Moving Hamilton: What’s Next for Transit?

Join the ITE Hamilton Section for a breakfast where our panel will discuss the future of transportation in Hamilton. This event is not only an opportunity to learn about plans for Hamilton’s transit systems, but attendees will also have the chance to connect with fellow transportation professionals. Breakfast is included with ticket purchase.

Date: Thursday, May 21st, 2026

Time: 8:00 am-10:30 am ET

Location: Waterfront Banquet and Conference Centre at 555 Bay Street North, Hamilton, ON

==The deadline to register is 12pm on May 20th, 2026==

Panelists:

Dr. Mohammad Moataz – Associate Profession of Smart Systems and Transportation

Dr. Mohamed is an Associate Professor of Smart Systems and Transportation in the Department of Civil Engineering at McMaster University and Director of the McMaster Institute for Transportation and Logistics (MITL). His research focuses on advancing zero-emission, sustainable, and resilient transit systems, with a special emphasis on the role of disruptive technologies in optimizing public transit networks. An internationally recognized expert in transit electrification, Dr. Mohamed has published over 145 peer-reviewed papers and reports and ranks among the top-cited scholars in electric bus technology. He has led or co-led over 20 funded projects, collaborating with government and industry partners. His work has earned multiple awards, including best paper honors at international conferences and the Joseph Ip Distinguished Engineering Fellowship at McMaster. Dr. Mohamed holds degrees from Assiut University (Egypt), the University of Rome (Italy), and the University of Ulster (UK), and has been part of McMaster University since 2014.

Khawar Ashraf – AVP Transportation Planning & Engineering

Khawar Ashraf, P.Eng., is an innovative transportation leader with over 25 years of experience in transit and rail planning, design, and delivery across Canada and internationally. He is currently Associate Vice President and National Lead for Transportation Planning at AECOM, where he leads strategic growth initiatives and multidisciplinary teams on major infrastructure programs. Khawar has played key leadership roles on transformational projects, including GO Expansion, High‑Frequency Rail (ALTO), the Scarborough Subway Extension, Hurontario LRT, Waterloo LRT, London BRT, and the Gordie Howe International Bridge. He is widely recognized for his technical excellence, mentorship, and ability to deliver complex, city‑shaping transit projects from concept through construction.

Farhad Shahla – Manager, Hamilton LRT Project Office

Farhad is a Professional Engineer and transportation leader with 15+ years of experience delivering municipal infrastructure projects across the GTHA, including over a decade in LRT planning and implementation for Peel Region and the City of Hamilton. He currently serves as Manager of Technical Services for the Hamilton LRT Project Office, leading multidisciplinary teams to deliver safe, accessible, and future-ready transit systems.

Farhad specializes in transit project delivery, utility coordination, and stakeholder engagement in complex, multi-agency environments. He holds an M.Eng. in Transportation from the University of Toronto and is a P.Eng., PMP, and PTOE. He is actively involved with ITE Canada and is the Past Chair of the Technical Liaison Committee.

Nicholas Chaloux – Manager, Transit Strategic Planning, HSR

Nick is a Registered Professional Planner (RPP) and transit planner with a background in transit equity, long-range planning, and transit business casing. Nick is leading HSR’s Strategy team, working alongside passionate transit professionals to deliver major projects like Hamilton’s new bus garage, integrating HSR service into the Hamilton LRT project, and crafting a new framework for transit planning data and analytics. Since joining the City of Hamilton in 2024, Nick led phasing and implementation planning for HSR’s next growth plan, HSR Next, which plans significant transit expansion in underserved areas of Hamilton.