Justine Sydello, Former IDOT Deputy Secretary, Joins CDM Smith

CHICAGO—CDM Smith is excited to welcome Justine Sydello as a national practice leader for trans­porta­tion policy. The former Illinois Department of Trans­porta­tion (IDOT) deputy secretary brings more than a decade of experience in the public sector at regional and state levels and extensive knowledge in policy, emerging trans­porta­tion tech­nolo­gies, planning, freight and financing. Sydello will help build CDM Smith’s national trans­porta­tion policy practice around funding and financing, strategic planning and preparation for disruptive tech­nolo­gies, including elec­tri­fi­ca­tion, automation and mobility as a service.

“Technology is funda­men­tally changing the way we move people and goods, and I am really looking forward to contribut­ing to CDM Smith’s proactive approach to antic­i­pat­ing and planning for disruptive tech­nolo­gies,” said Sydello. “It’s one thing to talk about how much trans­porta­tion can change in the coming years and decades, but it’s another to adapt scenario plans and modeling tools now to discover new possi­bil­i­ties in technology.” Sydello will also support CDM Smith’s tolling practice, lending her knowledge of public sector issues regarding tolling policy and strategic business decisions, legislative reviews and inter­gov­ern­men­tal coor­di­na­tion.

While at IDOT, Sydello led the Autonomous Illinois initiative for connected and automated vehicles and managed federal engagement, success­fully securing a $132 million grant through the U.S. Department of Trans­porta­tion’s INFRA discre­tionary program.

Sydello sees trans­porta­tion as a strategy to support broader quality of life and economic development goals and has dedicated her career to helping improve people’s lives through the development and imple­men­ta­tion of effective public policies. “Trans­porta­tion isn’t about just getting a person or a product from point A to point B,” said Sydello. “It’s about bringing families together, creating access to jobs and unlocking new economic oppor­tu­ni­ties.”

CDM Smith is a privately owned engineering and construc­tion firm providing legendary client service and smart solutions in water, environment, trans­porta­tion, energy and facilities. Passionate about our work and invested in each other, we are inspired to think and driven to solve the world’s envi­ron­men­tal and infra­struc­ture challenges.