Jimmie D. Benson, Ph.D., P.E.

Benson, Jim

Senior Research Engineer

Travel Forecasting
Texas A&M Transportation Institute
505 East Huntland Drive, Suite 455
Austin, TX 78752
ph. (512) 467-0952 Ext. 12122 · fax (512) 467-8971
jimmie-benson@tamu.edu

Short Biography

Dr. Benson has more than 35 years experience in transportation planning and engineering. During his 30+ years with TTI, his research has focused in the areas of transportation planning and travel forecasting. He has served as Principal Investigator or Study Director for numerous projects in these areas.

During the past 10 years, Dr. Benson's research and development efforts have focused primarily on the provision of technical support and assistance in the area of travel demand model development, travel demand model applications and travel model software support. Through his work with the Transportation Planning and Programming Division of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), he has been directly or indirectly involved with the model development efforts for most of the metropolitan areas in Texas. He and his staff have played a major role in TxDOT's migration to the TransCAD software platform for travel demand modeling. Through his work with the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC), he has provided management and techincal guidance in the development of the 1995 travel demand models for the region. He also assisted the H-GAC in the transition to the EMME2 software platform for their travel model applications.

Dr. Benson has served on various panels and committees including: the Peer Review Panel for the Development of the Oahu MPO Travel Demand Models and the Texas Statewide Analysis Model Review Panel.

Education

  • Ph.D., Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University, 1977.
  • M.S., Computer Science, Texas A&M University, 1969.
  • B.A., Mathematics, Southwest Texas State College, 1964.

Experience

  • Senior Research Engineer, Travel Forecasting, Texas A&M Transportation Institute, September 2003 - Present.
  • Program Manager, Travel Forecasting, Texas Transportation Institute, September 1997 - April 2008.
  • Research Engineer, Travel Forecasting, Texas Transportation Institute, September 1993 - August 2003.
  • Associate Research Engineer, Texas Transportation Institute, August 1984 - August 1993.
  • Director, Information Systems Department, City of Austin, February 1984 - August 1984.
  • Director, Urban Transportation Department, City of Austin, June 1980 - February 1984.
  • Deputy Director, Urban Transportation Department, City of Austin, December 1979 - March 1980.
  • Associate Research Planner, Texas Transportation Institute, September 1977 - December 1979.
  • Lecturer, Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University, September 1975 - August 1978.
  • Assistant Research Planner, Texas Transportation Institute, September 1971 - August 1977.
  • Research Associate, Texas Transportation Institute, June 1970 - August 1971.
  • Instructor, Industrial Engineering, Texas A&M University, September 1969 - May 1970.
  • Research Associate, Industrial Engineering, Texas A&M University, September 1969 - May 1970.
  • Research Associate, Water Resources Institute, Texas A&M University, July 1968 - August 1969.
  • Research Assistant, Texas Transportation Institute, June 1967 - August 1968.
  • Instructor, San Antonio Community College, September 1966 - May 1967.
  • Mathematics Teacher, N.E. ISD, January 1964 - May 1967.
  • Research Assistant, Texas Transportation Institute, July 1966 - August 1966.

Professional Registration

Registered Professional Engineer in Texas, Registration No. 45900.

Affiliations

  • Member, Institute of Transportation Engineers, Texas Section (TexITE).
  • Member, Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE).