Delivering Infrastructure in Service of People and Place

Karen Wang, PE, has spent more than two decades shaping some of California’s most complex transportation projects. From the Tom Lantos Tunnels to the Bay Bridge East Span Replacement, her work reflects a core belief that infrastructure isn’t just about moving people; it’s about serving communities and preserving the places they call home. A northern California resident, Karen brings a deep understanding of the region’s coastal and urban corridors to every project. Her approach combines technical rigor with collaboration, engaging stakeholders and partners to deliver solutions that strengthen connections, protect the environment and stand the test of time.

What inspired your approach to community engagement in infrastructure projects?

My work on the Tom Lantos Tunnels fundamentally shaped how I think about community engagement. The project replaced the Devil’s Slide section of State Route 1, restoring a critical coastal connection that residents and businesses depended on, while improving long-term safety and reliability.

From the start, Caltrans and HNTB prioritized community involvement. I worked closely with an aesthetics committee of local residents, designers and agency partners, meeting twice a month for nearly two years. Those conversations were about more than design — they were about trust. My role was to help translate complex engineering decisions into clear, accessible information so residents could see how their input influenced the outcome.

The result was a tunnel that uniquely reflects the character of the coastline. When it opened, the community’s pride in the project was unmistakable. That experience reinforced a belief I carry into every project: engagement is essential to delivering infrastructure people value and embrace.

How do you balance technical solutions with environmental stewardship?

For me, environmental stewardship is a responsibility that drives innovation. Many of California’s most critical corridors pass through communities with sensitive landscapes, from rugged coastlines to old-growth redwood forests. Being on site among those trees makes it clear that these places aren’t just scenic, they hold ecological and cultural value. Protecting them while delivering safe and reliable infrastructure is essential to doing our work responsibly.

That commitment shapes how I approach design and project management. On coastal projects, it often means exploring subsurface options and developing geotechnical strategies that minimize surface impacts without compromising safety or performance. Engineering solutions must balance performance with preservation, and that demands a high caliber of technical precision and creativity.

It’s our responsibility as engineers to meet today’s mobility needs while safeguarding the landscapes and communities that define the places we call home.