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Laura L. Higgins

Laura L. Higgins

Associate Research Scientist
Human Factors Group - Gilchrist, Room 319
Texas Transportation Institute
The Texas A&M University System
3135 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-3135
ph. (979) 845-8109 · fax (979) 845-4872
l-higgins@tamu.edu
Homepage: http://ttiresearch.tamu.edu/l-higgins

Short Biography

Laura Higgins is an Associate Research Scientist in the Center for Transportation Safety, Human Factors Program. Her work has included developing guidelines for the design of transit passenger information services, for the development of transit safety and emergency plans, and for regional coordination of transit services. Safety-related research includes an assessment of Texas drivers¿ perceptions of risk and night-time visibility testing of roadway signs and markings. Ms. Higgins has experience in developing questions and scripts for surveys and interviews and in conducting surveys and test procedures involving drivers, transit riders, and pedestrians. In 2004 she participated in TTI¿s safety evaluation of the Houston METRORail light rail line, helping to formulate recommendations for improving the safety of METRORail through changes to traffic controls and rail operations. She subsequently participated in a follow-up study on traffic safety devices along the METRORail line.

Ms. Higgins has also conducted research in transportation planning and in air quality policy, including the TxDOT project ¿Smart Growth, Texas Style,¿ which documented ways in which states and state DOTs can influence development to benefit state and local interests; technical support to the TxDOT/TCEQ Air Quality Policy Steering Committee; and technical support to the Drive Clean Across Texas air quality public outreach campaign.

Ms. Higgins holds a B.S. in Bioengineering and an M.S. in Industrial Engineering/Human Factors, both from Texas A&M University.

Education

M.S., Industrial Engineering, Texas A&M University, 1993.

B.S., Bioengineering, Texas A&M University, 1991.

Experience

Associate Research Scientist, System Planning, Texas Transportation Institute, August 2004 - Present.

Assistant Research Scientist, System Planning, Texas Transportation Institute, June 1994 - August 2004.

Graduate Research Assistant, Texas Transportation Institute, March 1993 - June 1994.

Affiliations

Member, Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America), Texas Chapter.

Member, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.

Selected Publications

B.S. Bochner, L.L. Higgins, W.E. Frawley, R. Cheu. Research Report: Guidance on Mitigating Impacts of Large DistriIbution Centers on Texas Highways. 0-5335-1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. 2009.

C.A. Morgan, B.R. Sperry, J.E. Warner, A.A. Protopapas, J.D. Borowiec, L.L. Higgins, T.B. Carlson. Potential Development of an Intercity Passenger Transit System in Texas-Report on Tasks 1-5. 0-5930-1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. November 2009.

B.S. Bochner, L.L. Higgins, W.E. Frawley, R. Cheu, K. Fitzpatrick, E.N. Hard, R.R. Longmire, D.R. Middleton, C. Morgan, A.J. Wimsatt. Guidance on Mitigating Impacts of Large Distribution Centers on Texas Highways. PSR. 0-5335-S. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. October 2009.

C.A. Lewis, L.L. Higgins, J. Perkins, B. Zhan, X. Chen. Regional Transit Coordination Guidebook. Research Report. 0-5345-P1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. January 2009.

C.A. Lewis, L.L. Higgins, J. Perkins, B. Zhan, X. Chen. Public Transportation Solutions for Regional Travel: Technical Report. Research Report. 0-5345-1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. January 2008.

L.L. Higgins, C.A. Lewis. Regional Transit Coordination. Research Report. 0-5345-P2. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. May 2007.

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