Jeffrey Adam Shelton

Shelton, Jeff

Associate Research Scientist
Program Manager

Research and Implementation - El Paso
4050 Rio Bravo Drive, Suite 151
El Paso, TX 79902
ph. (915) 532-3759 Ext. 14106 · fax (915) 532-3762
j-shelton@tamu.edu

Short Biography

Jeff Shelton is an Assistant Research Scientist with the Transportation Operations Group of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI). He received his B.S. degree in Civil Engineering and M.S. in Transportation Engineering, both from the University of Texas at El Paso. His career experience includes leadership roles in the areas of network-wide simulation modeling, simulation and assignment model integration, freeway corridor management, managed lanes, traffic operations and operational planning, simulated traffic impact analyses, traffic calming, and road safety. His primary duties include network traffic simulation modeling utilizing both mesoscopic and microscopic traffic simulation software. He has been involved in research that analyzes variable pricing using time-based and congestive responsive tolling algorithms for HOT lanes, various managed lanes strategies for integrated corridor management, advanced warning strategies for queue spillover at exit ramps and university transportation system planning. He developed an evaluation based model using an integrated multiple criteria decision-making method for the purpose of prioritizing transportation projects.

Mr. Shelton has diverse and extensive experience in the area of multi-resolution modeling. As the lead developer of two simulation and assignment conversion tools--the DynusT-VISSIM Converter (DVC) and VISUM-DynusT Converter (VDC)--he has successfully applied this methodology for a number of successful projects in El Paso including the Analysis of Truck Restricted Lanes on Interstate 10, Interstate 10 Corridor Improvement Analysis, Zaragoza/I-10 Interchange Alternative Analysis and the El Paso Transit Corridor Alternative Analysis. This groundbreaking new modeling methodology is paving the way for a more advanced and robust approach to analyzing both short- and long-range transportation projects. Mr. Shelton regularly conducts FHWA-sponsored Dynamic Traffic Assignment workshops for various DOT and MPO personnel that focus on the multi-resolution modeling concepts by providing hands-on training on model integration.

Since joining TTI in August 2006, Mr. Shelton has been actively involved in the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) interagency contract with the El Paso District. Under this contract, he assists the Advanced Project Development (APD) office of TxDOT in proposing financially viable and effective corridor construction and management strategies in order to meet the rising traffic congestion over the next 20-30 years. He assisted TxDOT in analyzing the Interstate 10/Zaragoza interchange by simulating several different design alternatives using state-of-the-art modeling techniques and provided the state with the most cost-effective solutions. He has also conducted an analysis for I-10 corridor by indentify time-specific corridor hot spot locations and evaluated both routing and operational mitigation strategies to help alleviate specific congestion locations. He also assists the Traffic Operations section of TxDOT in analyzing various operational improvement strategies in El Paso. As active principal investigator of several tasks within the interagency contract, he currently supervises graduate and undergraduate students in the area of simulation modeling. His research has been supported by TxDOT, the City of El Paso, the El Paso Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Center for International Intelligent Transportation Research, and the Colorado Department of Transportation.

Prior to joining TTI, Mr. Shelton was a Research Associate for the Center for Transportation Infrastructure Systems at the University of Texas at El Paso. He was actively involved in research projects that included a Dynamic Modeling Approach for Analyzing Toll Projects, Applying Dynamic Modeling Methods for University Campus Multi-Modal Mobility Planning, and the Evaluation of Interstate 10 Corridor Improvement Plan.

Education

  • M.S.C.E., University of Texas at El Paso, 2007.
  • B.S.C.E., University of Texas at El Paso, 2004.

Experience

  • Associate Research Scientist, Research and Implementation - El Paso, Texas A&M Transportation Institute, September 2012 - Present.
  • Program Manager, Research and Implementation - El Paso, Texas A&M Transportation Institute, September 2010 - Present.
  • Assistant Research Scientist, Research and Implementation - El Paso, Texas Transportation Institute, September 2009 - April 2013.
  • Associate Transportation Researcher, Research and Implementation - El Paso, Texas Transportation Institute, May 2007 - August 2009.
  • Engineering Research Associate, Research and Implementation - El Paso, Texas Transportation Institute, August 2006 - August 2009.
  • Research Associate, Center for Transportation Infrastructure Systems, University of Texas at El Paso, September 2005 - August 2006.

Affiliations

  • Member, Chi Epsilon - The National Civil Engineering Honor Society.
  • Member, International Society on Multiple Criteria Decision Making.
  • Member, Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE).
  • Member, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

Honors & Awards

TTI/Trinity New Researcher Award, TTI/Trinity Industries, 2010.

Best Paper: Multi-Resolution Simulation Assignment Modeling Methods for Analyzing Truck Restricted Lanes, PTV America User?s Group Meeting, 2009.

Best Senior Design Presentation: Feasibility and Geometric Design Analysis of a Roundabout as a Traffic Calming Device, UTEP, 2004.

TTI/Trinity Herb Richardson Teens in the Driver Seat Program, Texas Transportation Institute Team Award, 2007.

Selected Publications

S. Anderson, C.P. Beaty, L. Ding, D.R. Ellis, J.A. Epps, C.K. Estakhri, B.A. Glover, M.L. Hoelscher, N.D. Norboge, R. Rajbhandari, T.L. Ramani, T. Scullion, J.A. Shelton, C. Shon, W.R. Stockton, S.R. Vadali, S.P. Venglar, J. Zietsman. TxDOT Administration Research: Tasks Completed FY2011. 0-6581-TI-3. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. April 2012.

R.M. Aldrete, J.A. Shelton, A. Bujanda, E. Li, M. Farzaneh, S.M. Turner, K. Fitzpatrick, L.K. Cherrington, K. Cheu, C. Chang, I. Ibarra. Integrating the Transportation System with a University Campus Transportation Master Plan. 0-6608-S. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. 2010.

J.A. Shelton, M. Medina. Prioritizing Transportation Projects using an Integrated Multiple Criteria Decision-Making Method. Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2010.

R.M. Aldrete, J.A. Shelton, R. Cheu. Integrating the Transportation System with a University Transportation Master Plan: Best Practices and Lessons Learned. 0-6608-3. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. May 2010.

R.M. Aldrete, J.A. Shelton, R.L. Cheu. Integrating the Transportation System with a University Campus Transportation Master Plan: A Case Study. 0-6608-2. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. April 2010.

R.A. Sanchez, J.A. Shelton. Integrating the Transportation System with a University Transportation Master Plan. 0-6608-P2. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. February 2010.

Y. Chiu, J.A. Shelton, B. Bustillos. University Campus Traffic and Parking Planning through a Dynamic Traffic Simulation and Modeling Approach. Journal of Transportation Planning and Technology, 2009.

J.A. Shelton, Y. Chiu, S. Samant. Modeling for Consistency: An Integration Capability for Mesoscopic DTA and Microscopic Traffic Simulation Models. Center for International Intelligent Transportation Research. 2009.