September 1, 2026

Dear WTS-GNY Members and Friends,


As we head into the fall, WTS-GNY has an exciting season ahead. With a full lineup of programs, events, and opportunities to connect, there are plenty of ways to get involved and make the most of your WTS-GNY membership.

Our Annual Gala is right around the corner, and registration is open! Join us on October 14 at the Edison Ballroom as we celebrate our Chapter and the accomplishments of women across the transportation industry. We have Gala Sponsorship Opportunities available and are soliciting raffle donations from those of you who are looking to support the Gala and WTS-GNY’s mission.

Corporate Partnerships for 2026-2027 are also open. We are grateful for the continued support of our corporate partners, whose involvement allows us to provide meaningful programming, professional development, and networking opportunities throughout the year.

We have several exciting members-only events coming up, including Learn from a Leader featuring our very own Diane Kenneally and a Technical Tour of the Port Authority Bus Terminal. If you’re interested in attending, make sure your WTS-GNY membership is current. Membership also provides a discount on Gala registration.

Our programming continues with our final installments of the Diamond Corporate Partner Summer Webinar Series, along with an upcoming panel hosted by our Business Diversity Committee focused on DBE Certification. Whether you’re looking to learn something new, make connections, or become more involved with WTS-GNY, we hope you’ll take advantage of these opportunities.

There is a lot to look forward to in the months ahead. Thank you for your continued support of WTS-GNY, and I hope to see you at one of our upcoming events!



Warmly,



Erica Swansen

President, WTS-GNY Chapter

WTS-GNY Diamond Corporate Partner Webinars

This month, WTS-GNY was excited to host three engaging webinars as part of our Diamond Corporate Partner Webinar Series, featuring industry insights from H&H, HNTB, and Jacobs. 

H&H kicked off the series with Cultivating Successful Projects to Grow Infrastructure Programs: The Importance of Seeing the Forest Through the Trees, bringing together experienced professionals to discuss the importance of strong program management and how the coordination of planning, procurement, and project delivery can help turn transportation visions into successful infrastructure programs. 

HNTB followed with Advancing Climate Resilience at the MTA: Informing Capital Planning Through Carbon Reduction and Climate Vulnerability Assessments, highlighting innovative, data-driven approaches to climate-informed decision-making, including carbon reduction analysis and vulnerability assessments of more than 13,000 MTA assets. 

Rounding out the series, Jacobs presented Beyond the Faregate: The Battle for Revenue, Ridership and Rider Trust, exploring the evolving future of transit fare collection and how agencies can balance accessibility, equity, convenience, revenue protection, and fare compliance through emerging technologies and innovative strategies.

Arup is a global consultancy of designers, engineers and consultants, and a proud supporter of WTS-GNY. We solve some of the most challenging problems in the built environment and help guide our clients towards a more sustainable, resilient future.

Recently, Arup staff served as the transportation team powering the FIFA World Cup 2026™ New York New Jersey Host Committee. Throughout the past 2 years, our staff worked behind the scenes to deliver one of the most complex transportation operations ever undertaken in the region.

Arup provided services ranging from event transportation planning, operational readiness, and game day operations and monitoring, all knit together by staff directly seconded to the Host Committee. The results are in the numbers; hundreds of thousands of spectators were moved across the region, and 98% of fans were inside the stadium before kickoff across all eight matches hosted at NYNJ Stadium. 

“The project of a lifetime, and emblematic of the way Arup approaches problems – systematically and with a focus on delivering outcomes and benefits”, 
said Kaitlin Coari, Senior Consultant and Director of Transportation for the NY/NJ Host Committee.

“The World Cup shows what’s possible in this region when we commit to collaboration, pull in the right experts – no matter where they are in the world - and focus on learning together and solving problems at hand”, 
said Kristy Tu, Associate in Transport Planning at Arup.

HDR is a 100% employee-owned professional services firm. Founded more than a century ago to bring electricity to a changing world, we have grown into a global company specializing in architecture, engineering, environmental and construction services. Today, our more than 15,000 employees collaborate across disciplines in more than 200 offices, including New York, helping clients and communities solve their most complex challenges.

Among our core values is a commitment to developing a diverse workforce within an inclusive and collaborative environment, a commitment that has naturally led to enthusiasm for advancing women in transportation.

HDR has long been involved with WTS and was recently named Employer of the Year by the organization. More than 260 employees across North America are engaged in WTS, with over 50 serving in chapter leadership positions. HDR is also proud to have Senior Vice President Erin Slayton serving as chair of the WTS International Board.

HDR is providing final design services for Taxiway Reconstruction at JFK Airport

HDR serves as program manager and owner’s representative for the historic Central Business District Tolling Program

Swans Engineering, PLLC is a WBE/DBE/SBE certified firm that provides transportation data collection, engineering and planning consulting services for facilities throughout the East Coast. 

With experience in traffic analysis, safety and operations, data collection and design, we have been engaged in every aspect of infrastructure projects, from planning and concept development through final design and construction for various delivery methods such as on-call task orders and staff extensions, design-bid-build, and design-build.

Swans Engineering takes a quality-focused, multi-modal approach to transportation projects, balancing the needs of all roadway users, including personal vehicles, trucks, transit, taxis/FHVs, pedestrians, and bicycles. Every client and every project is unique. We collaborate with our clients and team members to establish not only the desired outcome, but also the "why", and then develop creative data-driven solutions to tackle the most challenging tasks. 

Learn more about our firm at Swans Engineering, PLLC.

Volunteer with WTS Greater New York

WTS-GNY is a volunteer-driven organization, and all of our programming for members and the broader transportation community is made possible through the dedication of our Board Members, Committee Chairs, and volunteers. To learn more about how you can get involved, click here:

If you are interested in getting involved, feel free to email us. 

WTS-GNY Fundraising

Help us reach our 50th Anniversary Fundraising Goal of $50,000!

All donations are committed to the WTS Foundation, which supports scholarships and student programming.

WTS Foundation is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions made to WTSF are deductible as charitable donations to the extent allowed by tax law. WTS Foundation is the successor organization to WTS Scholarship.

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