HDR Taps Garrod as Transit, Rail Construction Management Lead
Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor, Railway Age
Justin Garrod, HDR
HDR
OMAHA, Neb. – Justin Garrod has been elevated to Transit and Rail Construction Management Lead at HDR, a design firm specializing in engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services.
He will partner with HDR’s transit, freight rail, program management and field services leadership not only to “spread best practices in construction management” but also to build strong teams and deliver top construction management work across North America, the firm reported July 10.
Based in Bellevue, Wash., Garrod has spent the past eight years heading HDR’s construction management work on Sound Transit’s $3.7 billion East Link Extension light rail line, the first segment of which opened April 27. The new line is one of five light rail and streetcar projects he has helped to deliver. With some 25 years of industry experience, Garrod has served Sound Transit as Director of Systems Engineering and Integration, Program Manager-Light Rail Vehicles, and Corridor Design Manager-Systems Engineering and Construction, as well as Talgo as Maintenance Manager/Project Manager.
“I was at the opening of the East Link line in April, and Justin’s energy and enthusiasm was infectious,” said Matt Tucker, who joined HDR in 2023 as Global Transit Director, following his retirement from North County (San Diego) Transit District. “There are few people who are more excited about coming to work every day and it shows. His contributions have been invaluable to Sound Transit for years and I’m thrilled that he’ll now use that leadership and technical expertise in a larger role.”
“Transit and rail construction management encompasses all aspects of contract delivery from contract administration, construction inspection, safety, quality, environmental, testing and commissioning to rail activation and entry into revenue service,” Justin Garrod said. “We bring the expertise and passion to get this job done right. We focus on the fundamentals and bring a collaborative team that works with the contractor, engineer, and stakeholders to solve problems, look ahead to potential issues, and proactively identify mitigations.”
In a related development, Kwadwo Atta recently joined HDR as Southeast Transit Leader.
