In Memoriam: Joseph E. Kenas

Long-term APTA Standards Program member Joseph E. Kenas was involved in a bicycle accident. He died aged 69.

Kenas began his career at the Budd Company Railway Division in 1977 as a designer/draftsman. He later went to work for Bombardier Transportation and Alstom Transportation. He managed testing programs for several procurements, including the delivery of Amtrak’s Amfleet IIs, Long Island Rail Road’s M-3s, Chicago Transit Authorities 2600 series, and the Baltimore/Miami rapid-transit vehicles. He also executed Reliability, Maintainability, and Safety (RMS) analyses for programs including the New Jersey Transit’s Comet IIIs and Boston Red Line’s No. 3 vehicles.  He served as the lead and integrator for car body and systems interfaces for Toronto’s LRV and CTA’s 5000 series.

Kenas was a member of multiple APTA Standards working groups since the program’s inception in 1996 and was a kay contributor to both the Passenger Rail Equipment Safety Standards and Rail Transit Systems Standards. He was key part of North American regulatory and standards activities for 33 years, contributing to industry-driven regulatory standards efforts for commuter, intercity, and passenger rail. He also played a pivotal role in the introduction and adoption of ASME’s RTV Standards.

For APTA, Kenas served on the Rolling Stock Equipment Technical Forum, Light Rail Technical Forum, PRESS Construction and Structural Working Group, and PRESS Mechanical Working Group, and was a member of the Zero Emission Fleet, Rail Transit, Commuter Rail, and Rail Safety committees.

Not only as an expert professional, but his willingness to make himself available to all, his personable approach to collaboration in problem solving, and his bright and positive attitude have left an indelible mark on those who knew and worked with Kenas. His insights and expertise were key to the advancement of safety with both the APTA Standards Program and ASME’s RTV Standards.