Karen Marie Lorenzini, P.E.

Lorenzini, Karen

Associate Research Engineer

Travel Forecasting
Texas A&M Transportation Institute
505 East Huntland Drive, Suite 455
Austin, TX 78752
ph. (512) 467-0952 Ext. 12121
K-Lorenzini@ttimail.tamu.edu

Short Biography

Ms. Lorenzini is an Associate Research Engineer at TTI, a part of the Texas A&M University System. She has been involved with research activities at TTI since 2009, with a major area of emphasis on Travel Demand Forecasting. Her research and development efforts are focused primarily on investigating and solving impediments in the transportation advanced planning and engineering process. Current efforts include:

- Leading a research effort to investigate, identify, and provide recommendations, including testing a pilot training course, for impedances to Texas small- and medium-sized MPOs in managing the MPO portion of travel forecasting model development;

- Leading the TTI portion of a an effort to comprehensively explore the practical steps involved in implementing a tour-based modeling system for TxDOT and MPOs that are under the model development purview of TxDOT-TPP; and

- Technical assistance to the Mobility Investment Priorities project, focusing on technical analysis of the IH 35 corridor through the Austin metropolitan area.

Previously, she provided travel demand model development and application support to the Texas Department of Transportation and was Task Lead on a TxDOT research project to test feedback loops for small urban area models.

Education

  • M.S., Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, 2002.
  • M.S., Community and Regional Planning, University of Texas at Austin, 1995.
  • B.A., University of Texas at Austin, 1993, Plan II Honors.

Experience

  • Associate Research Engineer, Travel Forecasting, Texas A&M Transportation Institute, April 2009 - Present.
  • Senior Transportation Engineer, Wilbur Smith and Associates, April 2007 - April 2009.
  • Planning Manager/Senior Engineer, RJ Rivera, May 2005 - March 2007.
  • Coordinator of Statewide Toll Feasibility Studies, Rodriguez Transportation Group, Inc., PBSJ, Tallahassee, Florida, August 2003 - May 2005.
  • Senior Transportation Planner/Graduate Engineer, Parsons, Brinckerhoff, Quade & Douglas, Inc., December 1997 - August 2003.
  • Transportation Planner, Carter & Burgess, Inc., July 1995 - November 1997.
  • Intern, CAMPO, Austin, Texas, February 1994 - December 1994.

Professional Registration

Professional Engineer in Texas, Registration No. 92604.

Certified Planner, American Institute of Certified Planners in Texas, Registration No. 100612.

Affiliations

  • Friend, Transportation Research Board, ADB50, TDM Applications Committee.
  • Certification Maintenance Officer, American Planning Association, Central Texas Section, 2008 - 2010.

Selected Publications

P.R. Reeder, C.R. Bhat, K.M. Lorenzini, K.M. Hall. Positive Feedback: Exploring Current Approaches in Iterative Travel Demand Model Implementation. 0-6632-1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. January 2012.

P.R. Reeder, C.R. Bhat, K.M. Lorenzini, K.M. Hall. Positive Feedback: An Examination of Current Approaches in Iterative Travel Demand Model Implementation. 0-6632-S. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. 2011.