Sandra Larson recently opened an LLC to provide transportation innovation strategies consulting services.

Sandra Larson, P.E., enjoyed the opportunity to be Stanley Consultants' Transportation Innovation Strategies Leader. Working from the firm’s Des Moines office, Sandra worked companywide to further develop and implement innovative strategies in the transportation market. She collaborated with business development managers and subject matter experts to bring new innovative strategies and solutions to transportation clients.Sandra’s position fit her like a glove. Highly regarded in the transportation community, she held multiple top level positions in the Iowa Department of Transportation, including Systems Operations Bureau Director, Research and Technology Bureau Director, Engineering Bureau Director and State Bridge Engineer; giving her a diverse background in operations, research, safety, technology, program and project management and structures. “We are very excited to have Sandra join us in this new role,” said John Downes, Stanley Consultants’ Transportation Market Leader. “With her guidance and expertise, we look forward to bringing additional innovative ideas and solutions to our clients.”Sandra has chaired and served on over 25 diverse national committees, panels and task forces dedicated to identify, research and implement innovative solutions to transportation challenges. Sandra is a licensed professional engineer in Civil and Structural Engineering in Iowa with degrees in Civil Engineering and Biology from Iowa State University. She is the recipient of multiple awards including Iowa State University’s Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering Hall of Fame Award and Professional Accomplishment Citation in Engineering Award, the Federal Highway Administrator’s Public Service Award and the Transportation Research Board’s Roy W. Crum Award.

Led the Systems Operations Bureau as a senior level manager in the Highway Division dedicated to monitoring and improving the daily and long-term management, operations, and safety of Iowa’s state highway system. This involved leading a diverse team of more than 100 individuals from three offices: Maintenance, Traffic and Safety, and Traffic Operations. Implemented policies and made decisions directly affecting the financial support and staff level of the bureau while managing an operating budget of $50 million. Served on the Highway Division leadership team to formulate and implement agency policy, long-range plans, and goal setting. • Oversaw the expansion of the 24/7 Traffic Management Center from a reactive to a proactive center dedicated to moving travelers and freight effectively and efficiently on Iowa’s highway system through interactive communication with field maintenance, law enforcement, emergency responders, and the traveling public. • Created and led the Iowa DOT’s Connected Automated Vehicle (CAV) program, including collaboration with top agency leadership, the Traffic Operations Office, a mapping vendor, and university researchers in Iowa. Focus was on creating and supplying data, high-definition digital mapping, and predictive travel modeling for incorporation into and ingestion by connected automated vehicles. The goal was to create a CAV-ready driving environment for testing and data sharing to improve the safety, reliability, operations, and efficiency of Iowa’s transportation system.• Oversaw the creation and implementation of Iowa’s Transportation Systems Management Operations (TSMO) Program, including collaboration with agency leadership and practitioners. TSMO strategies created a cultural shift toward an operations-oriented agency with improved safety, mobility, and economics for the transportation system in all driving conditions. Iowa’s TSMO Program Plan was the 1st in the nation and often referred to as “The Iowa Model”.

A senior level manager in the Highway division, with a dedicated staff of fifteen team members, expanded the scope and breadth of the agency’s transportation research program to include all business units in the agency. Developed and led the intelligent transportation systems program, the precursor to the TSMO program. Both programs increased in impact to gain a national reputation over the ten years of leadership with an annual operating budget of $3.2 million and active collaboration with agency divisions, Iowa universities, over 30 state DOTs, and the transportation industry. Served on the Highway Division leadership team to formulate and implement agency policy, long-range plans, and goal setting.

As a senior level manager in the Highway Division, led the agency’s highway project plan development effort with more than 400 individuals from five offices: Road Design, Bridges and Structures, Location and Environment, Traffic and Safety, and Right-of-Way. Responsibilities included policy decisions for the new construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of roads and bridges on the state highway system. The offices produced specifications, standards and construction plans for the state highway system. Served on the Highway Division leadership team to formulate and implement agency policy, long-range plans, and goal setting.

As the state bridge engineer, led the Bridges and Structures Office, which included policy decisions for the new construction, rehabilitation and maintenance inspection of bridges and structures on the state highway system. The office produced structural construction plans for the state highway system and had 70 team members. Served on the Highway Division leadership team to formulate and implement agency policy, long-range plans, and goal setting.