Join WTS-Boston in congratulating Jennifer Tabakin as the winner of the WTS-Boston 2021 Innovative Transportation Solutions Award!

Jennifer Tabakin joined the MBTA in May 2019 to serve as program manager for the South Coast Rail (SCR) program.  SCR is one of the largest rail expansions in recent Massachusetts history.  With $1.074 billion in Commonwealth funding, the first phase of South Coast Rail will expand the MBTA commuter rail service from Boston, on the Middleborough / Lakeville Line, to the cities of Taunton, Fall River, New Bedford, and the Southeastern region, benefiting a region of over a half a million people. 

After decades of complex planning and community-decision making, in May 2019, under the Baker – Polito Administration's leadership, South Coast Rail secured $1.074 billion in funding.  By the end of 2020, SCR had awarded $607 million in construction contracts and completed work on schedule and under budget.  Despite the COVID pandemic's challenges, the MBTA awarded another $560M in construction contracts, and has completed $40M of the work, including the reconstruction of culverts, purchased track material, and demolition of twelve buildings.  Construction work is underway to reconstruct 36 miles of track, build six stations, two layovers, and install new signals and communication systems. 

A strong and dedicated team is critical to South Coast Rail's progress, and over the years, women leaders have played a key role in advancing this program.  In addition to Jennifer, women on the SCR team include Kim Dobosz, Jean Fox, Holly Palmgren, and Deena Pierre-Louis from the MBTA; Susan Adamski from VHB; Kimlee Lindgren, Patricia Lyon, Ann Marie Lalli from AECOM; Adriana Echeverri and Madeline Augustine from HDR; Denise Cahill and Lindsey Heffernan from City Point; Shannon Kennedy from Keville; and Nancy Farrell and Emily Christin from Regina Villa Associates.

Jennifer is happy to be a new member of WTS.  With twenty-three years of public sector experience, Jennifer’s prior roles include: town manager of Great Barrington, MA; program manager in Capital Programs at the New York City Office of the Mayor; a program manager in construction oversight and project manager in capital programs budget and administration, both at the NY MTA.  Jennifer earned a Master in Urban Planning from the New York University in 1997, an executive certificate in construction management from Polytechnic University; a graduate certificate in public administration from Suffolk University; a certificate in environmental studies and a BA in history from the University of Wisconsin - Madison.