CV | PRISM Engineering

Grant P. Johnson, TE
Principal

Grant is a Civil Engineer professional registration in Traffic Engineering in California. He has been a leader in transportation engineering in California for over 40 years, with the last 32 years as owner of PRISM Engineering. He also spent 2.5 years in Mainland China (2013-2015) doing leadership-level engineering in transportation in the heart of mainland China at Chongqing, and also worked as Chief Site Engineer in Charge on a 70 km section of the China High Speed Rail (HSR) project from Beijing to Shenyang*. He now focuses on building PRISM Engineering Traffic Engineering and Expert Witness Services with above and beyond capabilities involving extensive research and data collection using state of the art laser measurements, drone videography, and video editing / creation of graphics and movies. He also is an experience report writer and speaker, forming opinions and conclusions for use in MSJ, Declarations, Federal Report, and RW Testimony and Deposition in California, Utah, Arizona, Hawaii and Washington.

He has a very broad view of multimodal transportation based on direct experience in China, and now living in San Francisco, CA. In China he worked on HSR construction inspection, rode the HSR systems there, incl. buses, monorail, taxis, bikes, electric scooters, and walking, and never once needed to drive a car. Grant has extensive Supervisory and Management experience in HSR engineering and construction. As Chief Site Engineer over 70 km of China's bullet train construction near Beijing, he oversaw and supervised the work of hundreds of engineers and construction workers. He has an international experience in traffic engineering. More recently Grant has been involved in numerous expert witness cases for accidents involving Traffic Engineering expertise. His perspective of traffic safety comes from practical hands-on experience in the field, as well as a thorough understanding of design and safety principles contained in the MUTCD, AASHTO Green Book, and State Highway Design Manuals.
*(see CHINA tab for more info on his China Traffic Engineering experience)

EXPERIENCE

as a Registered Traffic Engineer

38 Years

Professional Registration
Licensed Traffic Engineer
State of California (TR#1453)

since Apr 1987

Education
California State University, Sacramento
BS Civil Engineering
1984

Professional Affiliations
American Public Works Association (APWA)
Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE)

CV / RESUME of Grant P. Johnson

Expert Witness as a Traffic Engineer

A wide variety of Expert Witness cases involving:

►Examination of all roadway and traffic conditions, using state of the art data collection (laser measurements, elevations/grade), drone aerial photography, video editing software for creation of visuals and proof of opinions, etc. regarding safety conditions of the roadway and installations.

►Examining traffic control device installations (signs, striping, signals, etc.) for compliance to MUTCD standards, Highway Design Manual, AASHTO Green Book, etc.

►Measuring vehicle sight distance using state of the art methods in photography and laser measurements.

►vehicle speeds using radar at ground level and drone for aerial videography of speeds over a distance.

►traffic patterns using drone video to capture driver behavior in turns, braking, lane changes, reaction to signals or signs, sight distance constraints, etc.

Recent cases involve:

Pedestrian fatality on Hawaii State Highway, four lanes, inadequate lighting, improper location, was not subject to motion for summary judgment. Mistakes made and discovered for the defense in review of lighting data. Used light meter to measure luminaire lumens in the field at night. Involved extensive research and data collection nighttime drone aerial videography, CAD creation of infographics of speeds, distances, and before and after installations of crosswalk and striping. For plaintiff against HI DOT.
Severe nighttime vehicle broadside accident at major intersection in Huntington Beach. Alleged fault of signal timing/function. Use of drone aerial video to document signal operation, and nighttime operations and vehicle behavior and response. Full field inspection of all signs, striping, and signals. For Defense of City.
Nighttime trucking accident at major food company distribution center, poor lighting in truck parking lot. Found unsafe lighting (measured with light meter), unsafe U-Turns, and crowded conditions. For Plaintiff against Corporation.
Car/motorcycle accident at industrial park large intersection with some sight distance constraints and alleged lane striping deficiency. For Defense of City.
Vehicle hits Cattle herd crossing AZ State highway at night. No fences, no lights, horizontal and vertical curves. For Plaintiff versus AZ State DOT.
Truck overturn accident on improperly designed and negligently maintained county highway. For Plaintiff against CA county.
Sight distance issues on neighborhood collector / arterial intersection. Wall, bushes, and roadway design. For plaintiff against CA City.
Skateboard hits Vehicle in San Francisco. Investigation of all traffic signal operations, signing and striping and driver behavior / maneuvers at major Market Street intersection mixed with rail and bus traffic. For Defense of driver of vehicle.
Vehicle hit by Light Rail, signal dispute. Railroad crossing complexities, controlling signals, signs. For Defense of CA City
Signal Timing issue on Expressway w/Car/Car fatality. For Defense of Driver and finding liability on CA city.
UT State highway and pedestrian fatality on sidewalk. Design flaws. Safety flaws. Lighting. Improper TCDI installations. For Plaintiff versus driver and UT State DOT.
Railroad crossing at major intersection with pedestrian fatality, skewed intersection. No pedestrian gates. For Defense of City.
High school X-Walk w/severe pedestrian injury, Sight distance constraints due to sunrise blinding sunlight. Examine crosswalk, street. For Defense of City.
Absence of guardrail and motorist run off freeway fatality. For Plaintiff versus CA State DOT.
Motorcycle run off freeway offramp, alleged poor design. Examined ramp and approach speed, super-elevation of ramp, sight distance, and used drone video to measure all angles and speeds of traffic. For Defense of Caltrans CA DOT working with Caltrans attorneys.
Absence of sufficient guardrail on high speed rural freeway. Vehicle exits freeway plunges into dry canal concrete wall, fatal accident. For Plaintiff versus CA DOT (Caltrans).
Multiple close signals near freeway ramp w/Ped fatality hit by semi-truck turning into X-Walk. For Defense of City.
Pedestrian killed in crosswalk. Alleged signal timing deficiency. Sun glare. For Plaintiff against CA City.
Motorcycle ran off road, hit utility pole. For Defense of local CA Utility Company.
Motorcycle fatality in construction zone. Review of Contractor's Temporary Traffic Control plan sheets. For Defense of Contractor.

Partial List of Recently Completed Cases (alphabetized):

Arcadia, CA, Liu v. Alhambra Motors, Ped/Car/X-Walk
Antioch, CA, Nartea v Sabedra, Car hits Skateboarder at Traffic Signal
Arizona Grand Canyon, AZ, PARTHASARATHI v. STATE OF ARIZONA & UNITED STATES. Car hits Cow, Head-on Car
Calaveras County, CA, Bowser vs Reed, Car/Ambulance fatality, sun was factor in sight distance
Dixon, CA, Glenda Dew vs Caltrans, Head-on, fatal
Emeryville, CA, Abad vs City, Fatal truck accident in Xwalk
Fairfield, CA, Coppes v CALTRANS
Fort Duchesne, UT US vs Austin, Construction Zone Temporary Traffic Control, Signage improperly installed.
Fresno, CA, Paulino vs Jensen/Car hits long truck crossing two close spaced intersections
Harriman, UT, High speed fatality on Utah DOT expressway, signal dilemma zone, sight distance
Harriman, UT, Hancock v Holbrook, Car hits Pedestrian
Honolulu, HI, Farrington Hwy, hit fixed obj., no guardrail
Honolulu, HI, Farrington Hwy, Ped killed in crosswalk, poor lighting, mistakes in roadway design work.
Hollywood, CA, Babak vs Grace & Frankie, Car/Truck
Lancaster, CA, Romines vs Lancaster/Broadside fatality
Laguna Hills, CA, John Doe vs Orange County Fire Authority/Fire Truck hits car at signal, high speeds
Los Angeles CALTRANS vs Blanca Cavazos Motorcycle/Car
Manteca, CA, Roundabout: Motorcycle fatal accident
Manteca, CA, School Ped/Car accident in X-Walk
Marin County, CA, CALTRANS Pino vs State, Car/CHP
Marin County, CA, Goralka, Speed and Stopping sight distance on Panoramic Highway
Marin County, CA, Rosenthal vs Johnson, Bike/Car accident @ Four Corners intersection
Martinez, CA Daniel Nall vs CALTRANS, Motorcycle/Car
Modesto, CA, Bernal vs Mendez, City, County, CALTRANS
Newport Beach, CA, Heyer v Sosa, Broadside Car at Signal
Oakley, CA, Vancil vs City, Bike/Car
Pittsburg, CA, Sandoval vs City, Guardrail: Run off road
Richmond, CA, Melida Diaz, RR Xing Ped/Train fatality
Richmond, CA, Sakura Sims vs City, Ped/Car at X-Walk
Richmond, CA, Jones & Randall, Motorcycle/Truck
Richmond, CA, Ms Norma Supapo, Ped/Car fatality at unmarked intersection, sight distance issues
Rocklin, CA, Googooian vs Anastasia, Car/Car stop sign
San Francisco, CA, MICHAEL GUERRERO v MILESTONE CONTRACTORS, Truck hits Scooter at Signal
San Bernadino County, CA, Tufesa USA v Rafael Guerrero Serratos, Carpool Van veers off freeway at night, fatality.
San Rafael, CA, Ketron vs City, Ped/Car at X-Walk
San Rafael, CA, Zaslavski vs City, Ped/Truck fatality
Riverside County, CA, Penelope v Caltrans/Riverside County, Motorcycle hits Car on Highway intersection
Temecula, CA, Romero vs Kimco/Parking Lot Accident
Turlock, CA, Sederquist vs Turlock/Flooding Accident
Vacaville, CA, Glenda Dew vs State of CA, Ped/Car
Washington State, U.S. Department of Justice, FBI car
West Jordan, UT, Fair vs Flake, Chick-Fil-A, Construction Zone accident (broadside, two cars) Signal/Obstruction

Traffic Engineering Experience

Sacramento, CA, Safety Study and Alternatives Analysis for Heritage Oaks Hospital at I-80 Offramp at Auburn Blvd. Numerous accidents.
Marin County, CA, On-Call Engineering Services contract w/Public Works
- Panoramic Highway intersection design layout.
- US 101/SR 131 Interchange Traffic Operations Study.
Santa Rosa, CA, major traffic study and traffic engineering recommendations.
Shasta Lake, CA, Radar Speed Surveys in, 52 locations, TE Stamp.
City of Watsonville traffic engineering investigations relating to school traffic, trains, and safety of students, safe routes to school.
Chico, CA, SR 99/Eaton Rd Interchange Traffic Operations Study.
City of Pasadena traffic engineering study investigating peak traffic, bus ridership, and level of service (LOS) methods (errors in process, wrong results).
Vallejo, CA, Charter School innovative mitigations, Travel Demand Management.
Chongqing, China, Trip Generation Survey LongHuXiYuan: Peds, Taxi, Cars.
Chongqing, China Parking Study YueLai Conference Center: Freeway level incoming traffic flows to massive parking areas.
NCTC, Nevada County, CA, On-Call Traffic Engineering Studies.

Transportation Planning Experience

City of Santa Rosa Habit Burger Traffic Impact Analysis, 15 intersections.
Vacaville, CA, On-Call Traffic Engineering Services Contract, Traffic Study.
Fairfield, CA, Travis AFB residential development Traffic Studies.
Marin County, CA, Planning Dept., Alta Way Residential Traffic Report.
Vallejo, CA, Charter School Traffic Impact Study.
Chongqing, China, YueLai Newtown VISSUM Traffic Model Development.
Vacaville, CA, Leisure Town Bypass, Traffic Model Alternatives.
Los Banos, CA, Citywide TRANSCAD Model Development, 600 zones
Los Banos, CA, Transportation Master Plan
NCTC, Nevada County, CA, On-Call Transportation Planning.

Project Management

Chief Site Engineer in Liaoning Province in China over Engineering Inspection.
Had “Stop Order” authority for 70 km of China's bullet train construction of tunnels, bridges, viaduct, foundations, piers, towers, and stations.
Oversaw manufacturing of concrete, rebar, and quality control.
All-Mandarin environment.

Roundabouts

Caltrans SR 49 / Pleasant Valley Road at Faith Lane,
Roundabout Study I-80 Lewis Road / Weber Road interchanges, Solano County, CA,
SR 49 Freeway Ramps and Main Street intersection Roundabout, Grass Valley, CA.

Connect to Grant Johnson, TE

Phone

916-903-3862

grant@prismengr.com