NJDOT
NJDOT officials on March 30 announced that Priya Jain was sworn-in as Commissioner, making her the 21st Chief Executive of the Department. The full New Jersey State Senate unanimously confirmed her nomination on March 23. New Jersey Gov. Sherrill nominated Jain on Janu. 19, 2026, and she has served in an acting capacity since then. She will continue her work overseeing the Department and will also serve as Chair of New Jersey Transit, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, and the South Jersey Transportation Authority.
Jain brings more than three decades of experience leading major and complex transportation and infrastructure programs. She began her career as a civil and environmental engineer and has worked in engineering, policy, and program management to support public agencies in advancing complex capital projects. Most recently, she served as the President of Americas for Mace Consult. Prior to that, she was Executive Vice President and Chief Growth Officer for Atlas. As Senior Vice President for Sales and Strategy at Atkins, she spearheaded the firm’s expansion across North America. Jain has also held senior leadership roles at CH2M.
According to NJDOT, Jain’s connection to New Jersey’s transportation system began early in her career, as an engineer on the original ARC Tunnel project. “That experience shaped her understanding of the complexities of large, multiagency projects and continues to inform her focus on efficient permitting, interagency coordination, and timely project delivery,” the Department noted.
Jain is a member of the Board of Directors of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the Northeast Association of State Transportation Officials (NASTO), and The Eastern Transportation Coalition (TETC). Additionally, she is an Advisory Board Member for Civil Engineering at the City College of New York. She holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and master’s degree in physics from Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani, as well as a master’s degree in environmental engineering from the University of New York at Buffalo.
Further Reading:
Alstom
Alstom on April 1 reported the appointment of Martin Sion as CEO. He succeeds Henri Poupart-Lafarge, who, after a decade at the throttle, has decided not to seek a further term as CEO.
“Under Henri Poupart-Lafarge’s leadership since 2016, Alstom achieved a strong leadership position in the global rail industry, marked by significant growth, a broadened product portfolio, and a reputation for strong partnerships worldwide,” the company reported. “Henri’s tenure saw the company’s revenues rise from around €6 billion to €18.5 billion with a profitability among the highest in the industry. The successful integration of Bombardier Transportation [in 2021] https://www.railwayage.com/cs/alstom-completes-bombardier-transportation-takeover/ gave Alstom the power, the scale, and the competitiveness required to be one of the world leaders in rail transportation. The Board of Directors expresses its deep gratitude for Henri’s many achievements and unwavering dedication, which have positioned Alstom well to seize the opportunities of a rapidly evolving transportation market worldwide.”
Philippe Petitcolin, Chairman of Alstom’s Board of Directors, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Martin Sion as our new CEO. Martin brings a wealth of experience in industrial leadership, most recently as CEO of ArianeGroup. We are confident that Martin will further reinforce Alstom’s execution capabilities and lead the company forward to realize the ambitions set. I would like to thank Henri Poupart-Lafarge for his long term vision and commitment to making Alstom the leader it is today.”
Martin Sion said: “I am extremely honored to join Alstom and look forward to working with the talented teams to advance the decarbonisation of transport and deliver innovative mobility solutions worldwide. I thank Henri for his leadership and for laying solid foundations, including building a capable leadership team that will enable Alstom’s continued success.”
Further Reading:
- Toronto Commuter Operating Contract Extension Signed
- Amtrak Releases Video on Fleet Maintenance Facility Program
- Toronto Orders New Subway Train Fleet
- Mexico Awards $1B Passenger Fleet Contract
- Finch West LRT Opens
- Alstom Appoints North American VP, RSC
- Alstom, CTDOT Unveil Commuter Railcar Mockup
Miner
Miner, a railcar component manufacturer based in Geneva, Ill., has announced that Mike Downey has joined its sales team as a General Sales Manager and that Michael List has been appointed to its field services team as a representative.
“Downey brings more than 30 years of commercial, operational, and strategic experience in the North American rail industry,” said Paul Aspengren, Director of Sales for Miner, which has more than 130 years of experience in railcar equipment design and manufacturing, and supplies draft gears, brake beams, outlet gates, constant contact side bearings, and other high-performance components. “His deep understanding of rail operations, market dynamics and customer needs will be a tremendous asset as Miner continues to grow and deliver industry‑leading railcar components and systems. We’re excited to welcome Mike to the Miner team and look forward to the expertise and energy he brings.”
Downey, a bilingual business development professional, has held senior sales and marketing roles with major railcar lessors, as well as Class I, short line and passenger railways. He holds an MBA from the University of Ottawa, along with degrees from McGill University.
Downey said: “My values align closely with Miner’s commitment to engineering excellence and customer‑focused innovation. I’m excited to bring that commitment to our customers and help them achieve and exceed their goals and expectations.”
List began his career in 2001 as a welder with FreightCar America in Danville, Ill. He advanced to Quality Manager, and established quality programs across multiple facilities, while leading engineering inspections. In 2017, he changed gears and became a Service Engineer, primarily supporting customers in the field. His expertise spans hot-bearing inspections, truck teardowns, product promotion, and technical support.
“List brings to Miner deep technical expertise and a passion for solving complex challenges, with more than two decades of rail industry experience,” Paul Aspengren said. “His dedication and troubleshooting skills have earned him an impressive reputation for excellence in quality inspection, automated testing, and leadership roles.”
