P3s have been integral to the JTA’s success—from building a clean energy fueling station for public use and the JTA’s fleet of compressed natural gas vehicles, to deploying our Ultimate Urban Circulator driverless vehicles for Florida’s esteemed Mayo Clinic during the pandemic, to collaborating with microtransit services to provide first- and-last mile rides and door-to-door service. JTA has a successful track record of collaborating with the private sector. Jannet: In order to be successful in meeting these challenges, the public and private sector will need to work collaboratively and expeditiously to plan, design, and implement projects that address these issues by leveraging the once-in-a-generation investment provided in the BIL. It is the responsibility of the public and private sector to collectively rise to the occasion and deliver on the promise of a more equitable infrastructure for the next generation. Lasting, Positive Change Jannet and Nat said that much of their success is attributed to aspects of transportation that bring them joy and satisfaction. Nat: My most meaningful achievements have embraced innovations that lead to lasting, positive change. Every agency I have worked at I have had an opportunity to launch innovations that were the first
of their kind. At MARTA it was the Breeze card; in San Francisco, it was the first real-time parking app; at the JTA it was the first system redesign in modern history with the route optimization initiative, and later, the U2C. I have always had a vision about how to improve transportation services and a vision about improving the quality of life in my community. Jannet: If I had a chance to meet my younger self, I would tell her that no one person knows everything—this is why you have teams. Many times we think we need to know every bullet point of a position or job description to do it well. We learn later in life that everyone “wings it” at some point. We learn by doing and the growth environment of interacting with our peers and learning your organizational culture and values. And that is OK. Nat: I would tell my younger self to never forget the importance of relationships with people. The close personal and professional relationships I have formed during my 40-year career are ones I will always treasure. So, what’s it like to work in the transit sector as a married couple? Come join them for dinner—a meal worth savoring.
olsson.com
Most see an entertainment district. We see a date night.
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csengineermag.com
NOVEMBER 2023
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