HDR
Becca Nagorsky has been hired to lead the Global Transit Planning Practice at HDR, an Omaha, Neb.-based design firm specializing in engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services. She will collaborate across the firm’s global rail and transit markets to develop a vision and goals that will align HDR’s resources with the needs of its clients and the communities they serve. Her work will span all transit modes, including light rail, subway, commuter rail, intercity passenger rail, paratransit, fixed-route bus, express bus, bus rapid transit, and more. She is based in Toronto.
Nagorsky has more than 17 years of experience in global transit planning since beginning her career in Jerusalem working on a bus network redesign to support the opening of the city’s first light rail line. Most recently, she served as Vice President for Stations Planning at Metrolinx, a regional transit agency serving the greater Toronto region. In this role, she led long-range planning and visioning for heavy rail and subway stations with a focus on station access. She also led the development of the initial business case justification for the Ontario Line, which is now under construction.
“Becca’s professional transit planning experience coupled with her passion for transit and cycling provide a strong foundation and deep understanding of the needs of our clients,” HDR Transportation Planning Director Santanu Roy said. “This foundation will prove critical in supporting HDR in expanding transit planning services to transform our global communities for the better.”
Separately, HDR recently promoted Ed Kane to Transportation Operations and Maintenance Facilities Design Director, and hired Grace Baird as Overhead Contact Systems Practice Lead and Cameron Schaefer as Transportation Technology Director.
STV
Chris Hertz and Benjamin Crawford are taking on new roles at STV, a professional services firm that plans, designs and manages infrastructure projects across North America.
Hertz will head the firm’s National Rail and Transit Systems Practice. With this promotion, he will oversee the practice, which includes signal and communications, traction power, overhead contact systems (OCS), and rail operations.
Hertz joined STV in 2002 and has worked with a variety of clients providing services for electronic security, data network, supervisory control and data acquisition, intelligent transportation systems, real-time information, and other systems. He specializes in systems integration. Key programs include the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Green Line Extension, Richmond Pulse Bus Rapid Transit service in Virginia, and Integrated Electronic Security System for MTA New York City Transit.
Hertz is a long-standing member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Vehicular Technology Society Philadelphia Chapter. He also holds a Project Management Professional certification and is a professional engineer in six states, as well as the District of Columbia. He earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Scranton and his master’s degree in engineering management from Widener University.
“For more than 20 years, Chris has demonstrated a level of professional growth and technical prowess that makes him an extraordinary leader for our systems team,” said John Ponzio, Executive Vice President of the Centers of Excellence at STV. “His work has touched a broad range of market areas, including highways, bridges, tunnels, aviation, bus, passenger rail, and ferry infrastructure, and we’re excited to see him leverage his experience and keen insights in this new capacity.”
Benjamin Crawford has been elevated to Vice President. In this role, he will continue to serve as STV’s Chief Engineer of OCS design.
With more than 25 years of professional experience, Crawford joined STV in 2017 to lead the OCS design team on major transit programs including the Amtrak Hudson River Gateway Tunnel, MBTA Green Line Extension and Ottawa Light Rail Transit. He is also the project manager leading multi-discipline systems teams for programs including the Delaware River Port Authority’s Glassboro Camden Line, Maryland Department of Transportation MTA Red Line, and Bi-State Development’s Parkway Interlocking Crossover and Richmond Heights Turnout projects in St. Louis, Mo.
Crawford earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Virginia Tech.
“Ben has played an integral part in several multi-disciplinary, large-scale transportation projects across the nation and always brings a wealth of technical expertise and a spirit of collaboration to every infrastructure program,” STV’s John Ponzio commented. “The systems team is essential in making major transportation programs across North America a reality, and Ben’s leadership and commitment to OCS and our overall practice is key to how we make better outcomes in our communities.”
