WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Surface Transportation Board has appointed Joseph Black, senior vice president of transit and rail operations and service planning at WSP, as one of 21 inaugural members of its newly formed national Passenger Rail Advisory Committee (PRAC).
Black was named an at-large member and will serve a two-year term on the committee, which will advise the board on issues impacting passenger rail service. The Surface Transportation Board is an independent federal agency responsible for the economic regulation of various modes of surface transportation.
“Formation of PRAC is significant because it brings together points of view and experiences of a host of different interests across the passenger rail spectrum, including freight rail operators and passenger advocacy groups, which don’t often find themselves in the same room,” said Jannet Walker-Ford, WSP’s senior vice president and national Transit and Rail market leader. “It presents a great opportunity for the group, and for Joe, to hear and consider sometimes disparate views around passenger rail.”
Black is the only consultant from a large engineering firm to be appointed to PRAC. “His selection highlights WSP as the ‘go to’ firm for rail planning, engineering and operations and will benefit WSP clients as Joe expands his network, knowledge and insight through his work on the committee,” Walker-Ford added.
“My hope is that I can lend my own unique experience, from nearly 40 years in the industry, to the voices on the committee, providing a point of view that might otherwise be missing,” Black said. “I also plan to do a lot of listening and thinking by taking advantage of the diversity of experiences and opinions that will likely be a big part of the committee’s business.”
Black has worked on some of the largest and most significant rail infrastructure projects in the country, including:
- New Jersey Transit’s Access to the Region’s Core (now the Amtrak Gateway Program)
- New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s East Side Access
- Southern California Regional Rail Authority’s Positive Train Control program
- Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s Silver Line Extension
- The Lone Star Regional Rail project in Central Texas
To learn more about PRAC and its membership, see Surface Transportation Board’s announcement https://www.stb.gov/news-communications/latest-news/pr-24-15/
About WSP in the U.S.
WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world’s leading engineering, environment and professional services firms. Recognized in 2023 on TIME’s list of the world’s best companies and Fortune’s Change the World list, WSP is driving social impact and commitment to ESG. WSP in the U.S. brings together engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals who are dedicated to collaborate in the best interests of serving local communities. WSP designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With approximately 14,000 employees in 300 offices across the U.S., WSP partners with its clients to help communities prosper. wsp.com
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