Metra has named Hilary Konczal to be the agency’s first Chief Safety and Environmental Officer. The newly created position puts Metra in line with best practices and Federal Transit Administration recommendations and consolidates safety and environmental units under one officer.   

Reporting directly to the executive director/CEO, Konczal is responsible for the administrative oversight and management of Metra’s safety programs and initiatives, environmental compliance and industrial hygiene activities.

“At Metra, safety is our highest priority and Hilary has shown his commitment to ensuring our customers are safe in their commutes and employees are safe in their work environments,” said Metra Executive Director/CEO Don Orseno.

Konzcal was recently appointed to the World Safety Organization Board of Directors and has received the group’s James K. Williams Award for his dedication to programs and practices that promote safety.

With 24 years of service at Metra, he has an extensive background in railroad safety and security, operations and regulatory compliance. Previously, Konzcal served as Director of Safety, where he led a team of safety professionals responsible for safeguarding Metra’s employees, passengers and contractors.

Konczal is certified by the World Safety Organization as a Certified Safety and Security Director, Certified Safety Manager and Certified Safety Technician. He recently participated with the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Peer Review Team to share industry best practices with other transit agencies throughout the U.S.

Konczal is currently chairman of the APTA Commuter Rail Safety and Security Committee and a board member for the Illinois Terrorism Task Force. He is an active member of the Federal Railroad Administration Railroad Safety Advisory Committee, the American Association of Railroads Safety and Operations Committee and the DuPage Railroad Safety Council.