Christopher MacKechnie Introduction Service Development Planner for Long Beach TransitWorked on planning and scheduling teams for several large transit systems in the Los Angeles areaM.A. in urban planning from the University of Michigan Experience Christopher MacKechnie is a former writer for ThoughtCo who wrote articles about public transportation for more than five years. He has more than 14 years of experience in the field of public transportation. Christopher is a service development planner for the Long Beach Transit (LBT) and worked on scheduling and planning teams for several large transit systems in the Los Angeles area. He also worked with National Park Transportation optimizing the timetables for the ParkLink Shuttle system.A lifetime lover of public transit, Christopher worked part-time as a bus driver for 10 years while earning his undergraduate and graduate degrees. He has also been active in local transit advocacy groups. Education Christopher MacKechnie earned a Master of Urban Planning (MUP) with a focus on Transportation Planning from the University of Michigan in 2005. He also holds a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) in Labor and Employment Law from the University of Toronto and a bachelor's degree in Psychology, English, and Honors Biology from the University of Michigan. A Message from Christopher MacKechnie LiveAbout and Dotdash Meredith LiveAbout, a Dotdash Meredith brand, is a reference site focused on entertainment, activities, and hobbies. Learn more about us and our editorial guidelines. Read more from Christopher MacKechnie The True Operating Costs Between Bus and Light Rail How Do Bus Routes and Schedules Get Planned? Public Transit and Privatization: Pros and Cons Floors and Manufacturers: What Buses to Purchase? High-Capacity Buses - Articulated or Double-Decker? Understanding the Difference Between Capital and Operating Funding How Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) Systems Work How Much Does a Bus Cost to Purchase and Operate? What Happens to Buses After Their Useful Life Is Over? What Is the Passenger Capacity of Different Modes of Transit? How Long Do Buses and Other Transit Vehicles Last? Why Buses Don't Have Seat Belts How Much Do Rail Transit Projects Cost to Build and Operate?