Jerom Theunissen, PE // Transportation Engineer, Executive Advisor, Global Transportation at Jacobs
I’m a Dutch-American transportation engineer, innovation strategist, and executive advisor based in NYC. I work at Jacobs, where I support global transportation growth strategy and help teams design creative, human-centered mobility solutions. My passion lies at the intersection of engineering, urbanism, and public policy. I’ve led transportation decarbonization projects for the MTA and U.S. Department of Defense, coached innovation teams worldwide, and traveled to 35 cities through a global fellowship to study how mobility shapes livability.
Transportation is not just infrastructure — it’s a lever for justice, opportunity, climate action, and freedom.
Why transportation?
From a young age, I was fascinated by how cities work—and more importantly, how people move through them. I’ve always believed that mobility is a fundamental right. After completing my undergraduate degree, I conducted the Michael B. Keegan Traveling Fellowship, where I visited over 35 cities—from Tokyo to Nairobi to Copenhagen—studying how transportation systems impact urban livability. I saw firsthand how something as simple as a bus lane or a bike path could dramatically improve quality of life. I also saw how inequitable or fragmented systems could deepen social and economic divides. That journey confirmed what I had always felt: transportation is not just infrastructure—it’s a lever for justice, opportunity, climate action, and freedom. That’s why I chose transportation: it’s the pulse of every thriving city.
What’s your favorite way to get around the YPT-NYC region?
My Citibike, hands down. There’s something grounding about navigating the city under your own power—dodging traffic, catching green waves on Second Avenue, and getting where you need to go while seeing the city up close. Plus, it’s often the fastest option for short distances in Manhattan!
If you could snap your fingers and make one change to regional transportation, what would it be?
Seamless regional fare integration across all modes and agencies. As someone who’s studied mobility systems in over 30 cities worldwide, I’ve seen how transformational this can be. In Stuttgart, Germany—and many other cities across Europe and Asia—streamlined regional networks make it incredibly easy for people to move between cities, suburbs, and rural areas using a single pass or card. It’s not just about convenience; it’s about equity, efficiency, and reducing car dependence.
When transit systems are integrated—with coordinated fares, schedules, and branding—it simplifies the experience for the user and boosts ridership across the board. It also helps regions function more cohesively, supporting economic development, climate goals, and access to opportunity. Too often in the U.S., fragmented governance and funding structures get in the way of delivering this kind of unified experience. But if we’re serious about mode shift and sustainability, we need to start thinking—and building—at a regional scale.
Who inspires you?
Janette Sadik-Khan, for bringing a bold, unapologetic sense of urgency to transforming NYC’s streets. She didn’t just talk about reimagining public space—she acted, quickly and visibly. Her approach showed that you don’t need a 10-year capital plan to start changing minds. With paint, planters, and pilots, she helped shift the public perception of what our streets are capable of and who they are truly for. That kind of agility and human-centered thinking is exactly what we need more of in transportation.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Be bold. The best opportunities come when you step into the unknown—and travel is the best education you’ll ever have. Trust your instincts, ask more questions, and say yes before you feel ready.
What are you working on currently that you’re most excited about?
I’m helping shape Jacobs’ global transportation strategy across various sub-modes – aviation, rail & transit, ports & maritime, and highways & bridges—translating market trends into real-world wins for our clients and cities. On the ground, I’m proud of my work with the MTA on OMNY, solving technical issues and coordinating the deployment of OMNY vending machines across NYCT, and with IBX, where I analyzed traffic and pedestrian impacts for this new transit corridor. These projects bring big visions to life—and I love being in the thick of it.
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