Christopher Wallgren is a transportation operations expert, leading multidisciplinary teams in conducting comprehensive reviews of operations, maintenance, safety, and security & emergency management, and developing management plans for these areas. Mr. Wallgren and TRA’s three other principals have a long history with the firm, form its leadership, and are deeply involved in day-to-day work with clients.

Mr. Wallgren is a transit industry leader in the provision of high-quality operations and safety consulting products for the transit industry, with extensive expertise and experience in the development, support, and performance of state safety oversight (SSO) services and collaborative industry efforts. He is focused on creating efficient and practical operations plans that are grounded in safety.

He has supported the development and audit of program standards and procedures for SSO agencies (SSOAs) and independent safety oversight boards for non-FTA fixed guideway systems.  He currently works with SSOAs to meet the expanded requirements for enhanced safety management systems (SMS), and he strives to develop practical work products that deliver measurable safety improvement that are based on his 28 years of experience supporting both SSOAs and transportation providers of all sizes. He supports SSO programs for all modes of rail transportation, including heavy rail systems, modern light rail and streetcar systems, automated peoplemover systems, commuter railroads, and historic trolley operations. Mr. Wallgren understands the complex management, operations, and maintenance needs of small, medium, and large rail and bus transit systems, as well as passenger railroads and other fixed guideway transportation modes. He has served as principal, manager, and researcher on rail and bus safety, operations, and maintenance needs assessments, and he has identified improved business processes that support safe, reliable, and functional transportation options. He works with clients to develop effective messaging to support core transit operations and maintenance functions. In addition to support directly for transit clients, Mr. Wallgren has served as the staff advisor to the APTA Rail Standards Operating Practices Working Group, where he has led representatives from rail transit agencies nationwide in the development of 30 critical standards that deliver consistent approaches to operations at all U.S. rail transit properties. Mr. Wallgren is adept at working with all types of employees involved in O&M, from front-line operators and maintainers to senior management and board members. He understands how to optimize the performance of complex systems.