Rising Stars 2026: Justin Smith

Justin Smith, 29 
Senior construction manager
MTA Construction & Development — Long Island Rail Road Business Unit

Nominator’s quote: “Justin is entrusted with infrastructure carrying region-wide operational implications — from protecting Long Island’s primary rail freight corridor to directing inspection oversight across 1,200+ assets and informing multi-cycle capital strategy. He is not simply managing projects — he is stewarding the structural future of one of the nation’s most complex commuter rail systems.” — Daniel Knote, MTA Construction & Development — Long Island Rail Road Business Unit

Education: Bachelor of Science, construction management engineering technology, SUNY Farmingdale; certified construction manager; project management professional.

Job responsibilities: Since late 2022, I have primarily managed LIRR’s decennial structural inspection program, helping evaluate and prioritize rehabilitation and replacement needs across a large and diverse portfolio of critical infrastructure assets throughout the LIRR system while continuing to lead and coordinate ongoing design and rehabilitation initiatives.

Through both the inspection program and broader Line Structures initiatives, I routinely coordinate between engineering, operations, maintenance and consultants to help evaluate long-term infrastructure needs while balancing the operational realities of one of the busiest commuter rail systems in North America.

I also currently serve as project CEO on multiple major infrastructure initiatives, including the design-build replacement of the Fresh Pond Yard Bridge, where I oversee project delivery, stakeholder coordination, design integration, risk management and construction execution for one of the largest truss bridges within the LIRR inventory. 

Briefly describe your career path. 
My career began in the private sector construction industry while attending college, where I worked on structural repairs within the Grand Central Terminal train shed and later advanced into project management within a commercial tile and stone company.

In 2019, I joined LIRR as a project management trainee. In 2021, my department transitioned to MTA Construction & Development – Long Island Rail Road Business Unit, where I advanced into my current role as senior construction manager, leading complex bridge, tunnel, viaduct, and structural rehabilitation programs within an active and operationally constrained railroad environment.

What was your first job and what did you learn from it?
Throughout college, I worked for a contractor performing structural steel and concrete repairs within the Grand Central Terminal train shed, including reinforcing portions of the roof structure beneath Park Avenue. It was my first exposure to the MTA environment and gave me an early understanding of the pace, complexity and responsibility that comes with working in active rail operations.

From that experience, I learned the importance of accountability, teamwork and communication — especially when coordinating work around ongoing operations. I also learned that I thrive in fast-paced, problem-solving environments and enjoy being part of projects that have a lasting impact on the public.

What sparked your interest in the rail industry? What told you it could be a place for you to thrive?
My father spent his career working on infrastructure and rail construction projects across the East Coast before eventually working throughout the New York metropolitan area.

Growing up around that environment gave me a great appreciation for the scale, complexity and long-term impact of transportation infrastructure. As I entered the industry myself, I quickly realized rail was a unique challenge because construction has to be executed while keeping critical passenger and freight operations moving safely and reliably.

I found that a fast-paced problem-solving environment is incredibly rewarding and it became clear early on that rail infrastructure was where I wanted to build my career. I’ve always been drawn to the idea of rehabilitating and modernizing structures that have existed long before us and will continue serving the public long after we’re gone.

What’s one of the most valuable lessons you’ve learned so far in your career?
That successful projects are built on communication and collaboration just as much as technical expertise.

In rail construction, every project requires coordination between engineering, operations, maintenance, consultants, and stakeholders — often within active operating environments where there is little room for error. Early on, I realized that the ability to listen, communicate clearly, and build trust across different teams is often what determines whether a project succeeds.

That lesson has shaped the way I approach both project management and leadership, especially when mentoring younger professionals entering the industry.

What are your passions outside of work?
I enjoy cooking, grilling and all things barbecue. I’ve always enjoyed the process-oriented side of it — experimenting with different techniques, trying new recipes, and spending time outdoors around the grill and smoker with family and friends.

I also enjoy working with my hands, whether it’s small repairs around the house or larger home improvement and renovation projects. My wife and I have essentially rebuilt and transformed nearly every part of our home and property while raising our 2-year-old daughter, which definitely tested our patience, teamwork, and ability to manage controlled chaos.

I also take a lot of pride in maintaining our property and outdoor spaces, especially lawn care and landscaping. For me, those hobbies are a good way to unwind while still keeping my hands busy and working on something tangible.

How do you plan to keep making an impact in your corner of the industry?
By helping modernize and preserve critical rail infrastructure throughout the LIRR and broader MTA system — particularly within the bridge, tunnel and structural programs that directly support both passenger and freight operations.

A major focus of my work has been balancing long-term infrastructure rehabilitation while supporting the mobility demands of the New York metropolitan region, often delivering work with limited outages and minimal service disruption.

I hope to continue taking on larger leadership roles within increasingly complex capital programs while improving collaboration between engineering, operations, and construction teams to help deliver projects safely and efficiently.

I also believe mentoring younger professionals entering the industry is critical, especially as many experienced infrastructure leaders begin retiring across the field. Developing the next generation of project managers and engineers will be just as important as the projects themselves.

What’s the biggest challenge confronting the rail industry today?
Modernizing aging infrastructure while simultaneously expanding capacity within extremely constrained operating and geographic environments. In the New York metropolitan region especially, there is tremendous demand for continued growth and investment in the rail network, but extremely limited physical space to expand.

At the same time, these systems are expected to remain operational and reliable for millions of passengers while continuing to support critical freight movement every day. That means major rehabilitation and capital projects often have to be planned and executed within very limited outage windows, sometimes with only weekends or short-duration track access available.

Balancing the need to maintain existing infrastructure while also expanding and modernizing the system for future generations is an incredibly complex challenge, and one that requires close coordination between engineering, operations, maintenance and construction teams.