From left: Metrolink CMAA SoCal interns Albert Poghosyan (Cal Poly Pomona), Joshua Lee (Cal Poly Pomona) and Sophia Brown (University of Washington) attend a walkthrough of Tunnel 25 ahead of planned State of Good Repair rehabilitation works.
Building and maintaining Southern California’s regional rail system requires more than infrastructure – it requires developing the talented professionals who will plan, design and deliver the projects of tomorrow. This summer, Metrolink entered the fourth year of our partnership with the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) Southern California Chapter, welcoming four interns for an immersive introduction to the passenger rail industry: Sophia Brown of the University of Washington, and Milad Karimi, Joshua Lee and Albert Poghosyan representing California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
The CMAA SoCal Internship program, part of their cmX Workforce Development initiative, provides aspiring engineering and construction management professionals with practical experience that extends well beyond the classroom. At Metrolink, interns work alongside experienced professionals while gaining firsthand exposure to the unique technical, operational and safety considerations involved in delivering projects within an active railroad environment.
Over the course of the summer, the interns’ experience took them across the Metrolink system through a unique, behind-the-scenes lens. Their curriculum began with Railroad 101, Roadway Worker Protection training, a tour of the signal lab, and bridge training before hands-on field work brought those lessons to life. Interns visited the San Juan Creek Bridge project construction site, explored Positive Train Control (PTC) technology through Metrolink’s PTC lab and simulator, toured the Central Maintenance Facility and participated in a walk-through of Tunnel 25 on the Antelope Valley Line. They were also invited to attend a Metrolink Board of Directors meeting in person.
CMAA SoCal interns practice manually operating a track switch.
Together, these experiences provided a valuable professional base and a broader understanding of how engineering, construction, technology, maintenance, operations and safety work together to keep Southern California moving. At the program’s conclusion, the interns presented what they learned at an all-team meeting with their full-time Metrolink counterparts. It was an opportunity to reflect on their time with the agency and to demonstrate the knowledge they gained throughout the summer.
“Metrolink’s partnership with CMAA SoCal reflects the strength of the cmX pathway—real projects, real responsibility, and real leadership development across the full career arc,” CMAA SoCal Chapter Internship Committee Chair Michael Boomsma said.
For Metrolink, the partnership with CMAA SoCal is also an investment in the future of the transportation sector. Providing emerging professionals meaningful exposure to passenger rail helps develop a larger pool of qualified engineering and construction candidates who understand the complexities of working around an active railroad. It also offers participants direct insight into the many career paths available across the rail industry.
As Metrolink continues to deliver critical infrastructure projects across our six-county system, foresighted programs like this one help ensure that the next generation of transportation professionals has the experience, perspective and enthusiasm needed to carry that work forward.