A leader in Metro Transit’s efforts to expand light rail in the Twin Cities has been recognized as one of the transit industry’s top young professionals.
Joan Hollick, who is serving as the interim director of Metro Transit’s New Starts program, is included on Mass Transit magazine’s annual Top 40 Under 40 list. The magazine published its tenth annual list of top professionals this week.
Hollick joined Metro Transit in 2015 as a deputy project director for the Green Line Extension. In this role, she was responsible for the budget, grants, environmental agreements and data management, among other areas.
She was named interim director of Metro Transit’s New Starts program following the retirement of Deputy General Manager Mark Fuhrmann. As interim director, Hollick is overseeing both the Green Line Extension and Blue Line Extension projects.
The Green Line Extension will bring light rail from Minneapolis to Eden Prairie. Construction on what will be the largest public works project in state history is set to begin later this year. Service is scheduled to begin in 2023.
The Blue Line Extension will bring light rail from Minneapolis to Brooklyn Park.
Hollick grew up in south Minneapolis, in a neighborhood that would later be served by the METRO Blue Line. She earned her undergraduate degree at Loyala University and a master’s in public policy and administration at Northwestern University.
After three years with the Chicago Transit Authority, she returned to Minnesota to work on the Green Line Extension.
“When I came home to visit, I could see how dramatically the neighborhood had changed for the better since the Blue Line opened in 2004,” she said. “Joining the Green Line Extension project was an incredible opportunity to leverage my experience in transit and make a positive impact on my community.”
While there have been challenges, Hollick has remained optimistic about bringing additional light rail service to the Twin Cities.
“We have overcome so many obstacles to advance projects that are vital to our region’s growth and sustainability,” she said. “We have achieved many milestones against the odds, and I’m proud to be part of this team.”
Several Metro Transit employees have been included on Mass Transit’s Top 40 Under 40 list over the years. The most recent recipients include Katie Roth, Manager of Bus Rapid Transit Projects, and Assistant Transportation Manager Chang Yang.
Read Mass Transit's profile of Joan Hollick