Josh Sikich, AICP

In his own words, Josh aspires to be a “transformational leader” and “savvy communicator.” He seeks to expand those skills by advocating for urban innovation focused on creating sustainable and equitable transportation systems. He is fascinated by, and plans for, the confluence among new transportation technologies, cars, pedestrians, bicyclists, transit, new mobility services and land usage. 

Before joining HDR, Josh put his master’s degrees in civil engineering and city & regional planning from The Ohio State University to good use. As the manager of the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) Transit System Redesign project, Josh led a 40-member team on a $9.4 million, multi-year project to produce COTA’s first system-wide transformation connecting over 100,000 more residents and 100,000 more jobs to frequent, reliable bus transit service. COTA launched its redesigned bus system in May 2017 after the project was completed on schedule and under budget. In an editorial during that time, the Columbus Dispatch newspaper spotlighted the project as a “monumental” task that “succeeded beyond expectations.”  

He works with various clients on scenario planning to future-proof tomorrow’s cities, which includes conducting strategic planning for city governments that are preparing for autonomous and connected vehicles. He has worked on projects across the country (e.g., Florida, Nebraska, Ohio, Tennessee) that lead the way in using transportation technology to improve residents’ lives. For example, his team is creating a tool for the Florida Department of Transportation that helps their state, regional and local governments assess new transit technologies. 

Josh is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners and the U.S. Green Building Council. He has given presentations about the evolution of mobility and the future of transportation to thousands of professionals at events across the country.