HDR Expands Transport Leadership Across 16 US States

ST. LOUIS, UNITED STATES – HDR promoted Jason Kjenstad and Jay Chiglo to direct regional transportation infrastructure across 16 U.S. states, while Missouri-Illinois agency Bi-State Development confirmed the departure of multimodal executive Mary Lamie in early 2025. Kjenstad will oversee 11 North Central states from Sioux Falls, whereas Chiglo assumes leadership over 5 South Central states from Dallas. Bi-State Development assigned interim operational oversight of non-transit enterprises to Chief Legal Counsel Gregory Linhares as it evaluates freight administration structures.

What Is the Full Scope of This Development?

The leadership changes realign executive management across infrastructure consulting in central North America and initiate an administrative transition at the St. Louis freight gateway. Kjenstad previously served as HDR’s Dakotas and Wyoming area manager and will now manage consulting practices in Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. Chiglo, previously HDR’s transportation alternative delivery director, directs regional operations across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas. At Bi-State Development, Lamie concludes a ten-year tenure that began in 2015 when she was appointed to direct the St. Louis Regional Freightway before taking on the executive vice president role for multimodal enterprises in 2019. Linhares assumes managerial control over the Gateway Arch, Riverboats, and St. Louis Downtown Airport, while BSD maintains authority over Metro Transit-St. Louis.

Key Development Data

How Does This Compare to Industry Trends?

Consulting firms and public authorities are restructuring regional management teams to capture surging infrastructure allocations across central passenger and freight networks. Global passenger rail volume among UIC member operators recorded a 7% increase in 2024 compared with 2023, driving demand for network planning and engineering capacity (Source: International Union of Railways, 2025). The wider passenger rail market is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 5.8% between 2025 and 2033 as metropolitan transit systems prioritize alternative delivery frameworks (Source: Market Data Forecast, 2025). Bi-State Development did not name a permanent replacement for the head of the St. Louis Regional Freightway at the time of Lamie’s transition to Lochmueller Group. Independent verification of the aggregate capital value of HDR’s consulting portfolio in the 16 reassigned states was not available at time of publication.

Editor’s Analysis

Engineering consultancies are elevating delivery specialists to lead regional units as transit authorities shift procurement toward alternative contracting models. The departure of Mary Lamie presents an operational challenge for Bi-State Development at a moment when regional freight hubs are competing heavily for federal multimodal grants. As rail passenger traffic maintains a 5.8% projected growth rate through 2033 (Source: Market Data Forecast, 2025), preserving institutional stability across midwestern rail links will remain critical for local economic agencies.

FAQ

Q: What territories do the newly appointed HDR transportation directors manage?
A: Jason Kjenstad oversees HDR’s transportation operations across 11 North Central states from Sioux Falls, while Jay Chiglo directs 5 South Central states from Dallas.

Q: What organization did Mary Lamie join after leaving Bi-State Development?
A: Lamie accepted a consulting role with engineering firm Lochmueller Group after leading the St. Louis Regional Freightway since 2015.

Q: Who is directing Bi-State Development’s non-transit operations following the executive departure?
A: Chief Legal Counsel Gregory Linhares assumed operational responsibility for the Gateway Arch, Riverboats, and St. Louis Downtown Airport during the administrative transition.