Michael S. Venter has been named an assistant VP and sr. engineering manager in the New York City office of WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff.

In his new position, Venter will be responsible for providing project management and technical expertise related to rail systems for subways, commuter rail, light rail, and people movers.  

Venter has over 25 years of experience in transit systems, including transit planning, procurement, program management, design, installation, implementation, and testing/commissioning. His expertise with traditional and advanced rail technologies includes signaling, communications, supervisory control and data acquisition systems, vehicles, and power distribution/electrification systems. He has overseen the design of a variety of automated control systems.

Prior to joining WSP | PB, Venter was director of railroad systems for a New York metropolitan area engineering firm, where he was responsible for the complete design of a major commuter railroad’s communications systems, including network upgrades, public address, video information systems, closed-circuit television, intercom, access control, elevator and escalator management systems, and methods to provide real-time information to passengers. This role included the design of the head-end control systems and software as well as design at individual sites.