Transport is a long game — and a worthwhile one

While large capital programs can seem daunting — both in scale and cost — the real story is told in the years and decades that follow. That’s when the returns start rolling in.

It’s proven time and again: investment in public transport isn’t just about transport. It’s about economic growth, alleviating congestion, promoting environmental sustainability, and building stronger communities.

I am based in San Francisco, where I have dedicated my career to advancing public transit systems.  According to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), every $1 invested in public transit yields $5 in economic returns. Public transit in the U.S. alone supports a $79 billion industry and over 430,000 jobs — with 77 percent of federal funding flowing to the private sector, supporting more than 2,000 suppliers across 48 states.

Real returns from real systems

Take Portland, Oregon, for example. TriMet’s MAX light rail lines have helped drive over $45 billion in development near its stations. Across the Dallas Rapid Area Transit (DART) service area, The University of North Texas has tracked a cumulative economic impact of $17.1 billion since 1999 — a staggering boost to the Dallas-Fort Worth region. Transit-orientated development has flourished: in just a two-year span, 31 projects were completed within a quarter mile of DART stations with a total property value of $980 million.  

These numbers are compelling. But what’s even more important is what they represent: vibrant downtowns, job creation, housing development, better air quality, and more inclusive urban growth.

The Irish context

Ireland is on the cusp of a similar transformation. The Luas Benefits Report — which ArchTam is proud to have supported — tells a powerful story of how light rail has changed Dublin over the last two decades.

The Luas, which operates with zero emissions at street level, has become more than a mode of transport; it’s now a symbol of Dublin, delivering clear and measurable benefits. Along its corridors, over 10,000 new jobs have been created in the technology and services sectors, while an estimated 12,000 tonnes of CO₂e emissions were avoided in 2022 through modal shift. Importantly, the Luas has enabled some of Dublin’s largest housing and regeneration projects, connecting areas such as Tallaght and Sandyford to the city center, facilitating the delivery of much-needed new homes.

Looking ahead, projects like MetroLink have the potential to deliver even greater benefits — not just by moving people more efficiently, but by creating a ripple effect across communities, businesses, and industries. The vision for transport in Ireland is bold, and with the right support, it can be a catalyst for a more sustainable, equitable, and prosperous future.

Acknowledging the pain points

Of course, we also need to be honest: these benefits don’t appear overnight. Large-scale infrastructure takes time — and construction can be disruptive. We’ve seen it in every city. Streets are torn up, traffic is rerouted, businesses are affected. It’s frustrating. But what I’ve learned from decades of working in this space is that the short-term pain is vastly outweighed by the long-term gain. When we push through, what emerges on the other side is well worth the wait.

Let’s talk

If this topic resonates, I invite you to come and hear my presentation on the socioeconomic significance of transport infrastructure at Transport Ireland 2025.  I’ll be sharing more insights, examples from around the world, and my thoughts on how we can all help make the most of these once-in-a-generation investments.

Ireland has the chance to lead by example in showing what’s possible when you invest in transport not as a cost, but as a catalyst. I look forward to being part of that journey with you. 

ArchTam is proud to be sponsoring Transport Ireland 2025, which is taking place at the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel in Dublin on Friday June 6^th.  Diane’s presentation on the socioeconomic significance of transport infrastructure will take place in the first session between 9-11am, alongside:

• Peter Walsh, Chief Executive Officer at Transport Infrastructure Ireland
• Jack Chambers TD, Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Reform and Digitalisation
• Séan Sweeney, MetroLink Programme Director, Transport Infrastructure Ireland.

The session will be chaired by Derval Cummins, Director, Transportation from ArchTam.

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Tell us about your career journey and current role at ArchTam.

Throughout my 30-year career, I’ve served as a principal or project director for major infrastructure projects in the transportation and energy sectors. My passion for transit kickstarted with my aspirations to improve communities by providing people mobility choices to get to school, work, access to better healthcare and to live a more sustainable life.

In my new role as acting Transit Market Lead for the Americas, I’ve leveraged my transit and rail program and project experience into a long-earned reputation for having a keen sense of industry trends in the transit and rail fields. My ability to identify and prioritize strategies that help agencies succeed and communities thrive also helps ArchTam maintain its role as an industry leader.

What major trends across industries will impact the transit sector?

The rapid development and adoption of new technologies and the green economy are changing the way transit agencies address everyday tasks and how the largest transit infrastructure projects and programs are being designed and constructed.

There are shifts toward modernization such as the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI), zero-emission vehicle technologies, continued rise of automation and the re-emergence of modular construction, which support the transit industries goals of improving service and driving costs of capital projects and transit operations down. The continued adoption and application of these techniques and technologies are paving the way for the transit industry’s future.  For instance:

• The transit industry has started to adopt the use of building information modeling (BIM) and digital twin in major capital projects. AI will provide an opportunity for further increase in automation of BIM design by employing a process of “designing to cost”.  A significant increase in the capital cost of infrastructure projects and a diminishing availability of operations funds increases the opportunity for the industry to put these new techniques and technologies to good use.
• Another trend is the re-emergence of modular design and construction or design for manufacture and assembly (DFMA). By using a manufacturing approach to infrastructure projects, this trend can drive capital and operating costs down while increasing sustainability and reducing the carbon footprint of a project.
• Last, energy transition and renewables will continue to trend with new advancements and innovations in everything from energy storage to management solutions to new renewable profiles coming to market. In my role, I’ve witnessed transit agencies in the U.S. take advantage of funding available through the bipartisan infrastructure bill for low/zero-emission vehicles to refresh their bus fleets.

Highlight your biggest achievements at ArchTam and in the global transportation industry.

My passion for the everchanging industry is illuminated in my work at ArchTam on transit and rail projects which led to the honor of being named as one of the Top 50 Women Leaders of California for 2024.

I’ve worked on every rail line currently operating for Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) and helped to develop the early vision for light rail in Austin. I also helped develop the 2018 California State Rail Plan that re-oriented the plan to focus on customer outcomes first. On Valley Link, I’m helping to develop a rail service that will connect Central Valley communities to jobs in the Bay Area of California with zero-emission, green hydrogen trains.

In addition to those projects, I’ve served in operational and business development roles, supporting the executive leadership team at ArchTam by driving transformation through strategy, growth, leveraging trends and future-forward thought leadership in transit and rail and the ESG space.

I’ve witnessed and felt the positive impact our projects can have on individuals, communities and the world. The tangible, positive outcomes have strengthened my ability to place myself in my clients’ shoes to assist them in reaching their goals.  At ArchTam, I see myself continuing to support exponential growth while mentoring the next generation of diverse leaders so they can not only succeed at ArchTam but also drive technology and modern approaches to delivering transit infrastructure globally.

My best advice to aspiring leaders is to lean in, trust and bet on yourself and your ideas. Most especially in a dynamic, future-oriented industry like transit, be bold in bringing your ideas to the forefront.  It takes diverse voices to truly make a meaningful and sustainable impact in any industry.

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