In our Houston Transportation Series: Monthly Member Feature, YPT Houston introduces one of our members who make differences in our community. This month’s feature is Allie Norman of Gunda Corporation.
Tell me a little bit about yourself.
I graduated from Texas A&M University in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in Urban & Regional Science and in 2012 with a Master of Urban Planning. While at Texas A&M, I worked for the Hazard Reduction & Recovery Center, where my primary project was the 2-1-1 Texas Database Analysis for Katrina-Rita Community Needs. Working on this project sparked my interest in transportation issues and needs, as they were a huge problem during the evacuation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. I am currently an Associate Planner at Gunda Corporation.
What are your current projects?
My primary projects right now are a mobility study in the Kingwood area, an airport master plan for IAH, and Bellaire-Uptown Transit Center planning.
How do you feel your projects are affecting mobility/transportation?
The projects I am currently working on vary greatly in scope and subject matter; however, the ultimate goal is a common link for these projects and that is to improve quality of life. This can be anything from providing a new mode of transportation with a bike trail or bus route to saving a few seconds at traffic signals by optimizing timing. If we can develop a cost-effective solution that makes the everyday life of transportation users even just a bit better, that is a success.
What do you love most about what you do?
I love that my job is different every day. One day I may be out in the field, checking out existing conditions and the next I will be in the office using GIS all day. With the non-routine job does come challenges, but that is the fun part – learning new skills and solving new issues.
What role does YPT play in your professional life?
YPT has been a great networking resource. The organization is becoming more and more diverse, reaching all types of professionals involved in the transportation field, from engineers to economists. It is great to see interdisciplinary communication and interest. The greatest thing about YPT, though, is that it really does keep me inspired and passionate about my job. We have so many great speakers and they truly refresh my enthusiasm for the field of transportation.