New Orleans RTA
The New Orleans RTA on Jan. 6 named veteran transportation official Brian Marshall as its Chief Transit Officer where he will oversee operations of RTA’s streetcar, marine, fixed-route bus, and paratransit services.
Marshall’s transit experience includes operational leadership with the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) before leading the Capital Area Transit System (CATS) in Baton Rouge, “where he not only successfully led efforts to increase taxpayer funding but also oversaw dramatic increases in on-time performance for its paratransit services.” Marshall also has transit experience in Fresno, Calif.; Ann Arbor, Mich.; and most recently in South Bend, Ind.
SEPTA
On Jan. 19, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Division 71 member Jacqueline Y. Pettyjohn operated her last SEPTA train from Philadelphia International Airport to Suburban Station, in center city Philadelphia.
Pettyjohn not only completed the run, but she also capped her 40-year career, where she was in the top spot on the seniority roster and had a perfect attendance record with zero operating rule infractions.
SEPTA’s first female locomotive engineer, Pettyjohn hired out on the railroad in 1984. Upon completion of her last run, she was met by hundreds of coworkers who wanted to show their great appreciation for her. It was an emotional send-off that touched the heart of the veteran engineer. Pettyjohn told Philadelphia television station NBC 10: “I was shocked. I did not expect that. When I went home, it just hit me. I cried Friday night, Saturday and Sunday, all day. I just couldn’t believe the outpouring of love they had for me, and I have the same for them.”
SEPTA General Chairman Don Hill said Pettyjohn is extremely loyal to the BLET, her employer, and the community she served. “I have never seen or experienced a negative vibe associated with her. Her response to any request from the union was always ‘yes!’ Words cannot express the deep gratitude I personally have along with the rest of my SEPTA family. We absolutely adore her and will genuinely miss her as a friend and coworker.”
Pettyjohn was featured in the below video on In The Know by Yahoo in 2019.
HDR
HDR on Jan. 17 announced that Ed Kane has been named Transportation O&M Facilities Design Director.
Based in Charleston, S.C., Kane will “provide strategic leadership for HDR’s facilities design services organization and develop strategic visions and tactical plans to support the growth of the practice and technical capabilities of its staff.” While Kane will be focused on transportation, he will also provide assistance to other programs to support client’s O&M facility needs. He will use his more than three decades of experience to support decision-making during the critical programming, planning, design and operational stages, the company noted.
With a diverse background in construction and business management, Kane brings a broad range of experience building strong client relationships and making sound strategic decisions, according to HDR. He has a proven track record of successfully implementing large-scale, complex projects and programs. His contributions have been vital on vehicle maintenance facilities constructed or under design across North America, including in Detroit, Austin, Memphis, Denver, and Seattle.
As agencies transition or upgrade their vehicle fleets, many are encountering a need for new O&M facilities to service their vehicles, HDR noted. A particular focus in recent years has been a trend toward electrification that requires new facilities and solutions. Kane and HDR’s team of specialized O&M professionals provide important guidance to help clients—whether transit agencies, airports, municipal or federal government or others—upgrade their work environments to “meet current needs, enhance worker safety, and optimize their operations.”
“The design of operations and maintenance facilities is an important holistic service we provide HDR’s clients, and I am excited to have Ed in this role,” said HDR Transportation Planning and Design Director Andy Lauzier. “His experience and leadership will help us continue to build on our ability to serve our clients and communities and put HDR on the forefront of O&M facilities planning and design.”
