Michael Booth, AICP, has joined HNTB Corp. as transit planning group director and associate VP, based in the firm’s Chicago office.
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Michael Booth, AICP, has joined HNTB Corp. as transit planning group director and associate VP, based in the firm’s Chicago office.
Michael Booth, AICP, has joined HNTB Corp. as transit planning group director and associate VP, based in the firm’s Chicago office. He brings over 33 years of industry expertise, with a focus on major transportation, transit and infrastructure capital projects, including experience in project management for the Chicago Transit Authority and other transit agencies.
In his new role at HNTB, Booth leads HNTB’s Chicago transit planning practice, focusing on service and delivery for key transit and rail clients throughout the region in addition to serving as a project and program manager for various transit projects. He also will provide support to HNTB’s transit and rail clients nationwide.
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Prior to joining HNTB, Booth’s focus was on regional and national transit projects, including serving as program and new starts manager on two major commuter rail projects in the Midwest and leading the federal grant process for Sound Transit’s Federal Way Link light rail extension in Seattle.
His transit and rail experience includes commuter rail, light rail, bus rapid transit and transit programs and projects in both the planning and design phases. He also brings significant experience in project compliance with the Federal Transit Administration, the Federal Highway Administration, and other federal entities. Booth’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in urban planning from Seattle Pacific University and certification in community planning from the University of Washington.
In Chicago, HNTB currently is working on, or has been involved with, some of the region’s most significant infrastructure projects, including serving as lead designer and providing construction oversight services for the Chicago Transit Authority’s Wilson Station reconstruction project, program management for the Illinois Tollway’s $14 billion Move Illinois program, lead designer for Phases 1 and 2 of the Chicago Department of Transportation’s Lakefront Trail, and owner’s representative services for the Chicago Department of Aviation’s O’Hare and Midway Capital Improvement Programs.
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.
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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.
