Diane Cowin is AECOM's Transit Market Leader for the Americas. With deep expertise in federal transit funding, regulatory strategy, and ESG-driven market development, she is a trusted advisor to public- and private-sector clients. 

Cowin brings a proven track record in profit-and-loss leadership, operational excellence, and equity-centered succession planning. In addition to her executive roles, she is an inclusive and creative board director with experience across nonprofit and corporate boards. She is committed to advancing sustainable, resilient transportation and energy solutions across the Americas.

METRO spoke with Cowin about the challenges transit projects face during the planning phase, as well as efficiency, accessibility, and other aspects of project execution. 

Transit Project Hurdles and Execution

What are the biggest challenges you face during the planning phase of a transit project?

I started my transit career as a planner, so I don’t see challenges as much as the project's possibilities and potential at the initiation phase. Complex infrastructure planning is a dynamic and nuanced balance of securing an appropriately positioned champion, maintaining public and stakeholder interest and confidence, and defining the project that better serves the community it serves within a budget and schedule that leverages funding and financing from public and private sources.

Due to supply chain complexities, lengthy approvals, mid-design scope changes, increased demand for talent, and other macro- and microeconomic realities, transit project capital costs have risen significantly. This has resulted in a rise in cost-saving innovations, a focus on sustained support through continuous communication, complex compromise and informed consent, and a strategic approach to phasing and/or the project's financial stack. 

What innovative design or engineering solutions have you implemented to enhance transit efficiency?

Increasing capital costs and competition for funding and financing drive innovation to deliver efficiencies across all phases of a project or program, including increased design automation with AI and the concept of design-to-cost.

During transit project development, AECOM focuses on cost-driven approaches, such as ‘design to cost,’ which drive prudent decision-making and scope management. This approach can also establish ‘minimal viable products’ to meet the budget and provide much-needed transit services in a phased approach. Computational design with AI for repeatable elements, such as bridges, saves design time and supports efficient decision-making while learning and improving with each new task.

These cost and funding constraints are also driving innovative, alternative approaches to improve capacity in existing infrastructure operations by reducing headways through advanced digital technology for train signaling systems.

How do you ensure that transit projects are designed with equity and accessibility in mind?

Early on, a significant shift in my career came about after I had worked on my first light rail (LRT) project for DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit). I saw how the opportunities for community building and access to new jobs, healthcare, and affordable homes could redefine people’s lives. 

However, to deliver a truly equitable and accessible service, a focused intention is required during every phase of a project. Providing meaningful opportunities for representation early and often during project definition and design is an essential first step; however, developing key performance indicators with the communities and representative groups holds agencies and project teams accountable. 

The Future of Public Transportation

What does the future of public transit look like in 10 to 20 years?

The transit industry is primed to evolve in the next 10 to 20 years. I see the continued emergence of AI and automation in project development, improving operations, and customer service. Further development and enhancement of technology for customer information systems, ticketing, and payment systems will likely enhance passenger experience and confidence.

The energy transition and renewables will continue to advance, with innovations in everything from energy storage and management solutions to new renewable profiles for transit rolling stock and vehicles. 

Vehicle technologies are evolving rapidly through automation, AI, and energy systems, which will allow customers greater flexibility but also challenge the transit industry to remain flexible and adaptable to take advantage of the rapidly changing landscape.