Watertown planning, design, transportation, land development and environmental firm Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc. has merged with Eng-Wong, Taub & Assoc. and its affiliates, a transportation planning and research firm with offices in New York City and Newark, N.J.

This latest merger is the eighth for Vanasse Hangen Brustlin (VHB) since 2005 and part of its long-term strategic growth plan, according to a statement.

"We have enjoyed a working relationship with Eng-Wong, Taub for many years," said Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc. President and CEO Bob Brustlin. "By merging our operations and New York/New Jersey area staff, our clients will benefit from deeper and consistent talent in addition to more service offerings."

This merger is a strategic step forward for both companies, said Brustlin. "Our deliberate approach to growth in New York and New Jersey has been to put all the right people together to create a very strong foundation of experience to serve our clients."

"Together, we are better than the sum of our parts," said Paul Eng-Wong, founder of Eng-Wong, Taub and now a principal at VHB. "With our combined solid track-records, strong leadership and service cultures, we will continue to carry out our strong commitment to clients, as we have done in the past and now, with a comprehensive portfolio of integrated professional services."

Established in 1988, Eng-Wong, Taub grew into a 40-employee firm and stands out among the region’s traffic engineering and planning firms with its extensive work with more than 200 public and private sector clients.

The merger is effective Sept. 1. The former Eng-Wong, Taub employees will continue to work from Two Penn Plaza in New York City and One Gateway Center in Newark. Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc. and its New York affiliate, VHB Engineering, Surveying and Landscape Architecture P.C., serve New York and New Jersey clients through five offices and 100 local employees in Albany, Hauppauge, White Plains, New York City and Edison, N.J.