Task Lead of key functional area for the $3.6b program to extend Red Line service for CTA to the far south side of Chicago to improve mobility and accessibility for transit dependent residents in the area. Responsible for managing RLE PMC procedures, deliverables, staff, and multi-disciplinary consultant teams to deliver critical RLE railroad agreements including but not limited to: identify, author, negotiate, and execute railroad agreements required for the RLE Project (UPRR, Metra, CN, NS, Conrail, IHB, and ICC); administer implementation of executed railroad agreements including review and approval of railroad invoices; manage delivery of RLE design packages that require railroad acceptance prior to construction; oversee and manage activities required to acquire railroad property as well as activities required to obtain easements and licenses of railroad property including review and approval of outside counsel invoices; lead technical meetings and discussions of railroad agreements, railroad design and construction packages, railroad work windows, property acquisition, and FTA critical third party agreements; track, report, and brief RLE leadership on Railroad Liaison management, oversight, agreement, and coordination efforts; develop and implement strategies required to deliver Railroad Liaison management, oversight, coordination, and agreements; ensure that work meets scope, schedule, cost, client, and quality requirements as well as assess and improve effectiveness of delivery through the development and implementation of area specific policies and procedures; and manage document control and file management in accordance with CTA and RLE PMC requirements. As Railroad Liaison, also help ensure program wide delivery for all work requiring Railroad Liaison management, oversight, and coordination expertise and/or support including, project administration and controls, FTA CIG/New Starts, and procurement of design build and design bid build contractors.

Environmental planner as well as Environmental Lead responsible for supporting and leading development of NEPA studies required for the implementation of arterial rapid transit on Milwaukee Avenue, Dempster Avenue, Halsted Street, and 95th Street. These projects were processed as a Categorical Exclusion (CE) by the Federal Transit Administration; Michael support completion of 2 CEs and led the completion of 2 CEs. Key environmental analyses included noise and vibration, air quality, environmental justice/Title VI, Section 106 documentation, wetlands, and threatened and endangered species, as well as hazardous and regulated materials. Michael was responsible for preparing the Historic Resources Review Technical Memorandum for the Pulse Dempster Line. HNTB is providing program management services to Pace’s arterial and expressway/tollway BRT program in the greater Chicago area. The program includes planning, design, and construction of at least seven identified arterial BRT corridors. HNTB’s services include the development of a master program schedule, project development, technical oversight during design and construction, and development of Pace staff capabilities in the management of a long-term capital program.

Phase I lead overseeing and directing environmental, preliminary engineering, and public involvement work for the CREATE Program’s lead public agency, IDOT’s Bureau of Freight Rail Management. As the Phase I lead on HNTB’s program management team, Michael managed all work by IDOT’s Phase I consultants, including review and approval of work orders, change orders, schedules, NEPA documents, preliminary engineering plans, public involvement activities, and technical reports for air, noise, vibration, special waste, wetlands, environmental justice, Section 4(f), and Section 106. He led completion of an Environmental Assessment (EA) and Phase I Project Report for CREATE Project P6, which required extensive coordination with impacted third parties, as well as 4 Environmental Impact Statement and 6 Categorical Exclusion NEPA reevaluations. Michael also oversaw Phases II and III implementation of environmental commitments and public involvement on CREATE’s largest and most complex project, the 75th Street CIP. He led the development and implementation of the 75th Street CIP’s Phases II and III Stakeholder Involvement Plan, Community Mobility Program, Community Education Program, and Workforce Development Program. Michael also worked directly with IDOT’s CREATE Public Involvement Manager to manage and oversee the production, approval, and implementation of all CREATE public involvement and government relations activities. In addition to environmental and public involvement work, Michael provided financial management, quality control and assurance, and cost control for CREATE. This work supported IDOT’s federal aid funding requests and grant reimbursements, and it facilitated US DOT payments back to the State of Illinois totaling around $100 million. The CREATE Program is a $4.6 billion public-private partnership between the U.S. DOT, Illinois DOT (IDOT), Cook County DOTH, Chicago DOT, Metra, Amtrak, and the nation’s freight railroads.

Planner providing technical and management support on a wide range of planning and engineering projects in Illinois and nationally. Duties and responsibilities include the following: Provide program management support to the Illinois DOT’s Bureau of CREATE and Freight Rail on Phase I activities including the production, review and evaluation of Phase I environmental (NEPA) and engineering deliverables; and provide program management support to the Illinois DOT on public involvement activities related to the CREATE Program Complete transportation planning and engineering studies in the Chicago Region and nationally, including authoring Phase I environmental documents for both large and small projects for a variety of lead federal agencies

A Senior Transportation Planner providing technical support and performing and coordinating a variety of studies/projects as is required for transportation planning, programming, and implementation type activities (e.g., public involvement, regional and multimodal transportation, rail and transit, travel demand and congestion management, environmental impacts, forecasting, demographic analysis, land-use, GIS, policies, etc.). Specifically and under the supervision of HNTB as part of the Program Management Team for the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program, provide on-site duties and responsibilities including the following: •Provide support to IDOT and HNTB’s CREATE Program management team on Phase I environmental documentation reviews and compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and related federal, state and Program polices•Provide program and project management support to IDOT through periodic schedule and budget reviews; weekly action item tracking and recap memos; program and project review and working meetings; and ongoing coordination with IDOT, project consultants and CREATE partners to expedite program delivery•Provide public involvement and government relations support to IDOT on CREATE Program Phase I projects.

Program management consultant and public involvement specialist on the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program. Provide public involvement and government relations support to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT): review outreach materials; advise project team on communication strategy; and oversee all public involvement activities. Provide support to IDOT and HNTB's CREATE management team on EIS content reviews. Provide project management support to IDOT on project schedules, documentation, and consultant coordination. Provide transportation planning and engineering services to a broad range of public and private sector clients.

Performed multi-modal transportation planning in the Washington Metropolitan Region and nationally, with a focus on pedestrian, bicycle, and transit planning and design.Completed federal facility master plans, university master plans, transit, bicycle and pedestrian plans, traffic impact and parking demand studies, transportation demand management programs, and LEED-ND and EIS submittals.Performed GIS map making and spatial data analysis, tracked multi-modal planning trends and best practices, developed graphics and maps, conducted data analysis with spreadsheet and database software, completed site access and service and loading studies using AuotTURN and AutoCAD, wrote reports, and presented project findings to clients and the public. Managed project staff and coordinated with clients on project proposals, budgets, and deliverables. Projects included the Capitol Complex Master Plan, Georgetown University Master Plan, Washington Nationals Ballpark Transportation Operations and Parking Plan, National Museum of African American History and Culture Environmental Impact Study, Southwest Waterfront Redevelopment Traffic Impact Study, and more than 50 pedestrian counts for various projects and clients.

Supported transportation planning for the Capitol Visitor Center, Senate sidewalk and parking studies, and charter bus studies.Briefed the Architect of the Capitol, Chief Operating Officer, Chief of Staff, and other AOC staff on legislation and political matters that affected AOC operations.Represented the AOC during meetings, briefings, and negotiations with Senate staff, committees, and Senators.Tracked and improved AOC policies, management practices, and services.Wrote congressional hearing testimony, official correspondence, and reports for the Architect.

An elected officer, the Secretary of the Senate’s responsibilities include the legislative, financial and administrative functions that facilitate the day-to-day operations of the United States Senate.Coordinated with Senate staff and office holders on Senate events, including the Special Joint Congressional Session at Federal Hall in New York City, NY on September 6, 2002.Created original and established protocol to permanently maintain briefing binders on Senate history, rules, and staff for the Office of the Secretary.