Transit executive Ronnie Hakim joins HNTB as national transit and rail market sector leader

Former leader at the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, New York City Transit and New Jersey Transit brings more than three decades of public-sector experience

NEW YORK – Veronique “Ronnie” Hakim, a career transit and transportation professional who has led some of the largest transportation agencies in the country, joined HNTB as national transit and rail market sector leader and senior vice president on Feb. 3. Hakim is based in HNTB’s New York City office in the Empire State Building and will work with clients across the country.

“Ronnie has been a recognized trailblazer for many years, leading transportation agencies to new levels of success with innovative programs and delivery of industry-leading projects that have transformed the New York metropolitan area,” said Rob Slimp, PE, HNTB chairman and CEO. “It’s a time of great change and great opportunity for our clients. Ronnie is an exceptional leader and will use her tremendous industry network, wealth of experience, talent and innovative thinking to partner with our clients and stakeholders to drive the most complex projects and programs to improve mobility throughout the United States.”

Hakim is responsible for collaborating with HNTB leadership nationwide on strategic planning and implementation, industry representation, business development, service delivery, and client collaboration and satisfaction.

Hakim brings to HNTB 33 years of industry leadership experience. She most recently served as managing director of the New York State Metropolitan Transportation Authority, where she was responsible for leading more than 70,000 employees in five operating agencies, overseeing transit systems that carry 9 million riders each day. She also was responsible for promoting the 2015-2019 $32.5 billion MTA Capital Program as well as working on the framework for the 2020-2024 $51.5 billion Capital Program.

Hakim’s executive leadership experience also includes serving as president of MTA New York City Transit, executive director of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, and executive director of New Jersey Transit, the only statewide transit system in the country and the nation’s third largest operator of buses, rail and light rail transit.

She also served as executive vice president and general counsel of the MTA’s Capital Construction subsidiary, the unit that manages the largest improvement and expansion projects in the nation, including East Side Access, where the Long Island Rail Road is being expanded to serve the iconic Grand Central Terminal.

Over the course of her career, Hakim has been recognized as an industry leader by professional associations, including the American Public Transportation Association, American Council of Engineering Companies, Women’s Transportation Seminar, the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials, General Contractors Association, Women Builders Council, the Alliance for Action, and the Subcontractors Trade Association. She is sought as a speaker by many industry associations.

Hakim holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Rochester and a juris doctorate degree from the Pace University School of Law.

HNTB is a leader in supporting our clients with many of the nation’s most high-profile transit and rail programs, including the Bay Area Rapid Transit Second Crossing and BART on-call planning and engineering; LA Metro Sepulveda Pass Alternative Assessment and LA Metro’s Crenshaw/LAX Transit Corridor; Dallas Area Rapid Transit South Oak Cliff extension; Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority’s BART Silicon Valley Phase II; Sound Transit’s West Seattle-Ballard Link Extension; Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Quality Assurance, Internal Compliance Oversight and Systems GPC; Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority GPC and engineering on-call contracts; Chicago Transit Authority’s Wilson Station; and Charlotte Area Transit System’s LYNX Blue Line Light Rail Extension in North Carolina.

About HNTB

HNTB Corporation is an employee-owned infrastructure firm serving public and private owners and contractors. With 106 years of service in the United States, HNTB understands the life cycle of infrastructure and addresses clients’ most complex technical, financial and operational challenges. Professionals nationwide deliver a full range of infrastructure-related services, including award-winning planning, design, and program and construction management. For more information, visit www.hntb.com, or follow HNTB on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.