Williams, Walker Join HNTB Advisory Practice

K. Jane Williams (left) and Cheryl Walker are each serving as National Practice Consultant and Vice President in the HNTB’s Advisory practice.

Former Acting Federal Transit Administrator K. Jane Williams and former Federal Highway Administration leader Cheryl Walker have been appointed policy advisors at HNTB, an infrastructure firm serving public and private owners and contractors.

According to HNTB, Williams will serve clients nationwide as an advisor related to federal transportation funding and policy strategies; Walker will use her understanding of federal laws and programs governing infrastructure and their impact on the state and local agencies operating those assets to serve clients nationwide as a policy and program advisor. Both will hold the roles of National Practice Consultant and Vice President in the firm’s Advisory practice.

HNTB’s Advisory practice is said to provide “a holistic, strategic perspective to help clients develop and deliver their most complex programs.” It also works directly with clients’ executive-level management to provide strategic and commercial advice, drawing on legal, technical, management and policy expertise, according to the firm.

Williams brings to HNTB more than two decades of experience in federal and state government, along with work in the private sector in the areas of transportation and infrastructure. That includes serving as Senior Advisor to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao and Acting Administrator for the Federal Transit Administration from August 2017-January 2021.

Williams has also served as Director of the Washington Area Transit Office of the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT). In that role, she led and managed investments for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) on behalf of MDOT and helped advise the MDOT Secretary on such issues as policy, budget, safety and service reliability. During her tenure, Williams was instrumental, along with her colleagues in the commonwealth of Virginia and the District of Columbia, in establishing the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission, an independent agency that oversees and enforces safety practices on the WMATA system, HNTB reported.

“I know Jane’s impact in transportation firsthand,” HNTB Corporate President Jim Ray said. “She is a recognized leader in helping to shape funding and strategy initiatives that deliver improved transportation systems and enhanced mobility. She also will provide exceptional value to our clients given her understanding and experience on public policy and the legislative process, both at the state and federal level.”

Walker served most recently as Associate Administrator for FHWA’s Office of Safety. She provided executive leadership and direction in the development and implementation of strategic national initiatives, programs, and policies to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on the nation’s public roads. Additionally, she oversaw the agency’s Highway Safety Improvement Program, which delivers funds to states to support projects focused on reducing fatalities and serious injuries. Walker also served as Director of FHWA’s Office of Legislative Affairs and Policy Communications for more than six years, coordinating with agency leadership and Congressional committees on recommendations for statutory, regulatory and guidance changes to help improve the delivery of transportation infrastructure.

“Cheryl’s insights and unique perspective of transportation policy and priorities at the federal level will bring extraordinary value to our work with clients across the country,” said Jim Ray. “I have had the pleasure of working with Cheryl for a number of years and know her vast experience in leading policy and programmatic initiatives will provide us an enhanced ability to offer needed solutions on large-scale projects and programs.”