David Bragdon's 35-year career spans a range of transportation modes and leadership positions, most notably in land use and transportation policy in the state of Oregon. He served eight years as the elected President of the Metro Council, which oversees long-term planning and transportation for the nearly half the state's population who live in Portland and the other 23 cities of the metropolitan region. He also represented the Oregon side of the region on bi-state institutions with counterparts from southwest Washington State, including service on the Columbia River Crossing Project Sponsors Council. His role in the Portland region also included frequent interaction with state-level agencies in Salem, including the Oregon Land Conservation and Development Commission, State Land Board, Oregon Fish and Wildlife, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

After moving from the public sector to the civic sector, David served as Executive Director of TransitCenter, the research and advocacy foundation, whose major grantees and partners included the Transportation Choices Coalition in Puget Sound as well as technical assistance to King County Metro's Equity Cabinet.