AECOM Executive Vice President Matt Cummings elected 2017-2018 ARTBA chairman

Washington, D.C. — Matthew (Matt) G. Cummings, P.E., a Philadelphia-based executive vice president with global infrastructure company AECOM, was elected 2017-2018 American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) chairman. The association made the announcement Sept. 19.

Cummings’ career in the transportation construction industry spans 30 years, including 23 years at AECOM. A registered professional engineer in multiple states, he currently leads the firm’s $2 billion transportation business in the Americas, a position he has held since 2014. He is responsible for this business segment’s strategy, growth and financial performance.

Cummings has been a project executive or project manager on a variety of U.S. and international transportation projects, including leading AECOM’s civil infrastructure business in Doha, Qatar, where he was responsible for a $10 billion project portfolio.

His roster of ARTBA volunteer leadership positions includes: senior vice chairman, first vice chairman, Surface Transportation Advisory Council chairman, Planning & Design Division president, ARTBA chair of the AASHTO/AGC/ARTBA Joint Committee, ARTBA Foundation Trustee, and a member of the Strategic Planning Committee and Project 2019 Task Force.  Cummings is also a 2004 graduate of the Young Executive Development Program (YEDP), known today at the Industry Leader Development Program (ILDP).  This program helps develop the next generation of association and industry leaders.

He’s also active in industry groups at the state level, including serving as the 2016-17 president of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Pennsylvania chapter, and a director on the Associated Pennsylvania Constructors (APC) board from 2009 to the present.

Cummings outlined his agenda for the coming year during an annual business meeting of members.

“Most importantly, ARTBA will remain laser-focused on its core mission of ensuring a long-term Highway Trust Fund fix that provides the necessary revenue to help gain future market stability and significant market growth,” Cummings said.

The association will also continue to advocate before Congress and the Trump administration for passage of a major transportation infrastructure plan with special emphasis on new investments in the National Highway Freight Network.

Cummings pledged to push for passage of a multi-year aviation program bill that ensures market growth through increased Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funding and a higher cap on Passenger Facility Charges (PFCs).

ARTBA will continue to work to build a federal regulatory environment conducive to more efficient and safe project delivery, Cummings added.

Cummings said he would personally focus on expanding the number of firms and organizations supporting the “Transportation Makes America Work” lobbying and advocacy communications program to help ensure the industry has the necessary financial resources to achieve its legislative and regulatory goals.

In the safety arena, there are two key initiatives on the agenda.

“Safety training and education have always been core ARTBA competencies,” according to Cummings.  “We will be launching a new Transportation Construction Safety Center to serve as the consolidated home for the many value-added safety services that are available for all industry firms and executives.”

The second key safety priority is to ensure continued recognition and growth of the “Safety Certification for Transportation Project Professionals” (SCTPP) program in its second year by earning American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accreditation.  Cummings will spearhead efforts to promote safety training and certification within the planning and design sector.  To support this initiative, ARTBA will work to incorporate ARTBA’s Online Learning Center (OLC) safety courses into corporate Learning Management Systems of engineering firms.  ARTBA’s OLC courses have recently been approved for Professional Engineers’ Continuing Education (CE) units in Florida, New York and North Carolina.

Finally, Cummings highlighted his plans to engage ARTBA officers and directors, the Industry Leader Development Council, and the Women Leaders Council to increase “peer-to-peer” membership development outreach. This initiative will target key firms and potential new chapters, and greater leverage programs aimed at developing the industry’s workforce.

Cummings, his wife Susan, and their two children live in suburban Philadelphia.