bachelor’s in landscape architecture from Michigan State University and her master’s in urban planning from Columbia University. Erika has also been recognized from the American Institute of Architects for her work on sustainable community building.