Joseph Leader Joins STV to Advance High-Performance Rail Programs  

Joseph Leader has joined the firm as vice president and engineering director for its Transportation North operating group.

NEW YORK, NY — With over 30 years of senior leadership experience, Leader has managed inspections, design reviews and testing of emerging railway technologies to ensure resilient and high-performing rail networks.  He has a proven track record of overseeing complex rail operations and driving system-wide performance improvements. His expertise includes heavy and light rail operations, infrastructure management, systems integration and safety oversight, enabling him to lead strategic initiatives, enhance reliability and deliver innovative solutions for transit agencies. 

“Shaping innovative solutions that positively impact communities is at the core of everything we do. Joe’s extensive experience leading public sector transit initiatives and rail operations strengthens our team’s ability to deliver complex, high-performance transportation programs across the region,” said Peter Pappas, PE, senior vice president and district manager for the Transportation North operating group at STV. 

Prior to STV, he helped develop New York City Transit’s (NYCT) FastTrack program, a pioneering effort that sped up overnight maintenance and repair work, increased productivity and reduced service disruptions. As part of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) SafeTrack and performance improvement programs, he led data-driven initiatives that used real-time analysis to boost reliability and achieved record customer satisfaction across the Metrorail system. His work has concentrated on optimizing maintenance approaches, deploying innovative technologies and planning long-term infrastructure projects for agencies such as the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority/NYCT and WMATA. 

Leader holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering from Manhattan College and an Executive Certificate in State and Local Governments from Harvard Kennedy School. He is a member of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA). He also serves on the Oversight and Project Selection Commission for the Transit Cooperative Research Program. 

STV has earned a reputation as a leader in the rail transportation industry, having shaped projects from planning, design, construction management, system startup and operation across the country. In the Northeast, STV has supported essential infrastructure projects, including the modernization of Connecticut’s rail bridges, maintenance facilities for Amtrak’s high-speed rail service and the Sawtooth Bridges Replacement Project, enhancing reliability and capacity along the region’s busiest corridors. 

About STV

STV is one of the top infrastructure-focused professional services firms in North America. Founded in 1912, STV advises, plans, designs, engineers and delivers the infrastructure that powers local economies, including transportation systems, buildings, water and other facilities. Headquartered in New York City, the company has more than 65 offices and 3,300 employees who reimagine the solutions and structures that connect our communities. The firm is ranked 34th in Engineering News-Record’s Top 500 Design Firms survey and is 11th in its transportation category. Learn more at stvinc.com.