Alison Catarella Michel

President/Transportation Engineer

P.E., PTOE, PTP, RSP2i

Ms. Catarella Michel began working at Urban Systems, Inc. as an Engineer Intern in 2001. She became a Professional Engineer in 2002, an Associate of the firm in 2003, and a Principal in 2006. In 2012 the firm reorganized, and she became the President. Ms. Catarella-Michel responsibilities include project management, design, management and training of the firm’s technical staff as well as business development and contract negotiations.

Ms. Catarella Michel has over twenty years of experience in Traffic Engineering and has expertise in traffic signal designs, traffic impact analysis, traffic control device plan design, intelligent transportation systems, and regional transportation microscopic simulation modeling. She has experience in a wide range of traffic and transportation studies for safety, congestion alleviation, interchange improvements, complete streets, and multi-modal facilities for a variety of clients.

Ms. Catarella Michel co-authored an article published in the September 2001 ITE Journal entitled “A Method for the Simulation of Coordinated Lead-Lag Left-Turn Phasing in CORSIM”. She also co-authored an article that was published in the January 2006 Journal of Transportation Engineering ASCE entitled “Louisiana Highway Evacuation Plan for Hurricane Katrina: Proactive Management of a Regional Evacuation. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Transportation Engineers where she is active on the Section, District and International levels. Ms. Michel is also a 2023 graduate of the SBA T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Leaders Reimaged program.