WTS-DC X VPRA Panel Event
By: Shelley Wynne, WTS-DC Chapter President
On Tuesday, March 3, 2026, WTS-DC held a panel discussion with Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) at their Alexandria office on its mission to deliver infrastructure improvements that will expand modern passenger rail service across the commonwealth. VPRA's focused and experienced leadership team oversees its mission to deliver generational infrastructure improvements that will expand high-quality modern passenger rail service across the commonwealth—making it more frequent, more reliable, and more convenient.
The event featured opening remarks from DJ Stadtler who was appointed Executive Director of VPRA in April 2021 and is accountable for all strategy, policy development, and operations of the Authority. Katie Choe, recently appointed Chief Executive Officer for the Virginia Railway Express (VRE), also provided remarks to the audience. Katie Choe was a previous WTS-Boston Woman of the Year in 2022.
The event included opening remarks from Shelley Wynne, WTS-DC Chapter President, where she welcomed attendees and gave a brief overview of WTS-DC. Our moderator for the event, Meghan Powell, PE, Director of Transit & Rail for VHB's Mid-Atlantic region has worked closely with clients such as VPRA, VRE, Amtrak, WMATA, MDOT MTA, NCDOT, and CATS on program management, planning, and design efforts, giving her a holistic perspective on the challenges agencies face as their capital programs and projects move from concept to implementation.
The event featured panelist Meredith Judy, AICP, LEED-AP, a certified urban planner and coalition builder with over 25 years of experience in multimodal transportation planning. Her work emphasizes land use planning to promote livable, walkable, transit-oriented communities, and public outreach to build understanding and long-term project support. Meredith is currently VPRA’s Community Affairs Manager for Northern Virginia and DC.
Our next event panelist was Sarah Hoover, a Project Manager with over a decade of experience in both the freight and passenger rail industry. She started her career as an Assistant Track Supervisor of the Maintenance of Way department at Norfolk Southern. Currently at VPRA, Sarah is responsible for the construction of a 6-mile Fourth Track between Arlington and Alexandria and a 6-mile Third Track from Franconia to Lorton.
The conversation started with Meghan asking Meredith about an important aspect of her current role on the Long Bridge Project. Meredith stated that stakeholder coordination is key as each stakeholder has a different view on the project. Meghan asked Sarah about her role on the construction of the 6-mile Fourth Track between Arlington and Alexandria and the 6-mile Third Track from Franconia to Lorton. Sarah stated that her responsibilities include coordinating permitting and right-of-way acquisition, budgeting for both projects, communicating with internal and external stakeholders, and managing a utility relocation project on behalf of Fairfax County.
VPRA has an initiative of transforming rail in Virginia by creating a path forward to connecting our communities and increasing economic opportunities through strategic investments in rail. Virginia’s partners in the program include Amtrak, CSX Transportation (CSXT), Norfolk Southern, and Virginia Railway Express (VRE). Meghan asked both Meredith and Sarah how this initiative has influenced or even changed the way they both lead and work on projects. Meredith stated that she is new to the construction industry and safety is a constant message with standards that are required to be met. Sarah stated that from a construction perspective, you have to lead by example to make sure all employees get home safely each day.
Meghan asked Meredith and Sarah to elaborate on their skills that became most important to them as they moved into senior leadership. Sarah said that soft skills are important and learning from a leader, whether they did it right or wrong is vital. Meredith stated that learning how to delegate to those who you trust is a great skill and also to identify what people are best at and have a passion for doing.
Next, Meredith was asked about her time volunteering with WTS as she served on the WTS-DC Board from 2011 to 2015, first as the Professional Development Chair and later as Treasurer. She said that WTS is a place where she has gained lifelong friends and peers in the industry.
In closing, Meghan asked both Meredith and Sarah from where they sit now, what would make our industry better at developing the next generation of leaders — especially women? Sarah stated that it is important to gain exposure within the industry and VPRA does a great job of having a full staff from different professional backgrounds. Meredith stated that trusting your team to get the job done is key as well as offering flexibility.
The event concluded with a Q&A session from the audience based on professional and personal experiences of the panelists and advice for transportation professionals.
The WTS-DC Chapter would like to thank the event moderator, Meghan Powell, and panelists Meredith Judy and Sarah Hoover, as well as VPRA for hosting us! A special thank you to DJ Stadtler, Matt Jett, and Mary Estelle Douglas for helping coordinate the event and day-of logistics.
