February 2023 - Virginia Transportation Luncheon
Presentation File & Attendee List
Presentation File
Attendee List
Our Speakers
Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)
Chris Berg - Director, Office of Transportation Sustainability
Chris Berg is the Director of the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) newly established Office of Transportation Sustainability. Chris is supporting VDOT's efforts to lower emissions, increase resilience to flooding and other hazards, and manage habitat across the transportation system. Chris recently led the development of VDOT’s first Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Infrastructure Deployment Plan, providing Virginia with access to over $32M in federal funding to install EV charging stations across the Commonwealth. Chris holds Master’s degrees in Environmental Studies and Public Administration, and previously worked with the Army National Guard on renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives. When not working for a more sustainable future, Chris can be found hiking and kayaking throughout Virginia.
District Department of Transportation (DDOT)
Amanda Stout - Deputy Chief Officer for Project Delivery
Amanda Stout is DDOT’s Deputy Chief Officer for Project Delivery. She provides executive leadership and coordination working across the agency to deliver the Mayor’s priority capital infrastructure projects. Amanda joined DDOT in 2015 as the Special Assistant for Economic Development and then served as the agency’s Deputy Chief of Staff. As the Department’s point person on a portfolio of capital projects, Amanda coordinates with District partners and stakeholders emphasizing the role that transportation plays in creating a more accessible and sustainable city.
Amanda’s career includes both public and private sector experience in the transportation industry, working in local government city halls and at engineering and design firms throughout the Northeast, including positions at STV Incorporated in Baltimore, WSP in New Jersey, Sasaki Associates in Massachusetts, and the Cities of Newton, Somerville, and Boston, Massachusetts. Amanda holds a bachelor’s degree from Williams College, a Master’s Degree in City Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and a certification from the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).
City of Alexandria
Christopher Ziemann, AICP - Transportation Planning Division Chief
Christopher Ziemann has been the Transportation Planning Division Chief in Alexandria, VA for the last six years, which houses many of the City’s efforts related to sustainability and equity. He over sees five programs: long-range planning, the transit program, the bicycle and pedestrian program, regional coordination and development review. These include some high-profile projects such as the West End and Duke Street Transitways, Vision Zero, and Seminary Road Road Diet. Previously, Chris was a Robert Bosch Foundation Fellow working with transit agencies in Hamburg, Germany. He served as the Chicago Bus Rapid Transit Project manager, and as the Ward 2 Transportation Planner at DDOT in DC.
Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA)
Michael McLaughlin - Chief Operating Officer
Michael McLaughlin joined the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) as its Chief Operating Officer (COO) in April of 2021. At VPRA Michael oversees Planning, Programming, and Design & Construction of over $4.5 billion in rail projects. These projects will implement the agreements with CSX, Amtrak, Norfolk Southern, and VRE that will lead to the doubling of State-Supported Amtrak service and increase VRE service, including new late night and weekend service. Virginia is also acquiring over 400 miles of right of way and over 250 miles of track and is constructing over 37 miles of track and bridges in the next decade, including the $2.2 Billion Long Bridge project over the Potomac River.
Previously Michael was the Chief of Rail at DRPT where he oversaw statewide rail planning and passenger and freight programs, and played playing a lead role in the CSX and NS negotiations before moving over to VPRA to continue his work.
Prior to joining DRPT, Michael was the Deputy Chief of Staff at the Chicago Transit Authority, overseeing Planning, Infrastructure, Finance, and Government Relations for the nation’s second largest transit agency. Michael also worked on Capitol Hill for over 12 years as a senior transportation aide to Authorizing and Appropriations committee members in both the House and Senate.
Currently, Michael resides in Mechanicsville, Virginia with his wife Sarah and their six children. He holds his undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa and his Master’s Degree in Public Policy from Indiana University.