Atta has more than two decades of public and private sector experience as an industry expert in rail, streetcar, and bus rapid transit project planning, design, program management, and construction management. Active in the industry, Atta participates in organizations such as the Community Streetcar Coalition, the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials, and the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). He is an alumnus of the Leadership APTA development program.
Before joining HDR, Atta worked as the City of Atlanta’s Deputy Chief Operating Officer, where he was pivotal in shaping and executing the city’s infrastructure strategy. His purview encompassed diverse departments, including Watershed Management, Transportation, City Planning, Department of Enterprise, and Asset Management, as well as oversight of key entities such as MARTA and Atlanta Beltline Inc.
His previous consulting work included various roles in the development and delivery of complex infrastructure programs, including Atlanta’s first BRT system, first streetcar system, and State of Good Repair program. Atta began his civil engineering career in the U.K., where he worked on the Network Rail Asset Management program and the Channel Tunnel (now HS1) Rail Link Contract 342.
"Kwadwo brings a breadth of global experience in leading critical transit development," HDR Global Transit Director Matt Tucker said. "His extensive work in successfully overseeing the planning and implementation of large transportation projects will be invaluable as communities continue to invest in transit solutions."
