HNTB adds transit experts to Santa Ana and Chicago offices
HNTB Corporation has added two transit experts to its offices in Santa Ana, Calif., and Chicago, Ill., who will focus on the further growth of the firm within the transit industry. Thomas Jenkins, PE, will serve as a national transit/rail consultant in Santa Ana and Daniel Loftus, PE, will join the Chicago office as senior transit project manager.
Jenkins has more than five decades of extensive experience in highway and transit planning, engineering, financing and project management. HNTB notes that he specializes in delivering complex, multimodal and multidisciplinary infrastructure projects. Jenkins’ project experience in the Los Angeles area includes Purple Line (Westside) Subway Extension; Regional Connector Project; Crenshaw/LAX Project; Eastside LRT Phase I; Foothill LRT Extension; Foothill Transit formation; Metro Red Line; Metro Blue Line; Metro Green Line; and US 101 Corridor Study. Additionally, in the San Diego region, Jenkins provided project management on the I-15 Managed Lane Corridor.
Prior to joining HNTB, Jenkins was principal professional associate and project manager for another consulting firm where he served as project team leader on Public-Private Partnership Consulting Services for Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Jenkins also served as project manager of the project management consultant team on the 11-mile Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project for the San Diego Association of Governments.
“Tom’s broad experience, diverse set of skills and reputation in the industry offers a unique perspective to our practice as we continue to grow as a trusted adviser and provider of innovative solutions to the nation’s largest transit authorities,” said Kimberly Slaughter, HNTB transit/rail market sector leader and senior vice president.
Jenkins is a graduate of the University of Kansas, with master’s and bachelor’s degrees in civil engineering. His professional memberships include the American Society of Civil Engineers (Life Member), Institute of Transportation Engineers (Life Member), American Planning Association, Women's Transportation Seminar and Chi Epsilon Honor Society.
In Chicago, HNTB says Daniel Loftus will continue a decades-long civil engineering career that has advanced critical transit, rail and roadway projects across the region.
Loftus develops and proactively manages major transportation project scopes, schedules, budgets and teams to deliver projects to HNTB clients. He also assists with proposal development and mentors newer project managers as the firm grows in the Midwest and nationally.
“Dan is an accomplished and talented professional whose proven ability to manage diverse skillsets, technical details and complex projects will benefit our clients and teams,” said Mark Becherer, PE, Chicago office leader and vice president for HNTB. “Dan’s expertise and experience will play an important role as HNTB assists the region in implementing mobility improvements on transit and rail projects.”
Before joining HNTB, Loftus managed programs and projects for several regional transportation owners, including Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, Metra, Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois Tollway and the City of Chicago.
Loftus earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Marquette University.
Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director
Mischa Wanek-Libman is director of communications with Transdev North America. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the transportation industry covering construction projects, engineering challenges, transit and rail operations and best practices.
Wanek-Libman has held top editorial positions at freight rail and public transportation business-to-business publications including as editor-in-chief and editorial director of Mass Transit from 2018-2024. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.
She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and served 14 years as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.
She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.