Kelly Fearon: Building Safer Streets and Stronger 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 Kelly Fearon, senior engineer in our Tampa office.

What’s your background and how did you end up at Kittelson?

Both my parents were civil engineers, so maybe it was fate (or just a lot of dinner conversations about structural integrity and calculus!). Mostly, I’ve always been fascinated by the built environment and how it shapes our lives and communities. Growing up in Maryland, I didn’t realize how much I took easy access to public transit and mobility infrastructure for granted. I used to ride the Red Line from high school. At the University of Delaware, campus life was walkable and conveniently located next to a busy street full of shops and restaurants. Later, when I went to the University of Washington in Seattle for my master’s degree, I didn’t have a car and came to appreciate how impactful a strong transit network and connected bike paths can be.

I’ve always loved how community-centric transportation engineering is—the idea that you can change infrastructure to better serve the people using it. I first encountered Kittelson’s work while at the City of Tampa in the Mobility Department as the Vision Zero engineer. Kittelson was working on the City’s Vision Zero Action Plan and MOVES Mobility Plan, and I was impressed by their collaborative culture, research focus, and technical expertise. The project team asked thoughtful questions and worked in true partnership with City staff. The rest is history!

Outside of work, I love to read! I’m constantly trying to convince friends, family, and coworkers to join or start a book club with me. Whenever I finish a new book, I want to share all my thoughts immediately. I think I have six books checked out from the library right now. I also started taking a ceramics class this year and am really enjoying it. For the holidays, everyone is getting a misshapen mug! I haven’t quite mastered the wheel yet, so most of my pieces have a slight lean.

Travel is another passion. My husband is a great sport about the endless bike lane photos I take on trips or the detours to check out great examples of placemaking.

What projects have you found most interesting to work on?

Anything safety-related! I enjoy dissecting policy and programs to find ways to incorporate best practices, or reviewing crash data to identify trends and make streets safer. I’ve especially loved working on quick-build projects and finding ways to do more with less.

In your 10 years of experience in the industry, what are the biggest lessons you’ve learned that you can pass on to others?

Communication is key. As transportation engineers and planners, we need to clearly explain what we’re doing and the tradeoffs to community members. Agencies often have to make do with less, so engaging the public throughout a project’s lifespan is critical.

Good planning pays off exponentially later. Having a plan that shows what’s needed means you’re ready to act when unexpected opportunities arise, like new funding or project support. Much of today’s infrastructure is the result of decades of work. The priorities we set now, the stakeholder engagement, and the hurdles we remove are what make future projects possible.

How do you balance the technical side of engineering with the community-focused side of planning?

Transportation planning and engineering is a mix of art and science. We have technical manuals and guidance, but we also rely on engineering judgment. Our ultimate goal is to create a safe transportation system that serves the community, and that should guide every decision.

What excites you most about the future of transportation?

What excites me the most is how you can see things change over time and how impactful transportation is on quality of life. Transportation is constantly evolving—few years ago, we didn’t have e-bikes or scooters, and the car I drove in high school didn’t have a backup camera like mine does now. Even on my commute, I’ve seen change. The local transit agency launched a free-fare pilot on Route 1, and now more people are riding the bus. Transportation affects our lives every day, and I’m excited to continue making streets safer and giving people more choices for getting around.

Fast Lane Facts

A book, podcast, or show you’ve been into lately?

The Home Cooking podcast by Samin Nosrat. Spoiler alert: I can’t cook at all, my husband does all the cooking! I love the Q&A format and the funny stories between two friends

Favorite Tampa Bay bike route?

Pinellas Trail through Dunedin. There are restaurants, parks, shops, and even a bookstore along the shady route. I like starting in downtown Dunedin, biking to Tarpon Springs for lunch, and then heading back.

If you weren’t an engineer, what would you be?

Maybe a book editor? I’m not sure I have the grammatical chops, but I love dissecting plots and talking about them.

Guilty pleasure snack?

Old Bay potato chips! Salty snacks are my favorite.