People News: HDR, NCTD
HDR promotes Brian Buchanan to Transit Program Management Lead. Also, North County Transit – San Diego Railroad (NCTD) promotes Ioni Tcholakova to Director of Service Planning.
HDR
People News: VIA Rail, HDR, STV
VIA Rail President and CEO Mario Péloquin will retire after a 41-year career. Also, HDR promotes Miloš Vasiljević to Transportation Program Management Director; and STV bolsters its Florida Transportation Leadership with three strategic promotions.
KC Streetcar Celebrates Extension Grand Opening
Kansas City on Oct. 24 celebrated the grand opening of the $350 million KC Streetcar Main Street Extension. The project, designed by HDR, adds 3.5 miles to the existing streetcar line, connecting downtown with the Midtown corridor, including the Country Club Plaza district, ending at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Campus.
People News: Pinsly/STB, HDR, OLI
Pinsly Railroad Company President and CEO Ryan Ratledge joins the Surface Transportation Board’s (STB) Railroad-Shipper Transportation Advisory Council (RSTAC). Also, Anna Lynn Smith rejoins HDR as Intercity and High-Speed Rail Lead; and Operation Lifesaver, Inc., (OLI) welcomes four new state coordinators.
People News: MTA, OPW, RPM, HDR
The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) appoints Tina Vaz as Director of MTA Arts & Design. Also, OPW, a Dover Company, names David Malinas as President; RPM hires Binu Panicker as Chief Technology Officer; and HDR Global Transit Director Matt Tucker joins the Board of Trustees at the Mineta Transportation Institute.
Transit Briefs: NYMTA, Tri-Rail, FTA
New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) begins the engineering and design phase for Interborough Express (IBX) and awards an Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) Implementation System contract for Long Island Rail Road (LIRR). Also, South Florida’s Tri-Rail achieves a new all-time fiscal year ridership record; and the Federal Transit Administration rolls out guidance for host cities of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Games and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
High Desert Corridor Project Lands Labor Agreements (UPDATED 6/24)
Representatives from the High Desert Corridor Joint Powers Agency (HDC JPA) Board and labor unions signed workforce agreements in summer 2024 for the 54-mile high-speed rail project from Palmdale to Victorville, Calif., that will serve to link the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) and Brightline West lines now under development (see map above). Now, the HDC JPA has selected HDR to provide engineering, design, and advisory services for the project.
People News: HDR, PTSI Transportation, Evertak
Bridget Hennessey joins HDR as Transit Strategic Communications Consultant. Also, Theodore O. “Ted” Haas, Senior Advisor (Emeritus) of PTSI Transportation, dies at 103; and Evertak appoints former Union Pacific (UP) Vice President of Engineering David Connell to its Tie Transformation Team.
‘Young Professionals’ Virtual Conference: Level Up Your Career
Railway Age’s third-annual “Young Professionals” conference—the industry’s only free event tailored to helping young railroaders advance their careers—will include speakers from across the freight and passenger sectors, including recipients of our 25 Under 40
HDR Earns ASLRRA Veterans Engagement Award
The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) has selected HDR as its 2025 Veterans Engagement Award honoree for demonstrating “noteworthy accomplishments” in each of three categories: engaging with military veterans,