Christian Goepel

About

Christian J. “Chris” Goepel is Vice President, Freight Rail Market Sector Leader, and Strategic Advisor for HDR. He assists public and private clients through the study, development, and implementation of freight and passenger railroad transportation and network plans, services, and prioritized investments that target rail infrastructure, safety, capacity, access, and connectivity. Chris brings robust strategic expertise in freight and passenger railroad operations on shared use corridors, safety, facilities, markets, regulations, and policy, as well as railroad service and infrastructure design, public projects, multi-party coordination, and funding opportunities. He frequently leads strategic railroad and agency coordination and planning during the development of public projects, state and regional rail planning, and other transformative freight and passenger rail projects and initiatives. Chris has deep railroad project experience in North America (including in the Chicago Area, where he originally hails from) and working relationships with decision-makers at Class I, II, and III railroads and federal, state, and local public agencies.

Chris’ industry experience before HDR includes a decade managing operations, marketing, and strategic planning for U.S. railroads. He is passionate about a proactive and collaborative approach to rail project development that considers the needs and requirements of public and private stakeholders, engages communities, mitigates potential risks, optimizes benefits and value, catalyzes consensus, and identifies opportunities to develop projects in a synergistic and mutually beneficial fashion.