John Orrison, Transit and Freight Rail Operations Expert, Leading HNTB’s Rail Operations and Modeling Group in Massachusetts

BOSTON  – John Orrison joined HNTB Corporation as a senior technical advisor in the railway engineering practice, leading rail operations planning and modeling in Massachusetts. Based in the firm’s Boston office, Orrison conducts rail operations and simulation modeling for HNTB’s transit clients and advises private industry and transportation agencies on freight and intermodal operations.

“John is a nationally recognized expert in railway operations for transit and freight rail systems,” said Gary Bua, PE, HNTB Massachusetts office leader and vice president. “His deep knowledge and successful experience is of great value to our firm and rail clients throughout the country as we work together to maximize existing resources while developing new capacity to accommodate growth.”

Orrison has more than 40 years of strategic planning and rail transit operations experience that includes executive positions at some of the nation’s largest freight railway companies. Before joining HNTB, Orrison was director of commuter rail operations for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority where he was responsible for optimizing daily service operations. He also consulted on public and private sector projects in Louisiana, Texas, California, Georgia, Virginia and Florida, as well as Central America, Eastern Europe and Africa.

A graduate of Harvard University with a master’s in business administration, Orrison also holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Auburn University. He is a member of the American Public Transportation Association, the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association, and the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences.

HNTB has been integral in the creation of major elements of Massachusetts’ transportation infrastructure, including the Leonard P. Zakim Bridge, the Massachusetts Turnpike, the John Greenleaf Whittier Bridge, the expansion of South Station, and the Fitchburg commuter rail line project, among others.

ABOUT HNTB

HNTB Corporation is an employee-owned infrastructure solutions firm serving public and private owners and contractors. With more than a century of service, HNTB understands the life cycle of infrastructure and addresses clients’ most complex technical, financial and operational challenges. HNTB’s Massachusetts offices in Boston and Chelmsford currently employ more than 180 professionals. Professionals nationwide deliver a full range of infrastructure-related services, including award-winning planning, design, and program management and construction management. For more information, visit www.hntb.com.