Expanding our Rail and Transit Team across the Western United States
The US faces the significant challenge of planning, designing, and constructing rail & transit infrastructure with finite resources following the passage of the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in 2021. This once-in-a-generation investment in rail & transit infrastructure will necessitate leveraging global resources to deliver, for which GHD is well positioned. We operate locally out of 16 offices in California, Arizona, and Washington while drawing on more than 11,000 employees across five continents to leverage global best practices to create lasting community benefits and make our communities sustainable for generations to come.
The challenges facing rail & transit projects throughout the project lifecycle are multifaceted and complex, requiring digitally driven solutions to support our clients’ evolving needs. We engage with our clients to truly understand their most pressing needs and develop high-value propositions that deliver superior outcomes aligned with their goals. We achieve this by driving technical innovation through our technical authority to solve complex problems associated with mobility and connectivity, aging infrastructure, energy transformation (decarbonization), and infrastructure resilience.
We are growing our Rail & Transit team by attracting industry-best talent and continually investing in our people to create a world-class employee experience, enabling us to deliver the highest possible value. Our employee-ownership model is a true differentiator, helping create an environment for aspiring professionals to thrive and make a lasting impact. Our model ultimately enhances knowledge sharing across our global network of 160+ offices, providing our clients with best-in-class, integrated solutions.
We are grateful for the support and collaboration of our clients and partners in our endeavor to improve mobility within our communities, and we look forward to continuing to work together to overcome these challenges.
US West Rail and Transit in action:
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Sepulveda Transit Corridor Program Management – GHD is the project’s lead subject matter specialist overseeing the design of a new high-capacity, reliable transit system along the I-405 corridor from the San Fernando Valley to Los Angeles International Airport through the Westside of Los Angeles. Click for more info.
San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) San Dieguito to Sorrento Valley Double Track Program Management – GHD is helping oversee the preliminary engineering and environmental review phase of the project, which will realign and double track this portion of the LOSSAN Corridor that accommodates both North County Transit District (NCTD) Coaster & Amtrak Pacific Surfliner passenger rail services.
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Project Management & Staff Support Services — GHD is providing VTA with contract administration services for light rail capital improvement projects throughout Santa Clara County.
Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) – GHD is providing on-call engineering and construction management services for the agency’s 45-mile commuter rail system in Sonoma and Marin counties.
Valley Metro Rio East-Dobson Streetcar Extension Alternatives Analysis - GHD is evaluating how to improve transit in northeast Tempe and northwest Mesa by connecting numerous regional activity centers, employment centers and residential areas.
Washington State Ferries System Electrification Program – GHD is helping oversee the ferry system’s transition to an emission-free fleet through hybrid electric technology, thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50%. Click for more info.
AC Transit Signal Priority Program — GHD was instrumental in delivering new bus transit signal priority system upgrades and related street infrastructure improvements for multiple major arterial corridors within the East San Francisco Bay Area Region.
Meet our US West Rail and Transit leadership team:
Justin Wheeler – US West Business Group Leader for Rail and Transit
Justin has spent over two decades in the consulting engineering industry and is a leader in rail transit planning & engineering known for his ability to manage large and diverse teams of engineers, planners and architects on complex projects throughout the Western US. As a project manager, he oversaw the planning and final design of approximately $12 billion of infrastructure on the Metrolink commuter rail system in Southern California. Furthermore, he collaborated with contractors to deliver roughly $10 billion of light rail infrastructure on the Sound Transit system in the Puget Sound region via alternative delivery projects. Justin is a licensed professional engineer in five states and holds a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Arizona and an MBA from Arizona State University.
Larisa Escalle – Rail and Transit Leader – Northern California
Larisa’s 16 years of experience in program management encompasses multi-billion-dollar capital programs for major public transportation districts and authorities throughout Northern California. For much of her career, Larisa has demonstrated a commitment to public transportation in the Bay Area, working closely with C-Suite and public sector leadership for owners like the Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART), California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA), and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA). She holds a BA in Architecture from UC Berkeley and an MBA from Golden Gate University. She actively participates in various professional organizations to empower the next generation of leaders in the architecture and engineering industry. She strongly believes in giving back to the community through volunteering and engaging in various non-profit organizations.
Jennifer Ibrahim – Rail and Transit Leader – Southern California
Jennifer is a licensed professional civil engineer in California, Washington, and Arizona, specializing in aerial guideways, structures, construction and project management for rail and transit projects. Jennifer is a highly skilled and collaborative project manager who has led multi-discipline design and construction teams on light rail transit (LRT), bus rapid transit (BRT), multi-modal station, and maintenance facility projects. A California State University Fullerton graduate, Jennifer holds a BS in Civil Engineering. She has spent her career delivering transit projects for various clients across southern California and the Pacific Northwest, most recently as project manager during construction of a $4B light rail extension project in Bellevue, WA. Jennifer is an active board member for non-profit transportation advocacy groups, such as WTS International and the Railway Association of Southern California, focusing on scholarships, mentoring, and industry leadership.
Paul Menaker - Project Director
Paul Menaker has over 30 years of experience in transportation planning & engineering design, with success in project and program management. Paul has been heavily involved in the transit industry, responsible for transportation analysis of major transit corridors and fulfilling FTA and local approvals requirements. He has completed the transportation sections for Alternative Analysis and Major Investment Studies for LRT, BRT, commuter rail and intercity rail corridors throughout the United States and Canada. Paul is also very knowledgeable in traffic operations and travel demand forecasting. His most recent studies include Corridor System Management Plans in Northern California. His experience in traffic operations includes specialization in traffic simulation and transit signal priority. Paul also has extensive knowledge in the planning and implementation of transit improvements needed to serve global events, including football, soccer, Major League Baseball and basketball.
Jhoanna Cruz - Senior Contract Administrator
Jhoanna is a strategic and analytical finance professional who reports on projects, costs, budget development and management, financial analysis, auditing, and contract and procurement management. She is highly skilled in analyzing key performance indicators and forecasting for large-scale capital projects and operating budgets. She possesses a strong understanding and development of agency and organizational objectives, policies, and processes. Jhoanna has extensive program analyst experience in fast-paced, diverse, and high-pressure environments. She is familiar with all aspects of daily business operations, specifically in the construction industry, including labor law compliance, local hiring policies, safety, payroll, human resources, subcontractor management, business systems, and related software programs.
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About GHD
GHD is a leading professional services company operating in the global markets of water, energy and resources, environment, property and buildings, and transportation. Committed to a vision to make water, energy, and communities sustainable for generations to come, GHD delivers advisory, digital, engineering, architecture, environmental and construction solutions to public and private sector clients. Established in 1928 and privately owned by its people, GHD’s network of 11,000+ professionals are connected across 160 offices located on five continents.