Last week, the Transit Tech Lab announced two Executives-in-Residence who will provide strategic advice to Lab participants throughout the pilot process. 

Ronnie Hakim, HNTB’s national transit and rail market sector leader, and Sally Librera, AECOM’s transit market leader for the Americas, both served in leadership positions at the MTA — North America’s largest transportation network — and have a combined 50 years of experience in public transit operations and policy. 

Through this initiative, Lab participants will gain insights on the requirements and operational issues at major public transit agencies. This personalized consultation will ensure that companies’ solutions provide value and address the needs of agencies and riders.   

Ronnie and Sally recently joined the Lab to work with the companies selected for the Recovery and Sustainability Challenge pilots. Six companies are deploying technologies to address public transit safety, track new mobility patterns, and support clean energy goals for the MTA, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and NJ Transit. 

Please join us in welcoming Ronnie and Sally to the Lab family and stay tuned for next year’s challenge announcement!

Ronnie Hakim

Ronnie Hakim is HNTB’s national transit and rail market sector leader. Based in HNTB’s New York City office, she is responsible for collaborating with HNTB leadership nationwide on strategic planning and implementation, industry representation, business development, service delivery, and client collaboration and satisfaction.

Prior to joining HNTB, she served as managing director of the MTA, where she was responsible for leading more than 70,000 employees in five operating agencies, overseeing transit systems that carry 9 million riders each day. Full bio.

Sally Librera 

Sally is AECOM’s transit market leader for the Americas. She focuses on growing value and delivering sustainable, innovative, cost-effective solutions for transit providers, riders, communities, and systems.

As the former senior vice president for subways at MTA New York City Transit, Sally oversaw North America’s largest urban rail transit operation, leading a team of 30,000 employees and serving nearly 6 million daily riders. She oversaw 8,000 train trips on a fleet of 6,400 railcars across 660 miles of track and 472 stations each day. Full bio.