WSP USA Senior Vice President Paula Hammond Elected ARTBA Chair

WASHINGTON)— Paula Hammond, senior vice president of WSP USA, has been elected 2022-2023 chair of the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). Hammond’s selection was announced at the association’s national convention held Sept. 25-28 in Nashville, Tenn., and marks the first woman chair in ARTBA’s history.

Hammond has been WSP USA’s senior vice president and national market leader since 2013 after almost 35 years at Washington State’s Department of Transportation (WSDOT), serving as its first female transportation secretary from 2007 to 2013.

While leading WSDOT, Hammond implemented innovative programs promoting transparent performance management and communications, lean process improvements, efficient freight movement and long-term safety. She also led one of the first state DOT climate risk assessment and adaptation plans in the nation. Under her leadership, WSDOT undertook delivery of a $16 billion infrastructure investment plan, including two long-awaited mega-projects: the longest floating bridge in the country and the largest diameter (at the time) deep-bore tunnel for transportation in the world.

As multimodal national market leader at WSP USA, Hammond provides clients with strategic advice on issues ranging from infrastructure resiliency to communications to emerging technology. Hammond has served as advisory committee member for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Intelligent Transportation Systems program. She also led numerous committees of the American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials (AASHTO), including chair of the Standing Committee on Highways.

Her volunteer ARTBA leadership positions include senior vice chair (2022), vice chair at-large (2019-2021), director (2016-2022), Transportation Development Foundation trustee (2016-2022), Project 2019 Reauthorization Task Force co-chair (2018-2019), and AASHTO-AGC-ARTBA Joint Committee member (2016-present).

As part of her chair’s agenda, Hammond said that ARTBA will remain laser-focused on implementation of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s (IIJA) funding levels and policy reforms with the aim to deliver the transportation improvements necessary for the nation’s economic stability and growth.

Building on existing partnerships with AASHTO, the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS), state advocacy groups, and other allies to advance shared objectives, which include protecting and enhancing transportation investment, promoting the value of infrastructure improvements, and sharing best practices on workforce development issues, is also part of her agenda, Hammond added.

During 2020-2021, Hammond served as chair of WTS, a global organization dedicated to creating a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable transportation industry through advancement of women.

About WSP USA
WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world’s leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors, and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water, and environment markets. With more than 12,000 employees in 200 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper. wsp.com

About ARTBA
Established in 1902, ARTBA brings together all facets of the transportation construction industry to responsibly advocate for infrastructure investment and policy that meet the nation’s need for safe and efficient travel.