ARDMORE, PA, September 18, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Richard G. Bickel, FAICP, is a distinguished biographee of Marquis Who's Who. He was recently spotlighted in New York City's Times Square on a 22-story screen that is passed by an estimated 1.5 million people daily. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are chosen from among a pool of the most prominent professionals and are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Mr. Bickel has dedicated nearly five decades to the fields of urban and regional planning, establishing himself as a distinguished expert in land use, transportation planning and urban planning. His career commenced at the Montgomery County Planning Commission in Norristown, Pennsylvania, where he served from 1971 to 1984. During this period, Mr. Bickel advanced from senior planner to associate director, overseeing community and transportation planning. His early leadership roles laid the foundation for his future successes, allowing him to navigate the complex political landscape of Pennsylvania's local governments.

In 1984, Mr. Bickel transitioned to the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) in Philadelphia, where he directed the strategic planning division until 1990. His tenure at DVRPC was marked by significant contributions to regional planning initiatives. Subsequently, he joined the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) as the director of long-range planning from 1990 to 1998. At SEPTA, Mr. Bickel was pivotal in shaping the agency's strategic vision for public transit development. Returning to DVRPC in 1998, Mr. Bickel assumed various leadership positions, culminating in his role as the director of planning before retiring in 2014. His tenure at DVRPC was characterized by his commitment to advancing regional transportation and land use policies. Since 2014, Mr. Bickel has served as a senior advisor at Econsult Solutions Inc., where he continues contributing his expertise to urban planning projects.

Mr. Bickel's academic background includes a Master of Urban and Regional Planning and a Bachelor of Arts in sociology, with a minor in anthropology, from the University of Pittsburgh, completed in 1972 and 1969, respectively. His education provided a strong foundation for his career, equipping him with the analytical skills necessary for effective planning and policy development.

Throughout his career, Mr. Bickel has been actively involved in numerous professional organizations. He has been an appointed member of the Public Transportation Planning and Development Committee at the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences since 1991. He has also been associated with the Urban Land Institute since 1987. His involvement with these organizations reflects his dedication to advancing the field of urban planning.

Mr. Bickel's contributions extend beyond his professional roles. He has been recognized with several awards, including the Centurion Award from the Business Professionals Network in 2024 and the Distinguished Service Planning Leadership Award from the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Planning Association in 2015. Additionally, he was featured in Millennium Magazine and has moderated various planning topics at annual conferences for the American Planning Association.

Mr. Bickel enjoys golfing, reading, hiking and watching polo at the Brandywine Polo Club. He values spending time with friends and traveling. Looking ahead, Mr. Bickel plans to remain engaged in professional activities through attending national and state conferences, where he can continue interacting with peers in his field. He wishes to be remembered as a consummate professional who maintained high standards while navigating the intricacies of political environments within urban planning sectors.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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