HDR has elevated Nico Malfara to leader of its transit practices in Canada. Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, he will oversee the continued growth of the firm’s established transportation consulting practice and work with agencies to deliver complex projects and to solve funding, ridership, equity, safety and cost escalation challenges.
Malfara’s more than 12 years of industry experience spans the full life cycle of public transit projects, including initial planning to preliminary design and environmental assessments. He specializes in rapid transit planning, including complex multidisciplinary projects such as the Ontario Line subway project in Toronto, the Hazel McCallion Light Rail Transit North Extension and the award-winning Lakeshore Connecting Communities Bus Rapid Transit project, according to HDR, an Omaha, Neb.-based design firm providing engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services. Additional career highlights include leading planning for Exhibition Station on the Ontario Line and serving as project manager for TransLink’s Burnaby Transit Center Business Case in the Metro Vancouver area. Before joining HDR in 2015, Malfara worked for Parsons Corporation as a Transportation Planner, University of Toronto as a Research Assistant, and EMC Group Limited as a Contract Administrator.
“Nico has a deep understanding of the challenges faced by our clients,” said HDR Global Transit Director Matt Tucker, who joined the firm last fall after heading North County (San Diego) Transit District in California. “His experience collaborating with leaders of various transit agencies enables him to propose well-thought-out solutions to successfully deliver critical transit infrastructure.”
“HDR has a well-respected and trusted reputation for delivering successful transportation infrastructure across Canada with our practice more than doubling in the past several years,” added Tara Erwin, HDR’s Transportation Manager in Canada. “I have no doubt Nico will provide the leadership to build upon that growth and provide exceptional service to the communities we serve.”
“There is no shortage of investment in transit across Canada from all levels of government,” Nico Malfara said. “I’m looking forward to leveraging my experience planning and designing some of the largest and most complex transit projects in the country to improve the customer experience and deliver the best outcomes for our clients.”
Separately, Justin Garrod was recently named Leader of the Transit and Rail Construction Management Practice at HDR. He will partner with HDR’s transit, freight rail, program management and field services leadership not only to “spread best practices in construction management” but also to build strong teams and deliver top construction management work across North America, according to the firm.
