Streetcar coalition names executive leaders, board members

The Community Streetcar Coalition (CSC) recently announced its executive committee and new board members.

Serving as incoming chair is Adelee Le Grand, vice president at Transdev and chief strategic officer at the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority. Le Grand is responsible for finding solutions to address access and mobility challenges facing the New Orleans region, coalition officials said in a press release.

Serving as vice chair will be Sherri McIntyre, who is assistant city manager and director of public works in Kansas City, Missouri. Under her leadership, the city constructed a streetcar system that launched in May 2016.

Ethan Melone has been named the coalition's treasurer. He is a principal project manager and streetcar practice leader at Parsons in Seattle. Prior to joining Parsons, Melone managed the streetcar program for Seattle.

D.J. Baxter will serve as the coalition's immediate past chair. Baxter is a partner and project manager at Shiels Obletz Johnsen Inc. in Salt Lake City, where he supports public agency real state and streetcar development projects across the country. From 2007 to 2016, he served as the executive director of the Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake City, where he helped lead the city's efforts to develop a modern streetcar line.

Meanwhile, eight new members were named to CSC's board. They are Brian Hawkins, director of business development at Siemens; Kwadwo Atta, division manager, SNC Lavalin; Gerald Francis, president, Keolis; Stan Feinsod, development manager, Transit Systems Engineering Inc.; Terry Nash, associate vice president of rail and transit, HNTB; Andrew Plambeck, public affairs manager, Portland Streetcar Inc.; Jon Schlegel, project development director, Herzog Transit Services; and Gina Thomas, project manager, HDR.

The coalition is made up of more than 70 local governments, transit agencies, architectural and engineering firms, rail-car manufacturers and other private-sector firms that support the advancement of streetcars in the United States.