Rick Schmedes

“I’m excited about the opportunities we have within rail and transit to implement technological solutions for the benefit of new and existing operations. There are rapid advances in vehicle propulsion, energy storage, connected infrastructure and secure systems. I am dedicated to helping our clients find the appropriate applications of these new technologies and integrate them in an impactful and efficient way to benefit their customers and the communities they serve.”

As director of our rail and transit systems program, Rick leads a diverse team of highly skilled experts in the systems disciplines of traction electrification, communications, train control, vehicles, safety and security, and operational analysis. He focuses on the integration of these complex systems with the civil infrastructure, operations control and maintenance facilities to best serve client and passenger needs in all forms of transit and rail systems.

Rick has more than 30 years of experience in design, construction and program management on some of the largest rail infrastructure projects in the United States, Canada and United Kingdom. He has a diverse background as an agency executive, contractor and consultant to public transit agencies, performing critical management roles through all project phases, from planning and regulatory approvals to commissioning and safety certification. Rick is a strong advocate of the systems engineering principles of requirements management, interface and integration, and verification and validation processes to successfully manage complex transit and rail projects.

He is involved in the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association as a member of Committees 17 (High-Speed Rail) and 33 (Electrical Energy Utilization) and has authored California General Order No. 176, establishing rules for high-speed rail 25 kilovolt electrification.