Former Acting Federal Transit Administrator will serve as a policy advisor to clients nationwide
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 5, 2024) – K. Jane Williams has joined HNTB Corporation as a national practice consultant and vice president in the firm’s Advisory practice. Based in HNTB’s Washington, D.C. office, Williams will serve clients nationwide as an advisor related to federal transportation funding and policy strategies.
Williams brings more than two decades of experience in federal and state government along with work in the private sector in the areas of transportation and infrastructure. That includes serving as senior advisor to U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Elaine Chao and acting administrator for the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) from August 2017-January 2021. As acting administrator, Williams managed some of the largest formula and competitive grant programs within the DOT representing more than $80 billion in economic investment in transportation infrastructure across the nation.
“I know Jane’s impact in transportation firsthand. She is a recognized leader in helping to shape funding and strategy initiatives that deliver improved transportation systems and enhanced mobility,” said Jim Ray, HNTB corporate president. “She also will provide exceptional value to our clients given her understanding and experience on public policy and the legislative process, both at the state and federal level.”
In addition to her time at the FTA, Williams previously served as director of the Washington Area Transit Office of the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT). In that role, she led and managed investments for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) on behalf of MDOT and helped advise the MDOT secretary on a variety of issues, including policy, budget, safety and service reliability. During her tenure she was instrumental, along with her colleagues in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the District of Columbia, in establishing the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission, an independent agency that oversees and enforces safety practices on the WMATA system. Prior to that, she served as a senior legislative advisor to Congressman Andy Harris, who serves as a member of the Appropriations Committee.
Williams has received numerous secretarial awards across her federal career and was recognized in 2018 by the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials as a part of their annual Women Who Move the Nation for her leadership in advancing America’s transportation infrastructure.
HNTB’s Advisory practice provides a holistic, strategic perspective to help clients develop and deliver their most complex programs. Specializing in advising on large complex projects and programs, the firm works directly with clients’ executive-level management to provide strategic and commercial advice, drawing on legal, technical, management and policy expertise. The practice brings in-depth knowledge of innovative delivery models along with substantial transactional experience and understanding of public and private sector perspectives to drive innovation and facilitate informed decision-making across disciplines.