Seasoned infrastructure professional bringing extensive leadership and urban rail transit experience
MINNEAPOLIS (Dec. 22, 2023) – Luke Olson, PE, has joined HNTB, a leading infrastructure solutions firm, as a national practice consultant bringing more than 22 years of urban transit and rail design experience.
“We are thrilled to welcome Luke to our team to support the continued growth of our transit practice,” said Chris Gale, PE, HNTB Great Lakes Division president and senior vice president. “His commitment to delivering innovative, viable and cost-effective transit solutions tailored to the needs of our clients, key stakeholders and communities will be invaluable.”
Olson’s experience encompasses the comprehensive design and management of expansive urban rail and transit projects, from early planning phases all the way through design, construction and start-up. He has led various successful transit projects throughout the country such as streetcar, commuter rail, bus rapid transit and light rail systems. His extensive streetcar portfolio includes projects in Portland, Seattle, Tucson, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Dallas, Ft. Lauderdale, Detroit and several others. Other noteworthy projects include Austin’s Project Connect; the Ann Arbor to Detroit Commuter Rail Study; Metro Transit’s C Line Bus Rapid Transit; a high-capacity transit study/program in Nashville; and the I-205 Light Rail design/build project in Portland.
“I am excited to start a new journey with HNTB alongside colleagues I have known the majority of my career,” said Olson. “I look forward to supporting our clients’ visions and propelling projects forward to fulfill the evolving needs of the community.”
As a nationally known leader in the transit industry, Olson regularly shares his knowledge and insights at prominent industry conferences, including Transportation Research Board, American Public Transportation Association and Mpact. He is a graduate of Leadership APTA 2017 and was recently appointed to APTA’s Business Member Board of Governors.
Prior to HNTB, Olson served as the regional transit director for another consulting firm. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder and is a registered professional engineer in Minnesota.