2024 40 Under 40: Tim Simon

Tim Simon is the associate vice president and Texas/Gulf Coast transit-rail lead at AECOM and has been working in the transit industry since he graduated from the University of Kansas with a master's in architecture and urban planning.  

Simon first discovered his passion for the transit industry while studying abroad in Spain during his undergrad years. He notes that as he began to use transit on his travels, he began to ask himself questions such as, “Who plans transit? How can transit be planned and designed for everyone? How do I learn how to do this?”  

Simon took his first transit job as an entry-level transit service planner and scheduler at the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) in Kansas City, Mo.  

He became dedicated to his work and wanted to go to the heart of transit, forming a kinship with operators during lunch times in the operator breakroom. He took this opportunity to speak with operators and to understand their experiences and develop bus schedules that were safe, reliable and operable. Simon would also take the bus to and from work every day to make himself available to passengers to get their feedback on the current state of transit services.  

He went on to work at Lane Transit District (LTD) in Eugene, Ore., where he engaged with the community to spearhead major transit studies. These initiatives played a major role in maximizing the impact of substantial investments in high-capacity transit, transit-oriented development and enhanced transit services.  

Simon’s efforts and dedication to his work allowed him to come into the consulting world as a transit planner for Alliance Transportation Group (ATG) in Austin, Texas, where he resides today.  

He helped to expand and eventually began to lead the transit practice for ATG. On a local scale, Simon’s commitment to the transit world goes beyond his work at AECOM. He currently serves on the Downtown Austin Alliance Mobility Committee and is a partner for the Mobility + Infrastructure Sector Partnership for Workforce Solutions in Austin. He also serves his neighborhood of Windsor Park’s association as the mobility chair. Additionally, Simon has supported Project Connect in various roles since 2017 and continues to be involved in this transformative project in his backyard.  

His experience includes working as the task manager on the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Orange Line Program NEPA Analysis/Federal Transit Administration Capital Investment Grant Program in Austin, as well as the business line manager on the Austin Transit Partnership, light-rail transit Conceptual Engineering.  

Accomplishment you’re most proud of and why? 

I am most proud of the work I was able to do while I was a service planner at LTD in Eugene. I was able to help with the planning, development and implementation of the West Eugene Express (EmX) bus rapid transit (BRT) Line. The BRT line is now operational and has expanded the robust BRT network in Eugene and I have had the opportunity to ride it with my family. While I lived there, I rode and depended on the EmX— it has been the most rewarding experience of my career to work on this project. 

What is an accomplishment you would like to work towards in your career? 

I look forward to the day I get to take my daughters to ride the Austin Light Rail. I have worked for years with an amazing team, project partners and the community to make light rail a reality for the Austin community. 

Best advice/tip/best practice to share from your area of expertise? 

Learn about every aspect and component of what it takes to put transit service on the street. Understand the experience and point of view of the passenger, CEO, governing board, city, maintenance department, operator, planners, engineers, architects and anyone else involved in the planning, development and delivery of transit.