VDOT selects new research director

VDOT has selected Catherine C. McGhee, P.E., a 23-year VDOT veteran, as director of the agency’s research program at the Virginia Transportation Research Council, based in Charlottesville.

“From driverless vehicles to roadway paving materials to bridges, the Virginia Transportation Research Council is committed to conducting research in order to find innovative solutions to transportation issues in Virginia and beyond,” said Charles Kilpatrick, VDOT commissioner. “Cathy McGhee’s impressive background and experience in traffic engineering and system operations, intelligent transportation systems, and data and performance measurement will be vital as VDOT moves to be a leader in innovation and technology.”

McGhee has been with the Virginia Transportation Research Council since 1993. Most recently she was associate director for safety, operations and traffic engineering, responsible for research projects that focus on enhancing the operation of Virginia’s highway infrastructure.

Before joining VDOT, she was an associate with Barton-Aschman. McGhee received her bachelor’s degree from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and master’s degree from the University of Virginia, both in civil engineering. She has held a Professional Engineer’s license in Virginia since 2004.

McGhee has led VDOT’s research program on connected and automated vehicles and worked with VDOT staff and university partners to develop, test and deploy equipment and applications within the Virginia Connected and Automated Corridors to advance VDOT’s mission of delivering safe and efficient mobility. As a part of this effort, she has participated in the Virginia Secretary of Transportation’s Automated Vehicle Work Group and the Unmanned Aerial Systems Work Group.

McGhee currently serves as the secretary for the Transportation Research Board Committee on Regional Transportation Systems Management and Operations (AHB10), a stakeholder for the National Surface Transportation Safety Center for Excellence at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), a member of the Mid-Atlantic Transportation Sustainability University Transportation Center Advisory Board, and a member of the Advisory Council for the Institute for Transportation Research and Education at NC State.

VDOT research program

VDOT has supported a strong innovative research program for more than 65 years. Its Virginia Transportation Research Council continues to build on this strong tradition by increasing emphasis on implementation of research findings.

Located at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, the Virginia Transportation Research Council collaborates with Virginia universities and conducts studies across all aspects of surface transportation. The Virginia Transportation Research Council pursues innovation to benefit all who use Virginia’s roads, rail and transit. For more information, see http://vtrc.virginiadot.org/.