Seattle – The leader of the regional transit system in Richmond, Virginia, has been appointed the next CEO of Sound Transit.
Julie Tim, who is currently CEO Greater Richmond Transit Companyor GRTC, received a recommendation from the council’s selection committee on Thursday, but her name was not disclosed until then Friday.
“She is a fantastic transit leader with an experience that will serve Sound Transit well and our residents,” said Snohomish County Executive Director Dave Somers, a member of the selection committee. “She focused on key priorities that are in line with our region, including excellent customer service, broad community participation, fairness in service delivery and good governance. I believe that she will be a very strong CEO of Sound Transit. “
Tim currently oversees a government agency with more than 400 employees that provides bus services throughout the Richmond area. The agency, which is jointly owned by the City of Richmond and Chesterfield County, provides local and express bus services, including high-speed bus services.
Prior to that, she worked from 2016 to 2019 as Chief Development Officer of WeGo Public Transit in Nashville, Tennessee, according to a Sound Transit press release.
“I am delighted and humbled to have been considered for the opportunity to support the Sound Transit Board and staff in making investments that are truly transformative and historic in scale and impact,” Tim said in a statement.
“Public transport is about serving people and improving lives, and I want to work with the communities of the region to continue to realize the region’s vision of its future,” she said.
Sound Transit’s board of directors is expected to approve Tim’s hiring on June 23rd.
“Julie Tim’s deep experience, leadership skills and passion for public transport will make her an outstanding leader in Sound Transit as we work on the largest transit expansion program in the country and dramatically expand our operations in the years to come,” said Sound Transit. Place Kent Kiel, the statement said.
Keel, Somers and King Doe County Executive Director Constantine are negotiating the terms of the contract with Timm.
Tim will replace Peter Ragaf, whose six-year term as CEO ended on Tuesday.
She will run an agency that operates light rail, express bus, commuter rail and tram in Snahomish, King and Pier counties. As of December 31, 2020Sound Transit had 1,104 full-time employees.
In 2022, this is so is planned to raise about $ 3.4 billion in taxes and other sources of funding and spend $ 3.0 billion. The operating budget for transit alone is $ 444.3 million.
Under Rahaf’s leadership, light rail spread to the north, south and east through the metropolitan area of Seattle. And voters, by taking the Sound Transit 3 vote, have approved higher taxes to fund the expansion of high-speed bus transit and the expansion of high-speed transport in Everett and Tacoma.
Ninety people applied for workof which 48 met the minimum qualifications and 14 were found highly qualified, Kiel said at a selection committee meeting on Thursday.
Jerry Corn: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @dospueblos.
