A Shared Vision on the Future of Transportation Innovation and Equity

By Richard Reitz, Editorial Manager for WSP in the US

Trailblazing transit couple discusses what they’ve seen throughout their public and private transportation careers and how changing attitudes and technology are reshaping the industry.

Sit down to dinner with Jannet Walker-Ford and Nathaniel P. “Nat” Ford and you’ll see their connection to transportation progress and innovation in the United States is undeniable. From the integration of mobility technology, to leveraging autonomous vehicles for fleets, to transporting vaccines, to creating equitable access for underserved communities, this “power couple” is helping shape our nation’s mobility.   

The Fords have not only witnessed their share of advancement in transit throughout their impactful careers, but each has also played a significant role in the influence and expansion of the country’s transit network that has taken shape over the past two decades. 

Jannet is a senior vice president and transit and rail market leader for WSP USA, a leading engineering and professional services consultancy. In this role she is responsible for leading the strategy for growth and innovation and delivering technical project excellence in the transit, rail, mobility, freight, and intercity rail markets. She is the current chair of WTS International, an organization committed to advancing women in transportation; and also serves on the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA’s) Executive Committee.

Nat is CEO of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA), the innovative regional public transportation provider and mobility integrator in Northeast Florida. He is a leading advocate for autonomous vehicles and others on how they can improve the quality of life for travelers throughout the nation. In 2022 he served as chair of the Transportation Research Board, a division of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine that promotes innovations, technology, and research in transportation. He is a former chair of APTA.

With their tireless commitment to transit, their pursuit of improved equity and an understanding of where public transportation is heading, one can imagine the ideas and perspectives shared during family dinners at the Ford household. 

Public and Private Collaboration

Jannet and Nat have experienced both the public and private sides of transportation over the course of their careers. Both agreed that when it comes to collaboration, the two sectors have come a long way. 

Nat: Early in my career, the public and private sectors largely operated in silos. There was truly no real collaboration in advancing policies or developing programs that advance the customer experience. However, that has changed and now both sectors work together constantly. Public-private partnerships, technology, alternative fuels, and other advancements have contributed to bringing the public and private sector together to collaborate. 

Jannet: During my tenure at the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), I held roles of chief information officer and deputy CEO, where I led a transformation of the agencies’ business systems and the upgrade of the fare payment system to a regional payment system—the Breeze Card Systems, the first of its kind in North America. These programs required close and frequent engagement with the riding public, community, stakeholders, and other regional operators as well as a close partnership with the private sector. A trusted and collaborative relationship with the private sector was crucial in their successful implementations.

Nat: There is also collaboration in our shared industry-related trade associations such as the APTA; TRB; the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association and many others. I became chair of APTA around the time that Uber, Lyft, and other providers were using technology to provide “first- and last-mile” services. I challenged my colleagues to see these private sector companies not as competitors, but as allies, to help our systems grow and meet the needs and demands of our riders. Today, there are multiple partnerships across the industry. 

Jannet: All of this is being done to improve the customer experience and options to take them where they need to go and enjoy their quality of life.

Delivering on Promises

The US Bipartisan Infrastructure Act (BIL)—previously known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act—as well as the more recent Inflation Reduction Act, are providing unprecedented levels of funding for transportation modernization, and expansion projects. Jannet and Nat explained why this is going to require a fresh look at how transportation has been historically funded and programmed.

Jannet: The future of transportation is complex, dynamic and exciting. We are in a state of rapid growth and continual transformation. Historical funding opportunities and federal programs are taking root, innovative technologies are becoming the norm and alternative fuel and energy sources are becoming more available. As we contend with the lingering effects of COVID-19 and workforce shortages, we are making vital policy decisions that will provide for safer, more sustainable, equitable, and accessible systems. 

Nat: In public transportation, funding historically has been earmarked for buses, trains, and infrastructure. In the 21st century, we must think beyond that and provide funding to enhance our role as mobility integrators that provide a variety of multimodal options that include walkability and cycling, greenspace, paths and trails, and transit-oriented development.

Jannet: The highlights from the BIL—now in into the second of the five-year funding of $1.2B—covers improvements in infrastructure such as:

• $66 billion in passenger and freight rail,
• $7.5 billion to build a national network of electric vehicle chargers, and
• $39 billion for transit and accessibility improvements.

With this investment in transportation and infrastructure, we have the crucial opportunity to provide systems designed with the kaleidoscope of riders and their diverse needs, safety and access, accommodations, and perspectives in mind. We will see a difference in the usage of those systems, ridership numbers will increase and communities will benefit from access to new and meaningful connections to places, jobs, healthcare, educational institutions, voting locations, resources, and opportunities that did not exist before.

Nat: Now it is our job as transportation professionals to make sure we deliver on the promises made. 

Driving Innovation and Technology

Jannet and Nat identified several challenges and opportunities awaiting the transportation sector.

Nat: The opportunities I see on the horizon for the industry are driven by innovation and technology. Both are powerful tools to address the priorities our customers demand. It helps us create integrated systems across all modes of transportation, putting the power at the fingertip of customers. It can support the dismantling of equity barriers and make sure there is more reliable access to services. It will provide more opportunities that help us deliver services that are environmentally friendly with more electric vehicles.

Jannet: When I think about the future of the industry, I see a focus on moving into new, smarter sources of energy, artificial intelligence, automation, and new mobility and technological infrastructure to support these innovations. 

Nat: A game-changer will be autonomous vehicle technology. Automation and all the opportunities in innovation and technology are helping us attract and retain a skilled workforce. It is also showing newer generations the amazing possibilities a career in the transportation industry can provide. Of course, all these opportunities lead to greater community services, enhancing the quality of life.

Jannet: We must address the availability of adequate operational and capital funding to meet the needs of our transportation systems and aging infrastructure. We need a skilled workforce that is more diverse and gender-balanced and ensure that equity in the planning, design and delivery of the projects addresses our most pressing infrastructure needs.

Equity Focus on Infrastructure

The Fords see critical opportunities for the private and public sectors to work together and solve some of the transportation industry’s biggest challenges.

Jannet: We all know the history of public transportation—including railroads, bridges, transit, and airports—and like the history of our country, it is complicated. Too often, decisions about where and how to build infrastructure disproportionately benefited some, while disenfranchising others. 

An equity focus on infrastructure is championed by the public sector and is currently—and should always be—a key consideration in public transportation and infrastructure improvements. But it is not just the federal administration and public institutions and agencies that are focusing on equity. More and more private sector entities are understanding how the history of their infrastructure and decision-making created unintentional consequences for communities throughout the United States. 

In cities, it was often Black and Brown communities who were devastated, while in more rural areas of the country it was often the lower income and Native communities who were disenfranchised. As transportation professionals we are charged with making important decisions that impact society. An equitable, diverse and inclusive group of stakeholder voices are vital for the road ahead. We can acknowledge past indiscretions that actively harmed communities, especially communities of color and other disadvantaged people, while choosing better alternatives that will actively help rectify the standing outcomes of these choices.

Nat: I have seen the benefits of public and private collaboration within my own agency. Forming public-private partnerships (P3s) to serve the public that are financially beneficial, sustainable, diverse, efficient, and safe has enabled the JTA to become a best-in-class transportation authority. 

P3s have been integral to the JTA’s success—from building a clean energy fueling station for public use and the JTA’s fleet of compressed natural gas vehicles, to deploying our Ultimate Urban Circulator driverless vehicles for Florida’s esteemed Mayo Clinic during the pandemic, to collaborating with microtransit services to provide first-and-last mile rides and door-to-door service. JTA has a successful track record of collaborating with the private sector.

Jannet: In order to be successful in meeting these challenges, the public and private sector will need to work collaboratively and expeditiously to plan, design, and implement projects that address these issues by leveraging the once-in-a-generation investment provided in the BIL. It is the responsibility of the public and private sector to collectively rise to the occasion and deliver on the promise of a more equitable infrastructure for the next generation.

Lasting, Positive Change

Jannet and Nat said that much of their success is attributed to aspects of transportation that bring them joy and satisfaction.

Nat: My most meaningful achievements have embraced innovations that lead to lasting, positive change. Every agency I have worked at I have had an opportunity to launch innovations that were the first of their kind. At MARTA it was the Breeze card; in San Francisco, it was the first real-time parking app; at the JTA it was the first system redesign in modern history with the route optimization initiative, and later, the U2C. I have always had a vision about how to improve transportation services and a vision about improving the quality of life in my community. 

Jannet: If I had a chance to meet my younger self, I would tell her that no one person knows everything—this is why you have teams. Many times we think we need to know every bullet point of a position or job description to do it well. We learn later in life that everyone “wings it” at some point. We learn by doing and the growth environment of interacting with our peers and learning your organizational culture and values. And that is OK.

Nat: I would tell my younger self to never forget the importance of relationships with people. The close personal and professional relationships I have formed during my 40-year career are ones I will always treasure.

So, what’s it like to work in the transit sector as a married couple? Come join them for dinner—a meal worth savoring.