Rising Stars 2025: Salina Martin

Salina Martin, 34
Director, Department of Operation Program Delivery
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority

Nominator’s quote: “Salina brings both technical knowledge and practical expertise to the challenging work of maintaining and improving the MBTA's critical rail infrastructure. Beyond her technical contributions, Salina is distinguished by her commitment to mentoring project managers and resident engineers, helping them develop the skills needed to complete projects safely, with high quality standards and within budget constraints.” — Sam Zhou, MBTA

Education: Bachelor of Science in civil engineering, Northeastern University; Master of Business Administration, University of Maine

Job responsibilities: Responsible for managing track and signal infrastructure projects within the MBTA transit system. Focuses on improving the state of good repair across the entire system; works closely with internal and external stakeholders to accelerate critical infrastructure improvements designed to enhance safety, reliability and the overall customer experience. Coordinates teams and manages timelines to ensure projects stay on budget and within scope.

Briefly describe your career path.
I started my early career as a rail engineer for HNTB developing track design plans, specifications and reports. Then, I joined HDR as a rail engineer and was promoted to project manager. My responsibilities included plan production, field inspections, technical reviews, project management, client management, supervising junior engineers and quality management for the New England office.

In 2022, I joined the MBTA as a project manager in the transit-oriented development department and was promoted to a senior project manager. In November 2023, I transitioned to the track improvement program. This was a 14-month program to expedite infrastructure repairs to the transit system to remove 228 speed restrictions. We successfully completed the program, and the team transitioned into the operations project delivery department.

What sparked your interest in the rail industry?
Moving to Boston sparked my interest in the rail industry. As a student, I would take the trains all over the city to explore various neighborhoods. I was introduced to the industry through a friend at Northeastern.

What was your first job and what did you learn from it?
My first job was at a local gym in their daycare center. It taught me the importance of creating a positive and engaging work environment.

What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?
My dedication to board gaming. I love hanging out with friends to play board games and attending board game conventions.

What’s one of the most valuable lessons you’ve learned so far in your career?
Prioritizing and saying “yes” to opportunities that stretch my capabilities. Taking on challenges, even when they feel daunting, has consistently led to greater knowledge, strengthened relationships and ultimately greater success. I've actively leveraged these opportunities to grow my skillset and build a robust professional network.

How do you stay motivated and resilient when things get tough at work, in industry or in life?
To stay motivated, I focus on the progress I'm making and remind myself of the bigger picture. I lean on the support of my loved ones and find strength in knowing that challenges are opportunities for growth.

If you could share a meal with anyone in the world today, who would it be and what would you want to talk about?
If I could spend an evening with [author] Brandon Sanderson, I would be interested in discussing his meticulous world-building and the challenges he's faced during his writing career.

In your view, what is the rail industry’s greatest challenge today?
The biggest challenge facing the rail industry today is a significant and sustained lack of investment, exacerbated by workforce shortages and the accelerating pace of technological change. Years of deferred maintenance, under-investment and a lack of prioritization have created a situation where many railroads are operating at reduced capacity, impacting safety, reliability and the overall customer experience.

The industry's workforce is facing a challenge in attracting younger talent, which needs to be addressed, and we need to proactively adopt new technological solutions to overcome the barriers to progress.