John O’Neill Brings His Leadership Experience to Gannett Fleming
I am pleased to announce that John O’Neill, PMP, has joined Gannett Fleming as a senior tolling and mobility advisor.
John has extensive leadership experience in the transportation industry, including 15 years serving the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) and its customers, most recently as its chief operating officer. In his new role, John will continue tackling challenging transportation issues with a commitment to developing powerful partnerships that result in delivering transformational projects and programs to meet the mobility needs of the future.
John provided some insights about his career and developments in the field.
What is the state of the industry?
As vehicles become more energy efficient, traditional revenue streams, such as fuel taxes, will no longer provide a sustainable source of funding for new projects or the maintenance of existing infrastructure. Transitioning to road user charges through tolling, congestion-based pricing, vehicle miles traveled, or other pay-per-use formats as a major source of funds will become more widely implemented and accepted. Future transportation initiatives, which include emerging technology such as the hyperloop and connected and automated vehicles, must focus on reliability, safety, and long-term sustainability from a funding and maintenance perspective.
Which projects stand out from your career?
The toll system installations on the Intercounty Connector and the I-95 Express Toll Lanes provided opportunities for me to work with various project elements, including design, construction, and IT, and develop business rules to best serve MDTA customers and industry partners. Designing and overseeing construction of the Emergency Operations Center in Baltimore allowed me to put into practice a vision I had for many years, which was to move the MDTA forward with an integrated transportation systems management and operations organization.
Why Gannett Fleming?
Working for an owner/operator for 15 years brought me into contact with many engineering firms, and Gannett Fleming is highly regarded in the industry. After meeting some employees, I was struck by how the firm’s corporate culture fosters innovation and allows individuals to play to their strengths. I am excited to join the Gannett Fleming team.
