Driving my Passion for Transportation Engineering and Safety at AECOM
AECOM's France Campbell, project manager and traffic and intelligent transportation systems engineer, was recently named to Engineering News-Record’s “Top 20 under 40,” an awards program that honors and celebrates talented, up-and-coming industry leaders. Campbell shares his passion for bicycle and pedestrian advocacy and safety, as well as his dedication to his career and community.
I feel lucky and blessed to be passionate about my career as a traffic and intelligent transportation systems engineer. This passion also extends to professional development, bicycle and pedestrian advocacy and safety, and my community.
Ever since I traveled to Romania several times on mission trips during high school, I have recognized the importance of giving back and improving the community I live in. As I grew in my career as a traffic engineer, I decided to dedicate myself to improving my industry through several professional organizations — fostering innovation through collaboration with industry peers and improving bicycle safety in Atlanta, Georgia, where bicycling is making a comeback in an auto-oriented city.
At AECOM, I have worked on the Atlanta BeltLine project, which will create a 22-mile multiuse path and transit corridor that will circle the city of Atlanta, help revitalize the city, and improve the ability for its citizens to walk and bicycle safely. One of the primary factors that I considered when I purchased my home more than two years ago was that it would be a half-mile from the BeltLine in the future — creating the possibility for me to safely ride my bicycle in an over-50-mile network of separated pedestrian and bicycle facilities. Working on this project matters to me because, as a frequent user of the multi-use trail sections of the BeltLine that are now open, the number of commuters is exciting but, at the same time, concerning from the angle of safety. With a large number of users and the future implementation of streetcar transit operations, we need to ensure that all users can co-exist and operate safely in harmony with each other.
I am also involved in several community-based organizations and industry groups. As the Georgia Institute of Transportation Engineers’ Section Technical Committee chair, I am responsible for subcommittees focused on transportation modeling, safety and education, and have assisted with many initiatives such as updating the Georgia Department of Transportation’s driver’s manual.
I serve as the finance chair for Young Professionals in Transportation Atlanta, which provides opportunities to foster professional development, fellowship and networking around the world.
Due to my love of bicycling, I am the Tour de Cure team captain for the AECOM/Norfolk Southern team — helping to fundraise for diabetes research and treatments. In addition, I was one of the founders and serve as a board member for Bike Alpharetta, a community organization comprised of local residents and civic leaders advocating an enjoyable, safe environment for all types of bicycle use in Alpharetta, Georgia.
I further drive my passion by seeking new ways to educate others outside of the industry about traffic engineering, helping to improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists, and publicizing the projects that I am involved in at AECOM.
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About AECOM
AECOM is a premier, fully integrated professional and technical services firm positioned to design, build, finance and operate infrastructure assets around the world for public- and private-sector clients. With nearly 100,000 employees — including architects, engineers, designers, planners, scientists and management and construction services professionals — serving clients in over 150 countries around the world, AECOM is ranked as the #1 engineering design firm by revenue in Engineering News-Record magazine’s annual industry rankings, and has been recognized by Fortune magazine as a World’s Most Admired Company. The company is a leader in all of the key markets that it serves, including transportation, facilities, environmental, energy, oil and gas, water, high-rise buildings and government. AECOM provides a blend of global reach, local knowledge, innovation and technical excellence in delivering customized and creative solutions that meet the needs of clients’ projects. A Fortune 500 firm, AECOM companies, including URS Corporation and Hunt Construction Group, had revenue of approximately $19 billion during the 12 months ended Dec. 31, 2014. More information on AECOM and its services can be found at www.aecom.com.
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