WSP USA has tapped 30-year transportation veteran Joseph Black as senior vice president and lead for the rail operations and service planning team, according to a company press release. Black is based in WSP’s Austin, Texas, office.
The firm’s national transit and rail business builds a variety of transportation projects, including Bus Rapid Transit, light rail and streetcars, high-speed rail and subways. Such projects are getting a boost from five-year federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding.
Black has experience in rail and bus operations in the U.S., including work at the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, Lone Star Rail and Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District.
Most recently, he worked as senior program manager of rail operations and integration for Dallas-based Jacobs. There, he helped to ensure that projects — from planning through design and construction — considered operating impacts of system and infrastructure elements. Black brings both operations and project delivery chops to the new role.
“Joe is an excellent fit for this role with great experience as an operator, project lead and consultancy manager,” said Jannet Walker-Ford, WSP’s senior vice president and transit and rail national market leader, in the release. “He has an exceptional understanding of the challenges facing rail operations and has a history of goal-focused solution development for agencies and operators across the U.S.”
