“I grew up in a construction family and developed a passion for building things. I initially dreamt of working on large buildings after college, but after having two internships in transportation engineering, I found a new passion for improving the infrastructure of our communities.”
We’re an interconnected nationwide team, but we each have our own reasons for being passionate about the work we do. This month, get to know Anthony Davies, senior engineer in our Spokane office.
What’s your background and how long have you been a transportation professional?
I grew up in a construction family—my grandpa worked as a drafter for the Oregon Department of Transportation for many decades and my dad owned a commercial window business. As a teenager, I spent my summers working in the window fabrication shop and installing windows on construction job sites. I grew a passion for building things and learned how to visualize floor plans. I initially dreamt of working on large buildings after college, but after having two internships in transportation engineering, I found a new passion for improving the infrastructure of our communities.
I have been in the transportation engineering profession for 14 years, starting as a construction inspector for the Oregon Department of Transportation out of college. I then worked as a bridge engineer for Washington County for 10 years. As much as I enjoyed government work, I wanted a new challenge and to work on more diverse projects, so I joined Kittelson at the end of 2022.
Outside of work I continue to enjoy problem solving and building things. I love to do escape rooms with my wife, Jessica, build LEGO® sets with my five-year old daughter, Lily, and explore the wide world of 3D printing. I also love sharing my passions with others, which has led to my daughter sharing in my fascination with roundabouts, who now loves to point out each roundabout we encounter.
How has your structural engineering experience helped you be a better transportation engineer?
In structural engineering, a small change can lead to a complete structural redesign. Because of this, I learned how all the knobs and levers in the mathematical calculations interacted and could communicate how a small change can impact the final design. Structural engineering also relies on inputs from many different disciplines, such as geotechnical engineering and environmental specialists. I have used these skills in the broader transportation engineering field by being able to understand how small changes to a roadway design can have ripple effects. This also helps when communicating with a multidisciplinary team and understanding each team member’s constraints and necessary inputs to perform their work.
What has your experience been with joining Kittelson’s newly opened Spokane office?
A few years ago, I embraced the idea of stepping outside of my comfort zone to challenge myself. This led to me learning how to operate a soundboard to help at a local church, volunteering to join politically challenging public engagements, leaving my stable career in the government sector, and taking a leap of faith by joining the new Spokane office. While it hasn’t even been a year, our Spokane office is doing amazing things in the region, and I am excited to see what the future holds. The region is rapidly growing and there is enthusiastic interest in bike, pedestrian, and public transit investments in the area. I am excited about the prospect of being an active participant in the drastic changes that this region will see in the next decade. The Spokane team has been amazing, and I have learned so many new things from each of them; especially how not to think like an engineer from Wende Wilber. There has been challenges with finding success in an entirely new client market, but I’ve tried to use each pitfall as an opportunity to learn how to do better next time.
What types of projects are you most passionate about?
I have a strong passion for designing pedestrian and bicycle facilities, especially in underserved communities. In Washington County, I worked on a multi-use bike/ped bridge that connected a neighborhood to a nearby elementary school.
The highlight of my career was seeing elementary aged children walking and biking to their school for the very first time. At Kittelson, I got to work on the next phase of this neighborhood project, designing a Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon (PHB) crossing for one of the busiest arterials in the region. In the Spokane office, I am excited to be working on the West Central Infrastructure Project, which aims to partner with the residents to deliver traffic safety projects for all users in one of the most underserved neighborhoods in the state.
What do you think is the most exciting development in the transportation industry right now?
In my professional career, I have seen a drastic paradigm shift moving away from reducing vehicle delays to focusing on safety for all users of our transportation system. National trends in fatal and serious injury crashes are moving in the wrong direction. These aren’t just statistics—they represent lives lost and irreparable damage to families across the nation. It is encouraging to see the industry acknowledging these issues and understanding the role we play in reversing the national trend. As the father of a young daughter, I want infrastructure that she can safely enjoy on her bicycle or scooter. While it may be an uphill battle that takes many years, I am optimistic that our industry will make our infrastructure safe for all.