As the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) issues its Report Card for America’s Infrastructure (which it does every four years) two experts speak on the latest episode of the Thinking Transportation Podcast from Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) about the insights the report reveals about the health and reliability of roads and bridges in Texas and Beyond. In this clip TTI’s Edith Arámbula Mercado and the Texas Department of Transportation’s Jamie Farris give insight into the growing focus on infrastructure resilience and give tips on how this can be improved. To hear the whole episode and more like it visit the Thinking Transportation homepage or find the podcast on your favorite streaming service.
Guest info: Edith Arámbula-Mercado, Manager, TTI Recyclable Pavement Materials Program
Dr. Edith Arámbula-Mercado is a research engineer at TTI, and serves as deputy director of The Texas A&M University System’s Center for Infrastructure Renewal. With nearly 20 years of experience, she focuses on sustainable use of reclaimed asphalt pavement and other materials in roadway infrastructure. Her research on balanced mix design and full-depth reclamation supports the development and implementation of performance-based specifications. A licensed professional engineer in Texas since 2011, she received TTI’s Researcher Award (2021) and the K.B. Woods Award from TRB (2022) for her contributions to asphalt engineering.
Guest info: Jamie Farris, Head, Bridge Division, Texas Department of Transportation
Jamie F. Farris, PE, oversees operations at TxDOT that include planning assistance, geotechnical and structural plan preparation, construction and maintenance assistance, safety inspection and PS&E review. Jamie graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a BS in Architectural Engineering and an MS in Civil Engineering with an emphasis in Structures. Her 25-year career in bridge engineering has given her a wide range of experience including design, preservation, asset management, project management, and legislation analysis. She is also a member of the AASHTO Committee on Bridges and Structures, where she serves as a committee member on the Technology Committee and chairs the Steel and Metals Committee.
