Awards

Civil Government Award, American Society of Civil Engineers, 2002
Amtrak President’s Award for State Partner, 2000
Engineering Management Award, Illinois Society of Professional Engineers

Kirk serves as a senior consultant in Hanson’s Springfield headquarters, providing strategic transportation policy, planning and funding expertise within the infrastructure market.

He joined Hanson in 2003 following a distinguished 35-year career with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), where he most recently served as secretary of transportation – the longest-serving secretary in Illinois history. In that role, he was responsible for planning, developing, maintaining, funding and operating a transportation network that is among the most extensive in size and level of service in the nation.

‘GREAT JOB SATISFACTION’“I have made a second career at Hanson because the employees/owners know how to work as team, which allows us to accomplish all aspects of projects successfully – from conception to environmental to engineering to funding to land acquisition and construction. That gives me great job satisfaction and provides a beneficial service to our clients.”

While at IDOT, Kirk also played a key leadership role in regional and national transportation policy, serving as chairman of the Chicago Area Transportation Study and the Chicago Metropolitan Planning Organization from 1991 to 2002, and as a member of the Illinois Tollway board of directors.

At Hanson, Kirk applies his extensive public-sector leadership experience to guide funding strategy, capital planning and grant development efforts. Over the past decade, he has participated in more than 20 successful grant applications for the Springfield Rail Improvements Project, helping secure more than $300 million in federal and state funding for the city of Springfield. He also prepares and monitors the project’s $450 million financial plan.

Kirk has also had crucial involvement in the Q5 Initiative for Springfield’s Quantum Growth Partnership, City of Bloomington Hamilton Road TIGER & RAISE Grant Preparation, Kansas City’s Capital Improvement Program, Macomb City Hall’s Capital Improvement Program, the Moline-Rock Island Metropolitan Rail Study, the Chicago to St. Louis High Speed Rail Tier 1 EIS and UIUC’s IDOT 220 mph High Speed Rail Preliminary Feasibility Study.

He was awarded honorary membership in the Illinois Association of County Engineers and is a lifetime member of the Illinois Public Airports Association and the Illinois Association of Highway Engineers.