Melisa D. Finley, P.E.

Finley, Melisa

Associate Research Engineer

Work Zone and DMS Program - TTI Headquarters and Research Building, Room 253
Texas A&M Transportation Institute
The Texas A&M University System
3135 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-3135
ph. (979) 845-7596 Ext. 57596 · fax (979) 845-6006
m-finley@tamu.edu

Short Biography

Melisa Finley is an Associate Research Engineer in the Traffic Operations and Roadway Safety Division of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI). She has over 10 years of experience as a principal investigator or key researcher on over 35 studies relating to work zone safety and operations, traffic control measures and devices, and human factors. These research activities were conducted for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), California DOT, Florida DOT, and the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA). In addition, she has conducted several research projects for several private entities, including the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA). Ms. Finley has published findings in Transportation Research Board (TRB) journals and other publications such as Roads and Bridges magazine. She has made numerous presentations on her research findings at TRB meetings, Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) meetings, ATSSA meetings, and other venues. In addition to her research accomplishments, Ms. Finley teaches National Highway Institute (NHI) training on work zone management and design at locations throughout the country. Her ambition and commitment to excellence have not gone unnoticed. In 2001, Ms. Finley received the TTI/Trinity New Researcher Award, and in 2004, she received the Texas Institute of Transportation Engineers (TexITE) Younger Member of the Year Award.

Currently, Ms. Finley is actively involved in TRB, ITE, and ATSSA. Within TRB, she is a member of the Committee on Traffic Control Devices (AHB50), a member of the Joint Subcommittee on Work Zone Positive Protection, and a friend of the Committee on Work Zone Traffic Control (AHB55). In January 2006, a paper authored by Ms. Finley was selected by TRB Committee AHB55 as the 2006 best paper sponsored by the committee. Within ITE, she is currently a member of the Traffic Engineering Council, a member of the Transportation Education Council, the Secretary/Treasurer of the Texas District, and the District Award Coordinator for the Texas District. Within ATSSA, she is a member of the Temporary Traffic Control Committee.

Ms. Finley received her Bachelor of Science (Cum Laude) and Master of Science degrees in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University. She is a registered professional engineer in the state of Texas.

Education

  • M.S., Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University, 1999.
  • B.S., Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University, 1997.

Experience

  • Associate Research Engineer, Work Zone and DMS Program, Texas A&M Transportation Institute, May 2007 - Present.
  • Assistant Research Engineer, Work Zone and DMS Program, Texas Transportation Institute, February 2003 - April 2007.
  • Associate Transportation Researcher, Traffic Operations Program, Texas Transportation Institute, February 2001 - January 2003.
  • Assistant Transportation Researcher, Traffic Operations Program, Texas Transportation Institute, April 1999 - January 2001.
  • Research Associate, Traffic Management and Information Systems Program, Texas Transportation Institute, January 1999 - March 1999.

Professional Registration

Professional Engineer in Texas, Registration No. 90937.

Affiliations

  • Member, Transportation Research Board (TRB), Committee on Traffic Control Devices (AHB50).
  • Member, American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA), Temporary Traffic Control Committee.
  • Associate Member, Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE).
  • Member, ITE Traffic Engineering Council.
  • Member, Transportation Education Council.
  • Secretary/Treasurer, Institute of Transportation Engineers, Texas District (TexITE).
  • Member, Brazos Valley Section of ITE.

Honors & Awards

Younger Member of the Year, District 9, Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), 2004.

New Researcher Award, Texas Transportation Institute, 2001.

Best Committee Paper Award, Transportation Research Board Committee AHB55, 2006.

Selected Publications

M.D. Finley, B.R. Ullman, N.D. Trout, E. Park. Studies to Determine the Effectiveness of Automated Flagger Assistance Devices and School Crossing Devices. 0-6407-1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. January 2012.

M.D. Finley, L.D. Theiss, N.D. Trout, J.D. Miles, A.A. Nelson. Studies to Determine the Effectiveness of Longitudinal Channelizing Devices in Work Zones. 0-6103-1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. January 2011.

M.D. Finley, L.D. Theiss, N.D. Trout, J.D. Miles, A.A. Nelson. Evaluation of Longitudinal Channelizing Barricade Effectiveness. 0-6103-S. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. 2010.

L.D. Theiss, M.D. Finley, N.D. Trout. Devices to Implement Short-Term Speed Limits in Texas Work Zones. Transportation Research Record. 2169. Journal of Transportation Research Board, TRB, Washington, DC. 2010.

N.D. Trout, M.D. Finley, G.L. Ullman. Motorist Understanding of Alternative Displays for Speed Limits in Work Zones. Transportation Research Record. 2169. Journal of Transportation Research Board, TRB, Washington, DC. 2010.

M.D. Finley, D.L. Jasek. Partnering with AVID to Create Transportation Scholars. Texas Transportation Institute, Houston, TX. October 2010.

B.R. Ullman, M.D. Finley, S.T. Chrysler, N.D. Trout, A.A. Nelson, S. Young. Guidelines for the Use of Pavement Marking Symbols at Freeway Interchanges: Final Report. 0-5890-1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. March 2010.

M.D. Finley. Too Much Latitude. Roads & Bridges, Vol. 48. Scranton Gillette Communications, Inc, Arlington Heights, IL. February 2010, pp. 42-44.

B.R. Ullman, S.T. Chrysler, M.D. Finley, N.D. Trout. Guidelines for the Use of Pavement Marking Symbols at Freeway Interchanges. 0-5890-S. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. February 2010.

M.D. Finley, G.L. Ullman, A.A. Nelson. Path Guidance Information in Advance of Work Zones at Urban Freeway Interchanges. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board. Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, Washington, DC. 2009, pp. 45-51.

L. Theiss, M.D. Finley, G.L. Ullman. Merging Taper Lengths for Short Duration Lane Closures. Report 476990. Florida Department of Transportation. December 2009.

M.D. Finley, D.S. Funkhouser, M.A. Brewer. Studies to Determine the Operational Effects of Shoulder and Centerline Rumble Strips on Two-Lane Undivided Roadways. 0-5577-1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. August 2009.

M.D. Finley, G.L. Ullman, A.A. Nelson. Guiding Force. Safety Today, Vol. 4, No. 1, June 2009.

M.D. Finley, D.S. Funkhouser, M.A. Brewer. 0-5577: Operational Effects of Shoulder and Centerline Rumble Strips on Two-Lane Undivided Highways. 0-5577-S. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. January 2009.