Sam Schwartz expands Transit + Rail team; new office opens in Seattle

Dear friends,

I am pleased to announce a major expansion of our Transit + Rail practice, with Kevin Desmond joining as National Director and Matt Orenchuk as Practice Leader. I am also excited to share news of our newest office location, in Seattle, WA.

Sam Schwartz's transportation work is defined by the insight that it is about far more than getting from Point A to Point B. Kevin and Matt bring to the firm an incisive understanding of the interconnections between transit and climate change, equity, economic development, public health, and the other challenges our communities face. With their addition to our team of professionals, I look forward to our transit practice delivering holistic insights and catalyzing pathbreaking solutions for transportation providers nationwide. Please see below for more about Kevin and Matt, our new office, and how Sam Schwartz is helping governments, agencies, and non-profits pursue more sustainable, just, and safe mobility services.

Best regards,

Michael A. Shamma, PE

President of Sam Schwartz

Kevin Desmond joins Sam Schwartz as Principal + National Director, Transit + Rail

Kevin Desmond has been named Principal and National Director, Transit and Rail. A leading figure in the world of sustainable transportation, Kevin most recently served as CEO of TransLink, Metro Vancouver’s transportation authority, which pre-pandemic carried 1.5 million daily transit trips.

As TransLink’s CEO, Kevin oversaw planning, financing, and management of a multimodal transit network that includes bus, rapid transit, passenger ferry, paratransit, commuter train service, and a major road network, staffed by a team of more than 8,000 people. Under his leadership, Vancouver adopted an unprecedented $9 billion transit expansion plan, and led large North American metros in transit growth for four consecutive years. Prior to TransLink, Kevin was General Manager of Seattle’s King County Metro Transit for 12 years, where he helped to grow ridership by 44% while launching major light rail, BRT, and streetcar services. Over the course of his career, Kevin has pioneered an array of operational, fleet, technology, and market development initiatives, and has been a significant voice for forward-thinking environmental policies and investments.

Matt Orenchuk, PE, AICP, joins Sam Schwartz as Principal and Transit + Rail Practice Leader

Matt Orenchuck has been named Principal and Transit and Rail Practice Leader. Based out of Chicago, Matt has 17 years of transportation experience in bus network planning, corridor planning, bus and rail operations, and O&M cost estimation. His project experience includes work in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Minneapolis, and Washington, DC, along with numerous small and mid sized cities across the US. Matt’s work has encompassed major transit modes, including heavy rail, light rail, commuter rail, bus rapid transit, local bus, express bus, and intercity bus services.

Matt understands that transit system design is about connecting origins and destinations as efficiently as possible so that people can go about their daily lives and not think about their trip. To that end, Matt blends quantitative data, socioeconomics, and equity concerns to develop desired outcomes. The result is recommendations that improve the quality of life for the passenger and supports agency objectives.

New office opens in Seattle

Sam Schwartz has announced the opening of a new office in Seattle. Building on the firm’s long record of innovative planning and engineering work in the region, the office will support projects across the Pacific Northwest.

Sam Schwartz has been deeply involved in efforts to build a more equitable and sustainable Seattle, including Move Seattle, the city's 10-year strategic vision for transportation; exploring battery electric bus deployments with King County Metro; and providing ongoing support to Seattle DOT as it works to address congestion and mitigate climate change impacts.

Sam Schwartz: Moving Transit Forward

Electrification

Our electrification practice, led by Kate Sargent, a widely-recognized expert on zero-emissions planning, has helped transit agencies and cities across the country prepare for a post-fossil fuel future.

Read Kate's recent piece on the path forward for carbon-free mobility.

Central Harlem Ave. Corridor Study

This initiative is preparing the ten-mile Central Harlem Avenue Corridor for future rapid transit service. It seeks to enhance access to public transit through coordinated land use and transportation strategies. The Sam Schwartz team is addressing pedestrian infrastructure deficiencies, identifying economic development opportunities, and designing bus priority treatments for the corridor’s constrained right of way.

Port Authority Bus Terminal Replacement

How do you replace the busiest bus terminal in the world? Sam Schwartz is working with the Port Authority of NY and NJ on the new Port Authority Bus Terminal, which will reshape a swath of Midtown Manhattan, expanding bus facilities while incorporating commercial, retail, and residential development, plus open spaces.

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