Kittelson & Associates, Inc.

Happy Friday! Today we're welcoming Kurtis Hough and Marcus Jackson to the Kittelson team! ⭐ ⭐ Kurtis Hough has over 15 years of 3D production experience. His expertise includes 3D architectural and civil engineering visualization, VR/AR design, corporate commercials, special effects, and filmmaking, with advanced skills in 3ds Max, After Effects, and Photoshop. He is always learning new technologies and workflows to evolve alongside industry-leading platforms. Kurtis is an award-winning artist and filmmaker. Outside of work, he enjoys hiking, filmmaking, oil painting, biking, and tennis. ⭐ Marcus Jackson holds a master's degree in community and regional planning from the University of British Columbia and a master's degree in medicine from the University of Alberta. He is dedicated to enhancing health and wellbeing through design, policy, and community engagement. Marcus has experience with corridor development, site development, community engagement, tactical urbanism, and policy development, with a focus on promoting equity, mobility, and health. Outside of work, he enjoys hiking, cooking, playing hockey and softball, and traveling. #KittelsonNewHires

“My goal is to look at the next workforce coming through Kittelson and connect interested team members to opportunities with research and legal services, and help younger professionals understand the Green Book. I generally just want to help Kittelson continue doing the great things they’re doing.” —John Mason, PhD, PE 💬 Dr. John Mason, a highly respected professor, researcher, academic leader, and consultant in the transportation profession, is joining Kittelson to apply his 40+ years of expertise to advise on design, safety, and research projects, develop the next generation of Kittelson team members, and grow the practice at Kittelson LLC. 🌱 After years of learning and benefiting from John’s leadership, experience, and insights through his involvement in our professor partner program and Board of Directors, we’re thrilled we can now introduce him as an employee of the firm. ⭐ Learn more about John’s story: https://lnkd.in/gqswU4t8

✅ ️ How Can We Make High-Speed Roads Safer for People on Bikes? Discover FHWA’s New Guide ✅ We're thrilled to share that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has released “Separated Bike Lanes on Higher Speed Roadways: A Toolkit and Guide.” This resource offers best practices for planning and designing bike lanes on roads with posted speed limits of 35 mph or higher, addressing the challenges these environments pose to bicyclists. 🚲 Our team is proud to have collaborated with FHWA on this project. We believe this guide will pave the way (literally!) for safer and more comfortable bike facilities nationwide. ⭐ 🔗 Check out the guide here: https://lnkd.in/d5biBcrC

What if your next internship could redefine your entire career path? ⭐ Our internship program invests in the future of transportation by providing opportunities for our interns to work on real-life projects, learn from designated mentors, and network with people already in the industry. 🔮 Who knows? Maybe this internship will spark your passion for transportation. ⚡ Applications open in early September: https://lnkd.in/gCNwvqWN #internshipprogram #internshipopportunities #openapplications

We were thrilled to be a part of the American Public Transportation Association 2024 Sustainability/Operations Planning & Scheduling Workshop this week! 🌱  One of the highlights from Tuesday was the “Implementing New Networks” session, where industry leaders shared their methods, challenges, and solutions involved in implementing significant network changes. We were especially excited to see the lessons AC Transit shared from Realign. 🛠️  Our team is proud to support David Berman, AICP and the AC Transit team in this project, collaborating closely with Transportation Management & Design, Circlepoint, and Winter Consulting. Together, we’re driving forward the future of transit in the Bay Area. 🚎 #APTA2024 #TransitEquity #TransitAccessibility #Microtransit #Sustainability #TransitPlanning 

Excitement is building for Transpo 2024 next week in Orlando, Florida! Hosted by the Florida Puerto Rico District of ITE, this conference is the ultimate gathering for transportation professionals to connect, exchange ideas, and dive into the latest innovations shaping the future of our industry. 🚀 Our own Jessica Josselyn and Fanny Kristiansson are joining 600 of Florida's leading transportation professionals, ready to soak up knowledge and share insights. Whether you're passionate about cutting-edge tech or best practices in transportation, we hope to see you there! 💡 Learn more about the conference below: 👇 https://lnkd.in/eCqQ-VZb #FLPRITE #Transpo2024

When we talk about artificial intelligence, we primarily talk about advanced mathematical applications of machine learning to perform pattern recognition. As more and more private companies and academic research within transportation have focused on AI, public agencies have also looked to gain a greater understanding of AI by evaluating how to "futureproof" transportation systems. 🤖    AI offers great potential to optimize aspects of the transportation planning process; however, our profession still faces obstacles when choosing how to use and engage with AI applications, including:    🧠 Missing skillsets: Transportation agencies may lack the expertise to effectively integrate AI, while private-sector developers may overlook the complexities of transportation systems or have goals misaligned with public safety and comfort.    💲 High upfront cost: Developing an AI-powered model is costly and time-intensive, making it challenging for jurisdictions to manage. While private vendors can absorb upfront costs, agency staff must still source data and validate outputs, adding to the burden.    🌱 Absence of established record: AI applications in transportation are still in their early stages, with many vendors being new and having few clients. While these technologies hold great potential, transportation professionals must weigh their benefits against existing methods, ensure they can verify outcomes, and assess the risks to public safety.     💭 Differing thought process: Perhaps the biggest problem with using AI in safety planning extends beyond any locality’s practical limitations in harnessing the technology and to a fundamental incompatibility of how transportation planners and machine learning conduct “thought.”  These challenges are important to identify, not to dismiss the capabilities of AI, but to give context to where it has the greatest potential in our profession. Stay tuned for future posts about the best uses of AI today to provide a fuller picture of the risks of our roadways.  #artificialintelligence #transportationplanning 

After the COVID-19 pandemic reduced ridership, Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) modernized its system by replacing underperforming fixed routes with GoZone microtransit, enhancing first/last-mile access. Three years later, with rising demand, the Kittelson team is helping DCTA analyze data to optimize the use of both systems, exploring opportunities to expand or restore fixed-route service while maintaining on-demand options. 🚘 On Tuesday, 8/20 at 8am ET, Krista Purser, PE will share what we’ve learned through this project as part of her "Changing Travel Patterns" presentation at the American Public Transportation Association Sustainability/Operations Planning and Scheduling Workshop in Washington D.C. Will we see you at this workshop? Check out the full program here: https://lnkd.in/eypTmizj #transportationplanning #travelpatterns #transit #microtransit

Did you know that 28 million Americans don't have access to a park within a 10-minute walk of their home? 🌳 Our own Corrie Parrish was featured in Streetsblog USA’s Talking Headways podcast about public transit to the Great Outdoors alongside Andrea Breault (Cascades East Transit) and Amy Schlappi (Columbia Area Transit). 🏞️ Learn more about how these transportation professionals help provide transit access to recreation destinations below. 🤝 https://lnkd.in/g9nVbVU3 #transitaccess #publictransit #streetblogs

Happy Friday, everyone! Please join us in warmly welcoming two new team members: Aishwarya Sharma and Katherine Polanco. ⭐ ⭐ Aishwarya Sharma holds a master’s degree in civil engineering from Purdue University. She is interested in the emergence of electric and connected and autonomous vehicles within the industry. Aishwarya is also passionate about active and multimodal transportation, finding data-driven solutions to problems, and leveraging artificial intelligence and technology to optimize transportation networks. Outside work, she loves exploring new cuisines, going on adventures through travel and hikes, and expressing her creativity through painting. ⭐ Katherine Polanco graduated from Santiago University of Technology in the Dominican Republic. She has a passion for finance and showcases her expertise in risk management, independent forecasts, contract management, and contract compliance. Beyond her professional endeavors, Katherine finds joy in exploring new destinations through travel, cherishing moments with her family, and delving into the world of literature by reading books. #KittelsonNewHires