The New York metropolitan region is home to some of the busiest transit systems in the world—but much of this infrastructure is aging. Maintaining it through State of Good Repair (SGR) projects is critical to keeping trains, buses, roads, bridges, and tunnels safe, reliable, and efficient. To advance this important conversation, VHB partnered with WTS-GNY to sponsor and host a panel discussion on the prioritization of SGR.
The event brought together leaders from across the industry to explore planning approaches, funding considerations, and technical strategies for managing aging assets while preparing for the future. Panelists included:
- Ziona Rubin, Vice President, Deputy Program Executive, RR-MNR BU Lead, MTA Construction & Development
- Dana Hecht, PMP, Director and Vice President, North American Public Transit Delivery Lead, GFT (formerly Gannett Fleming TranSystems)
- Louise Benwell, Director, Turner & Townsend
Representing VHB was Joe Pizzurro, PE, Northeast Regional Manager, with the conversation moderated by Steve McElligott, PE, Executive Markets Lead at VHB. Steve opened the session by framing SGR as the “operating system running in the background” that keeps the region moving smoothly. He acknowledged the risks of delaying maintenance but emphasized the benefits of getting it right—greater reliability, stronger economic competitiveness, and improved rider experience. Steve called for a focus on resilience, forward-thinking, and timely maintenance, noting that prioritizing SGR not only tackles today’s backlog but also future-proofs the transit system for the generations ahead.
The panelists focused on the multifaceted nature of SGR:
- Safety & Equity: “Infrastructure is invisible when it works, but it’s painfully visible when it doesn’t,” noted Dana, underscoring the critical role of routine maintenance projects—even if they don’t make headlines.
- Lifecycle Approach: Louise highlighted the importance of proactive maintenance, asset monitoring, and smart technology to extend the life of infrastructure and build resilience against climate change.
- Efficiency: Ziona emphasized the value of bundling projects to improve multiple assets located in the same area, efficient use of outages to perform several improvements, optimizing use of internal resources, and streamlining project and contract management.
- Engineering Value: Joe highlighted the satisfaction of working on multiple SGR projects that keep the city moving and sustain quality of life. He emphasized that clear communication and public engagement are key to helping people understand the importance of these often-unseen efforts.
The discussion reinforced that collaboration between public and private partners is essential. By prioritizing SGR, the industry can advance safer, more reliable, and more resilient transportation systems that serve communities well into the future.
To learn more about VHB’s state-of-good-repair solutions, contact Joe Pizzurro today.
