ASCE honors Urban Engineers’ Thomsen

A background in rail infrastructure projects has helped one East Coast engineer earn recognition from his peers.

William T. Thomsen, PE, of Urban Engineers has been named the Philadelphia Civil Engineer of the Year by the American Society of Civil Engineers’ (ASCE) Philadelphia Section.

Thomsen, who serves as a senior vice president and chief operating officer for national services at Urban, was presented the award May 3 at the organization’s annual Spring Social held at “Sky” Philadelphia.

“It is truly an honor to be recognized by my peers in the industry as the Civil Engineer of the Year,” said Thomsen. “Hard work and determination served as the keys to my success, but I would not be where I am without the help of my partners and the staff of Urban, my family, and of course, our clients.”

Thomsen has played a key role in the growth of the Urban’s program management oversight division and is a national leader in the management of large-scale projects, including New York City’s high-profile One World Trade Center, L.A. Metro, the Long Island Rail Road’s East Side Access, and NYC Transit’s Second Avenue Subway.

In addition to his responsibilities overseeing Urban’s offices and national geography and serving on the firm’s board, Thomsen is the president and chief executive of Urban Engineers of New York, D.P.C. He is responsible for directing all major national transportation programs, public transit, national consulting, and megaproject program management services.

A registered Professional Engineer in four states, his extensive experience encompasses the management and engineering of major infrastructure projects including tunnels, railways, and transportation systems.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in civil/environmental engineering from Clarkson University and master’s degree in engineering management from Drexel University. He is a past president of ASCE Philadelphia, served on the executive committee of the American Public Transportation Association, and is the past chairperson of the organization’s Capital Projects national committee on design and construction.