WSP has appointed Coral Torres Cruz, EIT, as the senior vice president of grant strategy and development services. Previously serving as chief of staff to the Under Secretary of Transportation at the U.S. Department of Transportation, Torres Cruz brings significant expertise to her new role.
In her position at WSP, Torres Cruz will lead the grants strategy and development group within Advisory and Planning. This unit specializes in assisting clients throughout the process of planning, preparing, and managing competitive grants from various governmental sources. Her team will directly engage with both public and private organizations across the nation to identify funding opportunities and oversee grant management, including agreement processes, compliance, and final close-outs.
Jannet Walker-Ford, the business line executive for WSP’s Advisory and Planning, praised Torres Cruz’s extensive background, which encompasses 16 years of federal government experience. She highlighted Torres Cruz’s unique insight into the grant application process, evolved comprehension of pressing issues, and sensitivity to environmental and equity concerns—qualities that are invaluable to clients seeking funding for infrastructure projects.
During her career, Torres Cruz has held pivotal positions such as chief of staff for Under Secretaries Carlos Montje Jr. and Christopher Coes, where she provided strategic policy advice with a focus on climate and equity initiatives under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Her oversight of the implementation of $660 billion in federal funds contributed to over 50,000 infrastructure projects nationwide.
Torres Cruz’s resume includes roles as a senior advisor for the Federal Highway Administration and as a senior sustainability officer for the White House Council on Environmental Quality, where she championed executive orders promoting greenhouse gas emission reductions.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Puerto Rico and a master’s degree in transportation engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
WSP’s Advisory and Planning division plays a critical role in securing funding opportunities for infrastructure development, having successfully helped clients obtain nearly $24.3 billion from the BIL since its inception in 2021. By integrating financial feasibility at the outset, WSP aims to transform thorough transportation analyses into impactful investments across federal, state, and local levels.
This leadership change at WSP not only emphasizes the firm’s commitment to enhancing infrastructure funding strategies but also reflects a broader dedication to sustainability and equitable solutions in transportation. With Torres Cruz’s leadership, WSP is well-positioned to make significant strides in alleviating funding challenges, thereby boosting the infrastructure landscape in the United States.