Calabrese will serve clients nationally from AECOM's Syracuse, New York office.
GCRTA
1 min to read
Calabrese will serve clients nationally from AECOM's Syracuse, New York office.
GCRTA
AECOM announced that Joseph Calabrese has been appointed as the bus rapid transit (BRT) business development director for the Americas Design Consulting Services' Transportation business line.
Calabrese will utilize his 40-plus years of experience in the transit industry to assist AECOM clients in the planning, financing, design, and operation of BRT systems. During his 18-year tenure as CEO/GM of the Greater Cleveland RTA, Calabrese is credited with making the HealthLine BRT a reality, which is widely considered the premium BRT System in North America.
His significant public sector experience in transit and industry leadership in organizations, such as the American Public Transit Association, will be instrumental as he looks to assist transit systems in making their BRT programs a success. Calabrese will serve clients nationally from AECOM's Syracuse, New York office.
"AECOM is thrilled to have Joe on board because his practical experience will substantially enhance our extensive transit capabilities. By adding a practitioner that has a unique understanding of the challenges our clients face, Joe will take our national technical expertise to the next level," says Jay Duncan, sr. VP and AECOM's national director for transportation planning.
The region’s fixed-route system finished out the year with a total of 373.5 million rides. Adding 12.3 million rides over 2024 represents an increase that is equal to the annual transit ridership of Kansas City.
The service is a flexible, reservation-based transit service designed to close the first- and last-mile gaps and connect riders to employment for just $5 per day.
The upgraded system, which went live earlier this month, supports METRO’s METRONow vision to enhance the customer experience, improve service reliability, and strengthen long-term regional mobility.
The agreement provides competitive wages and reflects strong labor-management collaboration, positive working relationships, and a shared commitment to building a world-class transit system for the community, said RTA CEO Lona Edwards Hankins.
The priorities are outlined in the 2026 Board and CEO Initiatives and Action Plan, which serves as a roadmap to guide the agency’s work throughout the year and ensure continued progress and accountability on voter-approved transportation investments and essential mobility services.
