LA Metro Strengthens Rail Infrastructure Under Amores
Metro honors Senior Director Daniela Amores for leading rail infrastructure projects
Metro Spotlights Engineer Daniela Amores
Greater Los Angeles transit riders benefit from infrastructure work led by Daniela Amores, Senior Director of Project Control for Operations Engineering at Metro. The agency highlighted Amores during Women's History Month, officials announced March 12. She oversees train control systems, traction power, communication networks, and track components across Metro's rail network. Her team manages 80 in-house projects worth millions of dollars focused on maintaining and upgrading aging equipment. One major current project involves replacing the overhead catenary system on the C Line, which has operated since 1995.
From Ecuador to Engineering Excellence
Amores was born in Quito, Ecuador, and moved to the United States at age three, according to Metro's official blog The Source. She earned an engineering degree from Brown University before starting her career at 24 as a field engineer on a Phoenix light rail project. Throughout her nearly 20-year career, she's worked on major rail projects in Phoenix, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Dallas, and Miami. In Miami, she became the first woman to lead train control and traction power departments, breaking barriers in the male-dominated transit engineering field.
Overcoming Challenges in Male-Dominated Field
As a young Latina woman in transit engineering, Amores faced significant challenges including harassment early in her career, The Source reported. She credits her mother as her inspiration for resilience—her mother brought the family from Ecuador and became a certified nurse in the U.S. After 16 months at Metro, Amores now encourages girls to pursue engineering and transportation careers. She noted that more women are entering the field, though specific data on gender representation in Metro's engineering departments wasn't provided. Her role involves overseeing infrastructure projects that directly impact service reliability for Metro's rail system.
Career Milestone Recognized This Month
Metro published Amores' profile on March 12, 2026, as part of Women's History Month recognition. The agency didn't specify whether additional women in transit leadership will be featured throughout the month. Amores' current responsibilities include maintaining what Metro calls a "state of good repair" across the rail network through systematic equipment upgrades. Officials didn't provide details on how long the C Line catenary replacement project will take or its total cost.
Impact on Metro Rail Operations
The infrastructure projects Amores oversees directly affect service reliability for Metro rail riders throughout Greater Los Angeles. Her team's work on train control systems, traction power, and communication networks helps prevent service disruptions and maintains safety standards. Riders can track real-time service information and plan trips across Metro's rail and bus network using Moovit, which provides updates for all Metro lines including the C Line currently undergoing catenary system replacement.
