Allegra: A Leading Star In Utah's Transit Renaissance

Engineer's ideas and energy shape success of state's booming rail work

Contemplating the 150 miles of transit that will span Wasatch Front by 2015 up from zero at the beginning of the millenium Mike Allegra says, “This is a dream come true. I don’t know how much luckier I can get.”

UTA Allegra talks to local officials aboard Utah’s new commuter rail line.

The 55-year-old New Jersey native serves as assistant general manager for Utah Transit Authority, which has seen an initially skeptical region now clamoring for more transit. That’s no small feat in a conservative city, notes William Millar, president of the American Public Transportation Association.

What helped was the fact that UTA has built the first 60 miles and two projects under budget, ahead of schedule and with innovative incentive programs credited to Allegra that give stakeholders the ability to “grade” contractors on how well they respond to concerns during construction. Also, “Mike is a genius when approaching the feds for earmarks,” notes John Inglish, UTA general manager.

Multimedia  View Award of Excellence Luncheon and Acceptance Speech of Mike Allegra   April 3, 2008

Kevin McFall, project director for the joint venture construction manager/general contractor Stacy and Witbeck Inc., San Francisco, and Herzog Contracting Corp., St. Joseph, Mo., calls Allegra a “leading star” and “driving force”in the transit construction boom of the Wasatch Front. Allegra helped push for Salt Lake City to host the 2000 Winter Olympics, an event that spurred the initial light rail line. With engineering degrees from Rutgers and Virginia Tech, he believes transit is in a renaissance nationwide. “People are in a basic mood for more and better transportation,”he says.

That 150 miles of rail by 2015 is just the tip of the iceberg, promises Allegra. “We have a long-range plan for substantially more rail and bus rapid-transit improvements. Twenty-five years from now, we expect to have enough rail and BRT so that 90% of the population of the Wasatch Front will be within 1 mile of a major transit station.”