COMTO Member Spotlight

SOUND TRANSIT

Linneth Riley-Hall

Executive Project Director

Linneth Riley-Hall is bringing one of the Puget Sound region’s most significant transit expansions to completion as Executive Project Director for Sound Transit’s Federal Way Link Extension. This 7.8-mile design-build (DB) project extends light rail from the existing Angle Lake Station to the Federal Way Downtown Station and includes the construction of three stations and parking garages, expanding regional transit access for communities across South King County.

Prior to this role, Linneth held several other roles at Sound Transit including Everett Link Extension Project Director of Planning and Development and the Manager of Design and Construction Contracts, responsible for the planning, procurement, administration, and close-out of complex architectural, engineering, and construction contracts, including design-build (DB) and general contractor/construction manager (GC/CM) procurement for capital construction projects related to heavy rail, light rail, systems, and facilities. Linneth also served as the Deputy Chief of Staff to Sound Transit CEO Peter Rogoff when her journey with COMTO began at the founding of the WA Chapter. Collectively, these roles gave Linneth deep and well-rounded experience in public works delivery, including executive administration, planning, procurement, alternative project delivery methods, contract administration, and construction oversight.

Linneth’s career in public works delivery started at the City of Seattle, where for nearly a decade, Linneth managed the solicitation, award, execution, and close-out of the City’s public works contracts and administered the City’s small business and DBE programs. She developed rules, policies, and procedures governing small business and DBE utilization, as well as alternative public works delivery methods including GC/CM, design-build, and Job Order Contracting (JOC). Her experience at the City of Seattle played a formative role in shaping her commitment to inclusion and diversity, values that continue to guide her leadership today.

In 2017 with the support of then–Sound Transit CEO Peter Rogoff, Linneth, with her colleagues from Sound Transit and King County Metro, along with industry partners including Systems Consulting, TriUnity, and others, helped establish the WA Chapter and organize its first monthly meetings.

One of her early priorities was building COMTO WA’s internship program. Working with local agencies and organizations, she helped to create pathways for students to gain exposure to transportation careers and transition into full-time opportunities in the industry.

COMTO WA also provided Linneth a platform to develop and amplify her leadership voice. Her guiding principle, growing inclusive and culturally connected communities within transportation, has shaped both her professional work and industry engagement. Through COMTO, she helped coordinate participation from local agencies at monthly meetings to discuss opportunities for small and minority-owned businesses.

On her projects, Linneth establishes inclusion as a core value and the expectation that “our projects should reflect the communities we serve.” On the Federal Way Link Extension project, Linneth set the tone and culture by holding all contractors and consultants accountable for meeting or exceeding their Small Business Enterprise (SBE), Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), and apprenticeship participation goals, while working collaboratively with them to help ensure they met their commitments. She believes that a high-performing team succeeds when it listens to and values diverse perspectives. Building a strong, diverse team not only enhances project performance but also reflects COMTO’s mission, ensuring that transportation systems serve and represent all communities.

Linneth currently serves as Chair of the Washington State Capital Projects Advisory Review Board (CPARB). She previously chaired CPARB’s Project Review Committee (PRC) and GC/CM Heavy Civil Committee. A respected voice in the industry, Linneth is a frequent speaker at regional and national training events on public works contracting and collaborative project delivery. She currently serves as a National Board Member of the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA). Colleagues describe Linneth as a thoughtful leader who balances technical expertise with a commitment to mentorship and opportunity.

Linneth will continue her commitment to inclusive leadership on her next project, the West Seattle Link Extension. As she often reminds her teams, “Your team is a reflection of you - set the core values. The culture of a project team will ultimately align with the expectations you establish.”