Driving my passion for transportation engineering and safety
France Campbell 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.
I am lucky and blessed to be passionate about my career as a traffic and intelligent transportation systems engineer, 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 to the community 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, 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 the citizens of Atlanta to walk and bicycle safely. One of the primary factors that I considered when I purchased my home 2.5 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 users 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 young professionals in transportation with 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. 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.
France Campbell, PE, PTOE (France.Campbell@aecom.com) is a project manager and traffic and intelligent transportation systems (ITS) engineer based at AECOM’s Atlanta, Georgia, office. He and his wife Christina welcomed their first child, Lilian, into the world 2 months ago.
LinkedIn: France Campbell