Jerry Guaracino

About Jerry Guaracino

When I began my career in transit engineering at SEPTA over two decades ago, I didn’t fully realize I was stepping into a lifelong calling. What started as a mechanical engineering role grew into a 20-year journey across every mode of public transportation — bus, rail, subway, trolley, and commuter rail — teaching me that great transit isn’t just about vehicles and infrastructure. It’s about the people who depend on it every single day.Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of leading teams, managing complex fleets, and tackling challenges that tested both my technical skills and my ability to bring people together. At WMATA, I oversaw more than 1,400 vehicles and large scale multi-million dollar budgets, but the numbers only tell part of the story. The real work was building trust with my teams, holding ourselves to the highest safety and performance standards, and never losing sight of the riders counting on us.Today, as Chief Safety Officer at Caltrain, I carry every lesson from those years with me. I’m leading safety strategy during one of the most exciting periods in the agency’s history — electrified operations, new technology at grade crossings, and deep collaboration with partner agencies across the corridor. It’s a role that demands both the technical foundation I built over two decades and the leadership perspective that only comes with experience.I also remain committed to giving back to the industry as Chairman of APTA’s Bus Technical Maintenance Committee, helping shape standards and best practices that benefit transit agencies nationwide.Public transit has given me a career full of purpose. It connects communities, creates opportunity, and moves millions of people toward their goals — literally and figuratively. After 25 years, my passion for this work has only grown stronger.To every transit professional out there doing the work -thank you. The work matters, and so do you.

Experience

1. Chief Safety Officer

   Caltrain

   Jan 2026 — Present · San Francisco, CA, US

   As Chief Safety Officer at the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (Caltrain), I provide executive leadership for safety, security, and regulatory compliance across one of the Bay Area’s critical commuter rail systems. My responsibilities include developing and implementing system-wide safety policies, overseeing regulatory compliance (FRA/FTA/OSHA), and fostering a proactive safety culture across the organization.Key focus areas include deploying advanced grade crossing safety technology, developing safety protocols for Caltrain’s electrified operations, coordinating threat and vulnerability assessments, and partnering with federal law enforcement on system security. I work closely with corridor partner agencies — including California High-Speed Rail, VTA, Amtrak, and ACE to ensure safety is embedded in multi-agency projects and long-range planning.I bring over 20 years of progressive transit leadership spanning bus, rail, subway, trolley, and commuter rail operations, most recently serving as Chief Engineer at WMATA.

Education

• Temple University

  Bachelor of Science (BS), Mechanical Engineering

Skills

• Project Planning
• Program Management
• Efficiency Studies
• Customer Service
• Return on Investment
• Engineering/Technology
• Transit Operations
• Rail
• Financial Responsibility
• Strategic Planning
• Engineering
• Leadership/Motivation
• Team Building
• Management
• Process Engineering
• Time Study
• Roi Analysis
• Public Transport
• Hybrid Technology
• Transportation
• Railway
• Financial Responsibilities
• Strategic Business Planning
• Operations Management
• Leadership
• Budgets
• Transportation Planning
• Quality Assurance
• Outstanding Interpersonal Communication Skills