2025 Consultant Forum – Virginia in Motion

This year’s Engineering Consultant Forum was honored to receive opening comments from VTCA’s current President, Nater Orders from Orders Construction. Randy Wirt, Chair of the Engineering Consultant Leadership Committee (ECLC) returned this year to highlight the Forum’s theme, “Virginia in Motion – Leading the future of Transportation”, and to provide a charge to the audience. Also making a return visit with a keynote address was Bob Holsworth, DecideSmart, who provided an entertaining assessment of the upcoming gubernatorial election, as well as some insights into various General Assembly contests.  

Alan Saunders from the Department of Rail and Public Transportation and VDOT’s Commissioner Brich kicked off the first general session of the day. Alan reviewed the mission of DRPT and discussed the high-level process that they use to identify, develop, and deliver projects.  The Commissioner’s remarks concentrated on four key initiatives with unique relevance to the consultant industry – Turnkey Design and Lump Sum/Cost-plus Net Fee pilots, the Portfolio Management Approach, and Sustaining Transportation Beyond 2026.  The session was then briefly interrupted for a special awards recognition.  Chuck Wall from (VTCA member company) Seyfarth and representing ARTBA’s P3 Board presented Commissioner Brich with the Trailblazer of the Year award for his “outstanding contribution to, and consistent advocacy for,” transportation Public Private Partnerships.   

The morning was concluded with Divisional updates from VDOT leaders from Cost Estimation, Civil Rights, and Local Assistance. Mitch Ball provided an agency estimating performance overview and discussed upcoming and ongoing Estimating initiatives.  Queen Crittendon addressed DBE/SWaM program status and provided updates on DBE goal setting and the Bentley software licensing program (for DBE’s), which will officially end on December 1st, 2026.  Finally, Terry Short quickly reviewed the programs his division manages, provided an update on the Locality Sustained Performance Program, and offered a preview of the upcoming Local Programs Workshop in Norfolk – September 16-18. 

Jason Robinson, Infrastructure Investment Division, kicked the afternoon off by unpacking the Portfolio Management approach introduced earlier in the day by the Commissioner.  The afternoon then transitioned into two conversations.  The first, which happened before break, featured contributions from Dave Covington (VDOT I-81 Program Manager), Rob Williams (VDOT TMPD), and Brian McPeters (Kimley-Horn).  Their conversation provided an inventory of current & upcoming I-81 projects, a discussion of how future improvement projects would be identified and then wrapped up with several lessons learned. Kathleen Linehan and Randy Wirt tag-teamed to close the first afternoon session with presentation of this year’s Transportation Engineering Awards.  The Grand Prize winner for Design-Bid Build projects was the Belmont Bridge Replacement by Kimley-Horn.  The Grand Prize for Design-Build projects and Overall Winner was Albemarle Intersection Improvements Bundling Project by Wallace Montgomery. 

The last conversation of the day was led by Kathleen Linehan, Alpha Corporation and ECLC’s most-recent representative on VTCA’s Board of Directors.  Kathleen welcomed Alison Black and Lauren Schapker from ARTBA to discuss infrastructure investment.  Alison, ARTBA’s Lead Economist, spoke to national trends in investment and construction cost.  Lauren, Vice President for Legislative Affairs, spoke to the timeline and key legislative players on the path to reauthorization (of the federal highway bill). The day ended with a final networking reception from 4:30 until 6. 

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