- One word to describe yourself: Tenacious
- Alma Mater: Indian Institute of Technology – Kharagpur/University of Cincinnati
- Favorite book: “The Power of Habit” by Charles Duhigg
- Favorite TV show: “House of Cards” and “The Amazing Race”
- Favorite movie: “My Cousin Vinny”
- Favorite hobby): Tennis
- Fun fact about yourself: I love to collect transit maps/schedules from all over the world.
- What is your favorite transit system (outside of the one you work for or have worked for!) and why?: New York City Subway – It’s incredibly easy to understand, use and navigate.
Abhishek Dayal got his undergraduate degree in architecture but quickly realized urban planning and city planning were where his passion is. With planning being all encompassing, potentially impacting how people travel through a community and how development patterns are impacted.
In 2005 Dayal went to Valley Metro, when the capital program — light rail in particular — was in its infancy stage. In November they broke ground on the initial line so he had the opportunity to work on several projects from beginning to implementation.
Dayal began his career at Valley Metro as an entry-level planner in 2005. He rose through the ranks and currently leads the agency’s efforts to implement seven high-capacity transit projects to create a 66-mile regional rail system.
As the manager for capital planning in the Capital and Service Development Division, he is responsible for directing, managing and coordinating transit corridor and facility development planning activities.
Working with consultants, he recently transitioned key Valley Metro visions like the Gilbert Road Light Rail Extension, 50th Street Light Rail Station, Tempe Streetcar, South Central Light Rail Extension and the Northwest Light Rail Extension Phase 2 from planning to final design. Together, these projects total $1.42 billion in design and construction costs.
Dayal saw the potential of an agency-wide enterprise GIS (geographic information systems) system having an impact throughout Valley Metro and drafted a 3-year strategic plan. He fought through opposition, made a case to all of the agency departments and convinced management and got the project started. He worked with a consultant to create a training program, got a budget approved to enhance and expand the GIS program, developed a GIS working group and a few years later they even hired a full-time GIS administrator. Bringing those skill sets in house has saved them money.
Dayal currently sits on the COMTO Arizona board.
“The biggest challenge really is to get everyone on the same page to move a project in a timely fashion and on budget.”
“Our industry is really small … make sure you establish good contacts. You never know where you’ll land or where others might land and how you might have to work with them. Continue to establish good contacts and do a lot of networking.”
