Nationally recognized leader brings 25 years of experience in railroad planning, engineering and policy
Washington D.C. (May 13, 2024) – Peter Schwartz has joined HNTB as railroad development practice lead and vice president, supporting the firm’s transit and rail practice. Recognized throughout the industry as a leader in the planning, engineering and implementation of publicly funded railroad improvement projects, Schwartz will serve as a subject matter expert to the firm’s railroad clients on the expansion of intercity passenger rail service.
“Peter’s credentials and intimate understanding of both the policy side and technical knowledge of rail transportation will bring extraordinary value as we work with our clients to advance projects and initiatives that help modernize our national rail networks and operations,” said Ronnie Hakim, national transit and rail market sector leader and senior vice president. “His ability to build consensus on the solutions and innovations needed will help our industry seize on the historic opportunity we have to enhance rail transportation across the United States, and particularly intercity passenger rail service.”
Schwartz comes to HNTB from a special assignment to the Surface Transportation Board where he served as a senior advisor for transportation strategy and analysis. In that role, he led efforts around strategy and analysis of intercity passenger rail operating performance. Prior to that, Schwartz spent more than 20 years at the Federal Railroad Administration where he created and led the agency’s railroad planning and engineering organization responsible for the technical oversight of and participation in the development and implementation of a multibillion-dollar nationwide portfolio of federally funded railroad improvement projects.
During his most recent time at FRA, Schwartz also led the agency’s implementation of the Corridor Identification and Development Program, creating a first-of-its-kind strategic and technical framework for developing intercity passenger rail service across the United States. Schwartz also spent part of his early career working for Amtrak as a senior planning officer, leading teams responsible for detailed service planning for passenger intercity rail operations, and as a rail transportation consultant in the United Kingdom.