TTI Senior Research Scientist
Research Scientist
Infrastructure Investment AnalysisTexas A&M Transportation Institute
1111 RELLIS Parkway
Bryan, TX 77807
(979) 845-6165 x56165
[email protected]
Education
- Ph.D., Urban And Regional Science, Texas A&M University, 1995
- M.U.P., Urban Planning, Texas A&M University, 1990
- B.S., Agricultural Economics, Texas A&M University, 1979
Short Biography
Dr. Ellis is a research scientist at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute and manager of the Infrastructure Investment Analysis Program. He received his undergraduate degree in agricultural economics (1979), a master's in urban planning (1990) and a doctorate in urban and regional science (1995) from Texas A&M University. He has 34 years of experience in transportation economics and finance, demographics, the economic impacts of transportation investment, and tax policy.
His recent work at TTI includes research on transportation supply, demand and finance, transportation tax policy, modeling and forecasting fuel tax and other transportation revenue sources, benefit/cost analysis of transportation improvements, and the effect of fuel price changes on vehicle miles traveled.
Dr. Ellis is invited frequently to testify before the Texas Legislature on topics related to transportation finance, tax policy and revenue forecasting and has been invited on multiple occasions to provide briefings for legislative and congressional staff on the economic impact of infrastructure investment. He has also consulted on multiple occasions with transportation officials in the People's Republic of China, the World Bank and other states on topics related to tax policy and the relationship between transportation and the economy.
Prior to returning to Texas A&M to work for TTI he was a lobbyist in Austin, representing a number of clients in the construction materials industry before the Texas Legislature and various state boards and agencies. Following that, he served as director of research for the Texas Department of Commerce. In that capacity he also served as director of research for both the Strategic Economic Policy Commission and the Rural Economic Development Commission.