Michael Baker International, a global engineering, planning and consulting services firm, recently named Don Sepulveda, PE, as VP, rail and transit practice lead in the West Region, to expand the company’s transportation and rail presence in a market with multi-billion-dollar rail project growth potential.  

Operating out of Michael Baker’s Los Angeles office, Sepulveda will leverage his extensive transportation industry knowledge and relationships to build a team that will pursue new rail and transit business development opportunities focusing on transit, commuter and intercity passenger rail, and freight rail. He also will serve as senior project manager on select strategic rail projects.

Sepulveda brings more than 20 years of railroad infrastructure experience to his Michael Baker role, including work on railroad safety programs and projects, capacity improvements and new transit systems.  For the last five years, he served as the executive officer of regional rail for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), where he developed a $2.5-billion rail program. In this position, he worked closely with transportation leaders across California regarding Metro's involvement with local heavy rail, including; Metrolink, Amtrak, freight carriers and the California High Speed Rail Authority. While serving in this capacity, he led efforts throughout the state to develop infrastructure improvement policies and to integrate passenger rail. Prior to his role with Metro, he held various positions with local consulting firms.

Sepulveda holds a B.S. in civil engineering from California State University, Northridge. He currently serves on the American Railroad Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association committees on commuter/intercity and high-speed rail systems. He also is a Fellow in the American Society of Civil Engineers and has been active in the organization at the local and national levels.