Talk: Transitioning Northeast Illinois commuter rail to zero-emissions

The debut Urban Transportation Center Seminar Series presentation for the fall 2025 semester will center on opportunities to transition commuter rail from diesel to electric service though the lenses of regional long range planning in Northeast Illinois. Our featured speakers will provide insight into peer electrification efforts, the Regional Transportation Authority’s role in a

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Speakers

Maulik Vaishnav, Senior Deputy Executive Director of Planning and Capital Programming, Regional Transportation Authority

Vaishnav is charged with leading Transit is the Answer, the Regional Transportation Authority’s regional transportation strategic plan. Previously, he was vice president of innovation at Chicago Transit Authority and led the agency’s Meeting the Moment action plan, customer experience and marketing strategy. During his 11-year tenure at Chicago Transit Authority, he has worked in or overseen ridership analytics, market research, strategic planning, budget, revenue, business development and fare policy teams. He also served as a transportation policy advisor at the City of Chicago mayor’s office from 2019 to 2022, where he helped advance a strategic plan for transportation, a forward-thinking ground transportation tax surcharge on downtown ride-hail trips, temporary pandemic bus lanes, transportation goals for the climate action plan and a vision for trails and open spaces.

David Kralik, Director of Planning and Programming, Metra Commuter Rail

Kralik is the director of planning and programming at Metra. He leads Metra’s efforts in station area, corridor and strategic planning as well as capital programming and discretionary grant pursuits. He led the development of Metra’s recently adopted strategic plan, My Metra, Our Future, and is currently leading the development of Metra’s systemwide network plan to implement the regional rail vision laid out in the strategic plan. He has served in various capacities at Metra since 2002 and holds bachelor’s degrees in physics and mathematics from Washington University and master’s degrees in mathematics and urban planning and policy from the University of Illinois Chicago.