VIA Rail
VIA Rail President and CEO Mario Péloquin will be stepping down next month “as the Crown corporation has faced heightened scrutiny in recent years,” according to a CBC News report.
According to a release from Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon’s office, Péloquin, who has worked for 41 years in the transport industry, will be retiring in mid-January.
“I would like to thank Mario for his dedication and commitment to VIA Rail over the past two-and-a-half years, and I wish him continued success in his future endeavors,” said MacKinnon in a statement.
Péloquin started out as an operator and then a rail-traffic controller before taking office roles with both the civil service and the private sector. But his retirement, CBC News reports, “comes as travelers have become increasingly critical of the rail line.”
“Commuters have argued that ticket prices have become too costly while delays are costing the company millions,” according to the CBC News report. “Via Rail has offered $31 million in travel vouchers to hundreds of thousands of passengers whose trains were more than one hour late in the past year, as new speed limits at rail crossings on CN tracks came into effect.”
Péloquin’s retirement, CBC News reports, “also comes as the federal government is moving ahead with plans for Canada’s first high-speed rail network.”
MacKinnon announced last week that the first leg of the project between Ottawa and Montreal is slated to begin construction in 2029.
HDR
Miloš Vasiljević, PE, a skilled leader on some of HDR’s largest transportation programs, has been named the company’s next Transportation Program Management Director.
Based in Arizona, Vasiljević will “set the strategic vision for the firm’s transportation program management practice, supporting clients and programs across all transportation markets,” according to HDR. Vasiljević will also coordinate with HDR’s company-wide program management director and the program management directors in other markets “to optimize strategy, services, quality control and client service across the company.”
Vasiljević joined HDR nearly two decades ago and has served in leadership roles on some of the company’s most notable program management assignments, including the $1.7 billion South Mountain Freeway in Arizona, $2.5 billion Carolina Crossroads program in South Carolina and most recently leading HDR’s work as General Engineering Consultant on the I-10 Wild Horse Pass Corridor in Arizona, a nearly $1 billion program that includes four major projects stretching 26 miles near Phoenix.
“The program management director role exists to help clients deliver transportation programs with greater certainty, less risk, and clearer alignment with their strategic goals,” said Vasiljević. “By standardizing best practices, leveraging robust project controls and data, and integrating advisory, technical and field services, we can help clients make better decisions faster and demonstrate tangible value from their investments. Ultimately, that translates into safer, more reliable, and more resilient transportation infrastructure for the communities we serve.”
Program management encompasses a wide range of services that HDR provides, from program development and planning to design and construction management. “It supplies clients a single trusted partner that looks across an entire program—not just individual projects—to manage scope, schedule, budget, risk and stakeholder expectations. The result is benefits that could not be obtained by managing each project individually,” HDR noted.
“Miloš stands out for his strong ability as a program builder, mentorship of others and his proven ability to be a trusted advisor for our clients,” said Transportation President Tom McLaughlin. “Both his technical and his interpersonal skills are top notch, and the programs he leads are better because of his involvement.”
STV
STV on Dec. 16 announced the promotions of Keith Jackson, PE, to Senior Vice President, as well as Kevin Fielder, PE, and Wes Markham, PE, to Vice President. These promotions, the firm says, “strengthen STV’s leadership team in Florida, where the firm maintains six offices and a diverse portfolio of roadway, bridge, transit and mobility projects.”
Jackson leads STV’s business development and operations in Florida and brings 25 years of experience delivering complex highway and roadway projects. He is recognized for guiding multidisciplinary teams and developing solutions that improve safety, reduce costs and boost system performance. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Fielder has 20 years of experience in transportation engineering, specializing in project management, roadway design and plans production. He has led major roadway improvements across the Southeast and holds a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Tennessee and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering Technology from Southern Polytechnic State University.
Markham brings more than 22 years of experience designing transportation projects for the Florida Department of Transportation, including major roadway and drainage improvements. He has served as lead project engineer on design-build programs and oversees design documents, construction plans and specifications. He holds a Master of Engineering in Environmental Engineering Sciences and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, both from the University of Florida.
“Keith, Kevin and Wes bring extraordinary skill and vision to STV’s work in Florida,” said Jerry Stump, President of the Transportation South Operating Group at STV. “Collectively, their leadership will continue to help our clients deliver safer, more efficient transportation systems that keep the state connected and moving.”
