In Loving Memory of - Morgan State University

Prof. Kikuchi started working with FHWA Intersection Safety Research staffmembers ever since his appointment to the Charles E. Via, Jr. Department of Civiland Environmental Engineering (CEE) at Virginia Tech in August of 2005. From2005 to 2012, eight graduate students from the Virginia Tech Capital RegionCampus rotated through our staff research program, six of them were Prof.Kikuchi’s students.I have worked and am still working with his first and last graduate students.These students worked on a wide range of research topics – alternativeintersection designs (double crossover diamond intersection, displaced left turnintersection, restriction crossing U-Turn intersection, mini-roundabout), statisticalanalysis of crash data, eye tracking study, etc. They also participated in technicalsupport activities to state and local transportation agencies. Prof. Kikuchi’snationwide and global reputation enabled him to attract and keep talentedgraduate students. His students contributed tremendously to the success of ourintersection safety R&D program (including publication of about half dozenresearch papers), the one student who deserves particular mention is Dr. NopadonKronprasert, Prof. Kikuchi’s first and last Ph.D. student.Prof. Kikuchi is very knowledgeable about the future needs of moderntransportation system. He has a version of how to plan and design the futurepublic transit system with uncertainty factors built-in so that it can help deliver thedesired level of mobility for all models of travel, remember getting commuters touse the public transit system instead of driving their own vehicles in itself is ahuge contribution of reducing traffic congestion, pollution, and improving safety.Prof. Kikuchi is a role model for many us. He cared deeply about the wellbeing ofhis students. Despite his level of international recognition, he is humble andapproachable. He listened to the needs of his sponsoring agencies and alwaysresponded in a timely and positive manner. Nopadon Kronprasert and EleftheiaKontou, the two students who are working with me right now spent countlesshours with Prof. Kikuchi in the hospital room, and at him home; giving himcomfort and providing relieve to his wife – a testimony of the close relationshipthat Prof. Kikuchi developed with his students.Prof. Kikuchi, may you rest in peace, and let your students carry on your visionand dream.In memory of Professor Shinya KikuchiI first met Professor Kikuchi in 2009 at TRB Annual Meeting, where I presented a studyon the Twin Cities Streetcar system. I vividly remember when the session endedProfessor Kikuchi walked to me with a warm smile, expressed his interest in myresearch, and invited me to speak on a similar topic in his class.Later, I had a chance to stop by his campus office, and had a dinner with him. Wechatted about our research and life. As a young foreigner who just received a PHD intransportation, started an industrial job, and looked for opportunities to get back toacademia, I saw a lot of similarities between us, and regarded him as a mentor who canguide me in my career. After the dinner, at about 8:30pm when we departed in front ofhis office building, he was heading back to his office to my surprise. "I still have somework to do." He explained, "Look at this building - many lights are still on . We allwork hard here."A couple of months later, I was invited to speak in his class and dined with him onceagain. From then on we kept contact through correspondences. On September 27, 2012,only a couple of weeks before he passed away, he responded to my e-mail in which Imentioned of my ongoing work on multimodal studies in the Washington DC region.He says, "I am interested in hearing more about multi-modal bus terminal studies. Ilook for the opportunities for you to speak in my class in the near future." At that time Ididn't know he had been sick for a while. One can imagine how shocked and sad I waswhen I heard of his death!Although Professor Kikuchi passed away, I know he left himself in the lives of manypeople. His family will miss a dear member, his university a valuable professor andformer department chair, and his colleagues a precious friend. As a young man whogot to know him only a couple of years ago, I see his ardent support towards studentsand young professionals, and I see his hard work, dedication, and drive for academicexcellence. His memory will always be warm in my heart, because I know he is thetype of compassionate and intellectual person I strive to be.Feng Xie, Ph.D.Metropolitan Washington Council of GovernmentsWei Zhang, Ph.D.FHWA Office of Safety R&D2425