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Kelly Blume

Biography

Kelly Blume

Kelly is an associate research scientist in the Transit Mobility Program at TTI. Prior to joining the Transit Mobility Program team in February 2019, she worked as a consulting engineer and planner for Kittelson & Associates, Inc., in Oregon and Florida. Over her 21-year career, she has managed and conducted a variety of transit planning and operations studies, multimodal transportation planning studies, transportation research projects, guidebook development efforts, on-call contracts and tasks serving diverse public sector clients, traffic impact and trip generation studies, conceptual and final design projects, and public involvement efforts. Kelly’s transit experience spans transit planning and operations studies for a range of public agencies, including transit agencies of all sizes, cities, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), and state departments of transportation (DOTs); research and guidebook development; conceptual design of transit infrastructure; and on-call service provision. Since joining TTI, Kelly has worked on projects that include transit planning studies for small urban/rural areas in Texas, an intercity bus service assessment, school district transportation audits, TCRP Synthesis projects focused on innovative transit planning and bus stop programs, and transit funding evaluations.

Education

  • M.S., Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University
  • B.S., Civil Engineering, Rice University

Licenses and Certifications

  • Professional Engineer in Texas (#130190), Florida (#60574), and Oregon (#71838)

Professional Affiliations

  • Transportation Research Board
    • Intermodal Transfer Facilities Committee (2004-2015)
    • Major Activity Center Circulation Systems Committee (2004-2012)
    • Data Privacy, Security, and Protection Policy Task Force (2017-current)
  • Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE)
  • Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS)

Relevant Projects and Experience

Transit Studies

Kelly has conducted, managed, and supported more than 40 transit studies around the US, including corridor-level feasibility studies, alternatives analyses, operational analyses (e.g., capacity analyses and travel time and delay studies), and preliminary engineering studies; regional long-range and mid-range transit plans; short-term transit needs assessments; conceptual design of transit stops/stations, bus pullouts, and transit maintenance facilities; sub-area and campus transit plans; and applied research tasks. Representative projects include the following:

  • Brazos Transit District Transit Mobility Studies – Lufkin/Diboll, TX, and Nacogdoches, TX
  • El Paso County Regional Transit Study, Phase 2 – El Paso County, TX
  • Valley Regional Transit Short-Term Needs Analysis and Regional Transit Development Plan (TDP) – Southwest Idaho
  • COMPASS 2040 Future Transit Vision – Southwest Idaho
  • Pima Association of Governments 2040 High-Capacity Transit Plan – Tucson, AZ
  • 2011 Palm Tran Transit Development Plan Update – Palm Beach County, FL
  • TRAM Business Plan – Stuart, FL
  • Fort Myers Beach Trolley Lane Feasibility Study – Fort Myers Beach, FL
  • District DOT North/South Streetcar Study – Washington, DC
  • Texas DOT Intercity Bus Update – Austin, TX
  • Capital Metro Local Funding for Regional Transit – Update – Austin, TX
  • Capital Metro Project Connect Funding Options Analysis – Austin, TX
  • Transit Operations Facility Conceptual Design – Martin County, FL
  • Lee MPO Bus Pullout Siting and Conceptual Design – Lee County, FL
  • Sawgrass Area Station Planning and Design Guidance – Sunrise, FL

Research & Guidebook Development

Kelly has conducted research and developed guidebooks for multiple national- and state-level transportation research projects. National projects include all three editions of the Transit Capacity & Quality of Service Manual, TCRP Report 118 (bus rapid transit), TCRP Report 88 (transit performance measurement), and TCRP Report 183 (traffic engineering for transit). State DOT projects include developing rural freeway and transit performance measures for statewide reporting, evaluating best practices for transit performance measurement, developing a transit development plan guidebook, and developing design guidance for exclusive transit running ways in Florida. Her current research includes serving as the Principal Investigator for TCRP Synthesis SH-20, Innovative Practices for Transit Planning at Small- to Mid-Sized Agencies.

Transportation Design

Kelly has prepared and managed approximately 30 transportation design projects, including typical sections for transit running ways, bus pullout designs, traffic signal designs, intersection and corridor lighting designs, roundabout conceptual designs, maintenance of traffic plans, traffic calming designs, parking lot lighting evaluation, and intersection safety assessments.

Selected Publications

  • Kittelson & Associates, Inc., et al. Transit Development Plan Guidebook. Oregon Department of Transportation, Salem, OR, 2018.
  • Ryus, P. K. Laustsen, K. Blume, S. Beaird, and S. Langdon. “A Guidebook on Transit Supportive Roadway Strategies.” TCRP Report 183. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., 2016.
  • Kittelson & Associates, Inc. Statewide Lane Elimination Guidance. Florida Department of Transportation, Tallahassee, FL, 2014.
  • Kittelson & Associates, Inc. Typical Sections for Exclusive Transit Running Ways. Florida Department of Transportation, Freight, Logistics and Passenger Operations Office and Public Transit Office, Tallahassee, FL, June 2013.
  • Kittelson & Associates, Inc., et al. “Transit Capacity and Quality of Service Manual, 3rd Edition.” TCRP Report 165. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., 2013.
  • Blume, K. “Past Presidents’ Award for Merit in Transportation: Bus Rapid Transit Land Development Guidelines.” ITE Journal, ITE, Washington, D.C., November 2008.
  • Danaher, A., H. Levinson, S. Zimmerman, and K. Blume. “Bus Rapid Transit Practitioner’s Guide.” TCRP Report 118. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., 2007.
  • Kittelson & Associates, Inc., et al. “Transit Capacity and Quality of Service Manual, 2nd Edition” TCRP Report 100. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., 2003.
  • Ryus, P., M. Connor, S. Corbett, A. Rodenstein, L. Wargelin, L. Ferreira, Y. Nakanishi, and Kelly Blume. “A Guidebook for Developing a Transit Performance-Measurement System.” TCRP Report 88. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., 2003.
  • Blume, K. Developing an Integrated Transit Schedule with Improved Passenger Level of Service Measures. Master’s Thesis. Texas A&M University. College Station, TX, May 2002.

Work History

  • (2019-current) Texas A&M Transportation Institute
    • Associate Research Scientist
  • (1999-2019) Kittelson & Associates, Inc.
    • Associate Engineer, Senior Engineer, Engineer, Engineering Associate, Analyst
  • (1997-1998) Texas A&M University
    • Graduate Research Assistant
  • (1996-1997) Texas A&M Transportation Institute
    • Undergraduate Student Worker

Download Kelly’s resume updated on Aug 2019.