The Transit Sustainability Changemaker

Andrina Dominguez’s passion for transit stems from its inherently sustainable mission, which inspires her daily commitment to her work at WSP.

United States | Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Reading Time : 3:43 minutes

Andrina Dominguez, Assistant Vice President with WSP’s Climate Resilience and Sustainability group, grew up in the vibrant city of San Francisco, where she experienced accessible public transit and a strong culture of sustainability. She learned the importance of recycling early on and didn’t get her driver's license until her mid-20s. This shaped her worldview and guided her career and personal life. After moving to Los Angeles, she noticed the movement to expand access to public transit, which inspired her to share her experiences and advocate for sustainable transportation.

What are some of the biggest challenges today that you're trying to resolve in the work that you do at WSP?

Our group focuses on tackling climate change in various impactful ways. This includes working with clients to understand the greatest sources of their emissions and developing strategies to reduce their environmental impact. We also conduct assessments to pinpoint at-risk communities and properties, and work on solutions to alleviate those risks. Additionally, we develop strategic sustainability plans that help agencies envision their role in the region and turn that vision into reality.

Tackling climate change is inherently a hard pill to swallow, because the science is so rapidly evolving and complex. Translating these concepts to everyday folks who are just trying to catch a train, or bus can be really challenging. However, I find joy and inspiration in trying to take all the brilliant work that's happening within the climate change science space and translating this work into relatable terms, showing how it connects to real life. While it’s a challenging topic, I’m motivated every day to contribute to climate solutions.

Andrina presenting at the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Sustainability/Operations Planning and Scheduling Workshop in Washington, D.C., on the topic of Climate Impact Assessments.

Andrina Dominguez

Assistant Vice President, Climate Resilience and Sustainability Group

United States

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I remind myself that we’re not just building bridges, roadways or transit lines for their own sake; we’re creating connections for people and communities. Our goal is to ensure that facilities are safe, sustainable and accessible for everyone.

What are some impactful projects that you've been a part of during your time at WSP?

One of the most intense yet rewarding projects I worked on was supporting the City of New York with updating their strategic climate plan. This effort went beyond just revisions; we delved deep into identifying the necessary policy changes to prepare the city of New York for climate challenges. I collaborated with team members to pinpoint facilities that could be used as resilience hubs, providing resources before, during and after an emergency event. We also explored appropriate flood standards for the city’s coastline and shoreline.

In just four months, we compiled all this information into an interesting narrative that resonated with community members, property owners, renters and transit riders. This project really speaks to the power of WSP and to the commitment of our team to get things done. We were able to do that because we had a large, multidisciplinary team and lots of really brilliant minds collaborating and working together.

Andrina leading a tour of LA Metro during the 2023 Climate Leadership Conference and Awards in Los Angeles, California.

What do you enjoy most about working at WSP?

What I enjoy about WSP, particularly my team, is that I’m rarely told “no.” It’s really refreshing to enter a room —whether virtual or in-person — and share an idea and be met with enthusiasm and curiosity, like, “That's interesting; tell me more,” or “How would you execute that?” It’s astounding that no matter how niche the question or challenge that comes up on a project, I can always find someone with the expertise to help. I've met so many amazing colleagues across the world; creating a network of resources and friends that I can rely on for various projects. It's been wonderful to foster this organic network of like-minded professionals.

WSP puts people and community at the center of our purpose as an organization and the work that we deliver. How does or can the work you do positively impact the community that WSP serves?

In project meetings, I remind myself that we’re not just building bridges, roadways or transit lines for their own sake; we’re creating connections for people and communities. Our goal is to ensure that facilities are safe, sustainable and accessible for everyone. While it’s easy to get lost in the technical details of climate science and risk analytics, it’s important to keep asking who benefits from this project and who will be impacted if we don’t act?

This mindset is crucial in our climate resilience work, guiding us to prioritize those in greatest need when making recommendations. I also appreciate how our team actively embraces diverse perspectives, which strengthens our resilience efforts. For instance, a colleague shared their insights on Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility based on their own experiences, highlighting the importance of inclusivity. It’s gratifying to be part of a culture where everyone feels comfortable sharing their unique insights, knowing they enhance and inform our work.

Translating these concepts to everyday folks who are just trying to catch a train or bus - can be really challenging. However, I find joy and inspiration in trying to take all the brilliant work that's happening within the climate change science space and translating this work into relatable terms, showing how it connects to real life.

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The Transit Sustainability Changemaker

What are some of the biggest challenges today that you're trying to resolve in the work that you do at WSP?

Related themes and tags

What are some impactful projects that you've been a part of during your time at WSP?

What do you enjoy most about working at WSP?

WSP puts people and community at the center of our purpose as an organization and the work that we deliver. How does or can the work you do positively impact the community that WSP serves?

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International

Americas

Africa

Asia

Europe

Middle East

Oceania

The Transit Sustainability Changemaker

What are some of the biggest challenges today that you're trying to resolve in the work that you do at WSP?

Related themes and tags

Changemakers (52)

What are some impactful projects that you've been a part of during your time at WSP?

What do you enjoy most about working at WSP?

WSP puts people and community at the center of our purpose as an organization and the work that we deliver. How does or can the work you do positively impact the community that WSP serves?

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The Water Alternative Delivery Changemaker

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