Thomas Prendergast has decades of public and private sector experience directing major infrastructure projects and large, complex transportation systems in the United States and internationally. Having led the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), the largest transportation agency in North America, Tom is a top expert on billion-dollar capital programs, strategic planning, and public transportation policy. 

Tom previously served as Executive Vice President and New York Metro Chief Executive at AECOM. He oversaw design and consulting services across all business lines in New York and New Jersey, including transportation, water and wastewater, environment, power, and buildings and places, which encompassed more than 1,300 architects, engineers, scientists, and other support staff. 

Tom’s substantial experience directing large public agencies includes four years as MTA Chair and CEO. At MTA, Tom was instrumental in securing a five-year capital plan to modernize New York’s public transportation systems, including the Second Avenue Subway and East Side Access megaprojects. He is recognized for his leadership in restoring service to the subway system after Hurricane Sandy and implementing critical rehabilitation and flood resiliency efforts. 

During his tenure at MTA, Tom served in several other senior leadership roles, including six years as Long Island Railroad (LIRR) President, where he oversaw the largest commuter railroad in the United States, and more than three years as New York City Transit President, where he was responsible for operations, maintenance, and capital improvement for the city’s subways, buses, and paratransit. 

Internationally, Tom led the public transportation system in Vancouver as CEO of the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority (TransLink). He directed public transportation for the largest service area in all of Canada and successfully prepared the multimodal transportation network for the 2010 Winter Olympics. 

Tom holds a Bachelor of Science in Socio-Technological Systems Engineering, Urban Transportation Systems from the University of Illinois, and is a graduate of the Harvard Program for State and Local Government Executives. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Regional Plan Association and the Eno Center for Transportation.