Deborah Yirdaw is a traffic design engineer based in our Tysons office. A member of our experienced Traffic Design team, she is versed in developing signing and pavement marking designs, maintenance of traffic (MOT) plans, signal modifications, design concept alternatives, and safety analyses.
Her work includes conducting preliminary planning level analyses focused on safety and congestion, determining congestion scoring, recommending mitigation strategies for ramp closures, and assessing detour traffic impacts on nearby roadways.
Her expertise includes CAD drafting and designing of traffic signal and traffic control device systems using tools such as MicroStation, AutoCAD, Synchro, and ArcGIS.
Prior to her work in the engineering profession, Debbie’s university education included work on the transformation of Northern Virginia roadway unsignalized intersections to signalized ones, enhancing traffic flow and safety; employing CAD tools for the traffic engineering analysis of a senior design project; and leveraging data from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to optimize geometric design accuracy.
Q + A
- Plane, train, car, or bike?
- I think train. I used to enjoy taking the metro a while back and haven’t been recently. I sometimes miss listening to music and just enjoying the view instead of driving and focusing on the traffic. I need to add that to my routine again somehow!
- Favorite sports team?
- Arsenal (soccer) but I haven’t watched any games recently :/
- Favorite place to travel?
- Anywhere by the beach. There’s something about the ocean that brings calm and perspective. I enjoy destinations that offer both relaxation and culture—somewhere I can recharge while exploring something new.
- Best advice you’ve ever received?
- “Don’t wait for the perfect moment; create it.” That advice reminds me that growth comes from taking initiative, being adaptable, and making the most of opportunities as they come.
- What motivates you to work hard?
- Knowing that my work contributes to something larger than myself motivates me. Whether it’s improving roadway design or enhancing pedestrian safety, it’s rewarding to see tangible results that make a difference in people’s everyday lives.
- Favorite book to read?
- Currently it’s any book for Storytime with my daughter. We are currently obsessed with Moana 😉 her excitement is my favorite part of all!
Education
- Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, George Mason University