Building Momentum for more Community-Oriented, Resilient and Reliable Urban Transit through the power of Technology and Collaboration.
On March 31, 2025, the inaugural U.S. edition of Twin Talks brought together 50 infrastructure leaders at Accenture’s breathtaking Innovation Hub at One Manhattan West for a standing room only, high-impact conversation on the future of urban mobility. Set against the backdrop of New York’s rapidly evolving mobility ecosystem, the evening marked a new chapter in the global Twin Talks series – connecting public and private sector voices around smart, resilient, and people-first transit solutions.
Left to Right: Rory Linehan (Director of Infrastructure Policy Advancement, Bentley Systems), Pat McCoy (CFO, Gateway), Andy Byford (SVP, High Speed Rail, Amtrak) and David Gilford (Head of Policy and Strategic Partnerships, Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners) at Twin Talks NYC.
Accenture’s Elie Dagher and Ken Wasserman kicked off the discussion with framing remarks. The bipartisan Infrastructure, Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) invests a record US$1.2 trillion billion in American infrastructure, almost half going too that invested in new projects. The increase in state and local capital investment as a share of GDP over the past two years is the largest since 1979. New York has directly benefited from over $25 billion of announced investments to date from the IIJA into the state. In New York City, this includes projects such the Gateway Program’s Hudson Tunnel Project, the restoration and maintenance of over 700 bridges, and the rollout of new EV charging infrastructure.
Elie Dagher (EVP, Infrastructure and Capital Projects, Accenture) delivers framing remarks at Twin Talks NYC.
From Vision to Velocity: High-Speed Rail in the U.S.
Andy Byford, Senior Vice President of High-Speed Rail Development at Amtrak, delivered the evening’s keynote with a wide-angle view of where U.S. high-speed rail stands today and what it will take to make it thrive.
Amtrak has one of the largest construction programs in the United States. In 2024 alone, Amtrak executed $4 billion in capital investments. Amtrak’s ridership was growing quickly. The organization is seeking to double ridership by 2040 and reach net zero by 2045. Byford overviewed two of the U.S.’ most promising high-speed corridors, including;
-
- Dallas–Houston: the proposed 240-mile rail line, based on Japanese bullet train technology, would get passengers from Dallas to Houston in less than 90 minutes.
- The Northeast Corridor: the nation’s highest-ridership rail line, where growing demand, economic density, and existing infrastructure improvements are improving train speed, safety, comfort, availability and environmental impact.
Byford stressed that while the investment price tags are high, including an estimated $30 billion for the Dallas to Houston corridor, the costs of inaction are higher. Culturally, he noted, “we need to shift how Americans think about trains” He positioned rail not as an outdated mode, but as a smart, sustainable solution to congestion, climate, and economic growth.
Andy Byford (SVP High Speed Rail, Amtrak) delivers the keynote address on Amtrak’s forward program.
The Gateway to Public-Private Innovation
Patrick McCoy, CFO of the Gateway Development Commission, shared practical insights from one of America’s most urgent transit megaprojects. The Gateway Program’s Hudson Tunnel Project will finally deliver fast, reliable rail transportation to hundreds of thousands of daily passengers. The Hudson Tunnel Project will deliver four 21st century rail tracks connecting New York to New Jersey and the rest of the Northeast Corridor, demonstrating the power of multi-jurisdictional collaboration, including:
- 70% of funding secured from the federal government and the remaining 30% from New York, New Jersey, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ).
- A modular delivery model with 10 contract packages to increase flexibility and market interest.
- Over 20,000 jobs already being created by active construction, with a projected total of 95,000 by the time the project is complete.
Crucially, McCoy highlighted that partnering with the private sector wasn’t optional – it was essential. The Gateway team built models of cooperation to get projects over the line, particularly through the use of Delivery Partner (DP) contracts.
Pat McCoy (CFO, Gateway), shares the financial innovations that have helped to deliver Gateway despite global challenges for mega-projects
Insights from the Intersection: Moderated by David Gilford
Guiding the conversation was David Gilford, Head of Policy and Strategic Partnerships at Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners (SIP).
A longtime leader at the intersection of technology, cities, and infrastructure, David brought both depth and curiosity to the dialogue, linking the speakers’ insights with broader urban innovation trends.
David helps SIP’s companies scale breakthrough infrastructure solutions, including projects like Cavnue’s smart roads that use technology to improve safety, reliability, and efficiency for autonomous and traditional vehicles alike on highways from Michigan to Texas. His experience working with city governments, technologists, and investors lent the discussion the trademark Twin Talks mix of pragmatism, ambition, collaboration, and optimism.
David Gilford (Head of Policy and Strategic Partnerships, Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners) moderates questions from the audience during Twin Talks NYC.
Inspiration at the Reception
The evening closed with a reception and a preview of the American Society of Civil Engineer’s (ASCE) documentary, “Cities of the Future,” developed in partnership with MacGillivray Freeman Films, and presented by ASCE’s Managing Director, Grants and Business Development, Lindsay O’Leary.
The film takes audiences on a captivating journey into the possibilities and challenges of urban life 50 years from now. The film showcases the exciting innovations engineers are working on right now to help meet the challenges of a changing world. Solar energy that powers entire cities, smart buildings and greener infrastructure to keep us cool and travel on aerial highways in individualized pods that run on little or no energy.
Lindsay O’Leary (Managing Director of Grants and Business Development, American Society of Civil Engineers) previews their new documentary “Cities of the Future”.