One word to describe yourself: Malleable
Alma Mater: University of Florida
Fast fact about yourself: My favorite restaurant is Cracker Barrell.
What’s your best experience on transit and what made it memorable? One of my first trips in Orlando, Fla., at LYNX. Watching people utilize the bus for work and medical trips was my introduction to the value of public transportation.
From his early roles as a civil engineer trainee at Gammon India to his current position as director of transit planning at Palm Tran, Yash Nagal, PMP, has consistently shown a strong work ethic and commitment to advancing transit services. Nagal has overseen various initiatives, including service planning, strategic planning and project development, leading to tangible improvements in transit services and customer experience.
Nagal has spearheaded projects such as Route Performance Maximization 2.0, introducing first and last-mile services, and Transit Signal Priority System-Wide Implementation, leveraging technology to enhance transit operations.
He is involved in the American Public Transportation Association’s Emerging Leaders Program and actively engages with industry peers, participates in mentoring programs and contributes to the advancement of public transportation through research and project management expertise.
Colleagues say Nagal’s "Trifecta" Leadership Style emphasizes servant, transformational and coaching approaches, fostering a collaborative and supportive work environment.
Is there a specific experience that led you to where you are today?
As an Indian immigrant to the United States, I was an early adopter of public transportation. When I moved to a new country, public transportation was the only way for me to get to college, do my internship and see my friends. It gave me access to education, employment and recreation. Access to opportunities is a vital part of a prosperous life. As millions of individuals move to this country, it gives me great joy to create more mobility options and life opportunities as I continue to serve in the public transportation industry.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
Creating access to opportunities for people in need through transportation improvements. I enjoy public service and the fact that I can create opportunities for people to improve their lives. I consider myself a product of public transportation, and working in this field is my way of giving back.
What’s the most challenging part of your job?
Public Transportation in the United States is a fairly underutilized resource. It can potentially resolve and mitigate several key societal concerns like income disparity and climate change through its increased adoption. Unfortunately, communicating the value of public transportation in communities has been a hard sell. Several cities and counties are severely underfunded compared to roadway improvements.
While roadway improvements are necessary based on our travel behaviors and habits, they can often be unsustainable in addressing congestion. Public transportation advocacy continues to be a significant challenge, especially in areas where frequent transit is unavailable. Due to low frequencies and land use misalignments, the systems continue to underperform and face even more threats of service reductions. To grow transit ridership and usage, we must build a frequent and reliable system that the public can trust.
Accomplishment you’re most proud of and why?
My most proud accomplishment has been surrounding myself with a team of dedicated public servants who continuously improve public transportation and the community. I am incredibly grateful to see them grow and am excited for the future.
What is an accomplishment you would like to work towards in your career?
Making public service “cool” again. I believe that people are the foundation of any community or movement. Public service, especially public transportation, is an enriching, mission-oriented career where people can go home daily feeling great and knowing they made the world better. I want to continue to get more talented, intelligent individuals involved in public transportation and allow them opportunities for training and growth. To improve public transportation, we must hire and retain passionate people with a common goal.
Best advice/tip/best practice to share from your area of expertise?
Don’t be afraid to fail. Try to make changes but reserve the right to change your opinion. Communicate as much as possible to break down the barriers. Getting people to understand the value of public transportation will require us to think from several different perspectives. It has something for everyone but it’s up to us to make them see. It might not be our fault but it is our responsibility.
