Frederick Ducca, PhD
Senior Research Scientist

Office: 1112N Preinkert Field House    |    Phone: (30-1) -405-    |    Email

Dr. Fred Ducca directs the Transportation Policy Research Group (TPRG) of the National Center for Smart Growth (NCSG) at the University of Maryland. While with the Federal Highway Administration, Dr. Ducca managed the Travel Model Improvement Program (TMIP). Dr. Ducca has also worked as a Community Planner for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), a consultant for Booz, Allen and Hamilton, a Research Associate at the Urban Land Institute, and contributed to Legislation Development for the Library of Congress.

Dr. Ducca is the author of publications featured in the Institute for Transportation Engineers Journal, TR News and  has delivered numerous presentations on transportation and planning issues to organizations including the Transportation Research Board. While on temporary assignment with the Congressional Research Service, Dr. Ducca reviewed agency budget submissions to Congress, and wrote legislation for appropriations bills.

As Director of TPRG, Dr. Ducca supervises the development of the Maryland Statewide Transportation Model (MSTM), a cutting edge tool which analyzes traffic throughout the state of Maryland. The MSTM closely links with the Baltimore and Washington MPO models, allowing the MSTM to respond to changes in land use patterns resulting from activities in individual urban areas. Dr. Ducca also manages the Megaregions project for the FHA which expands the MSTM to include the entire Chesapeake Bay megaregion.

He also manages the Center’s applied research on Transit Oriented Development.

Dr. Ducca's work at FHWA on the TMIP focused on improving both the state-of-the-art and state of the practice in travel forecasting. At the Urban Land Institute, Dr. Ducca managed the Suburban Mobility Program, a cooperative effort between the private sector and the public sector to reduce traffic congestion. The program examined a range of congestion reduction options including higher density, pedestrian friendly site design, transportation impact fees, changes to parking policy and the imposition of carpooling requirements. Dr. Ducca has also provided extensive technical assistance to State Governments and MPOs on the travel forecasting process for the FHA. Much of the assistance involved controversial and politically sensitive projects.