CA: Parsons Brinckerhoff Names Ashok Kothari Global Projects Director

Ashok Kothari has been named global projects director at Parsons Brinckerhoff.

In his new position, Kothari will provide oversight and guidance to large infrastructure projects being performed by Parsons Brinckerhoff on behalf of clients worldwide. He will also continue to serve as Parsons Brinckerhoff’s project director for the Westside Subway Extension in Los Angeles, a 14.5-kilometer (9-mile) extension of the city’s Purple Line subway from downtown to Westwood. Parsons Brinckerhoff is performing advanced preliminary engineering and engineering management services for the project.

A 38-year veteran of Parsons Brinckerhoff, Kothari, a senior vice president of the firm, has extensive experience in project management.  He has provided guidance and performed peer reviews to Parson Brinckerhoff infrastructure projects throughout the U.S., India,  Australia, and the Middle East. Before directing the firm’s efforts on the Westside Subway Extension, he was Head of Programme Management on the $1.8 billion East London Line Project, which included updating and extending the existing system, adding four new stations, and procuring and managing delivery for rolling stock in time for the 2010 London Olympics.

Prior to his work on the East London Line, Kothari spent 16 years leading the General Engineering Consultant (GEC) joint venture for the $3 billion Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Extensions program in San Francisco.  This assignment included GEC services for phase one of the extension program which added five stations to three lines, supporting BART’s transition to a design-build delivery system during phase 2, the $1.5 billion San Francisco Airport Extension, and the $680 million Warm Springs Extension Project.  He previously managed the project management office for the GEC joint venture overseeing the north, south, and east line extensions, involving 31 miles of rapid rail line, 18 stations and the South Yard, for the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) system.

Kothari received a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Jodhpur University and a master’s degree in structural engineering from Michigan State University.  He is a registered professional engineer in the state of California. His professional affiliations include the American Public Transportation Association.