Hopefuls for agency’s top job state their case
Each of the three transit veterans vying to head the Regional Transportation District claimed Thursday night that they have the collaborative and management skills to lead the agency into the future.
Stephanie Dawson, Dave Genova and Richard Leary touted their experience in handling complex transportation hubs at a public forum at the Embassy Suites Denver Convention Center.
Those who attended the forum offered their feedback via written forms and online. But the final say will come from the RTD board of directors, which interviews the three finalists behind closed doors Friday.
Dawson, who retired from the U.S. Army after 31 years, is the acting chief operating officer at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Her decisions cross state lines and involve both public and private entities, Dawson said.
“We have 24 general managers who report to five directors who report to me,” she said.
Leary retired after being chief operating officer for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. He’s now the chief service officer for the Toronto Transit Commission.
Leary said he’s using technology and customer service to spur growth in the Toronto system. “We are driving people from their vehicles to public transportation,” Leary said.
Genova, RTD’s interim manager, said he has helped guide the agency through a period of massive growth, including the $5.5 billion FasTracks project. He said he wants to guide the agency even further.
“I don’t want to be somebody who works in transit elsewhere,” Genova said. “I want to serve here in Denver, Colorado.”
All three candidates said they want to be part of RTD’s future growth.
“RTD is providing service to places that’s never gotten service before,” Dawson said. “You have a growing environment here.”
RTD’s previous CEO and general manager, Phil Washington, left in April to take over as head of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Authority.
Genova took over as RTD’s interim director after working at RTD for 21 years. He served as the assistant general manager of safety, security and facilities for the past eight years.
In that position, Genova’s responsibilities included overseeing safety certification for rail-line openings and the renovated Denver Union Station.
The agency’s new director will face a number of challenges in 2016, including the opening of four new rail lines around the metro area. The new year will also see the introduction of the Flatiron Flyer bus rapid transit service on U.S. 36 between Boulder and Denver.
New fares for all bus and rail service will be unveiled in 2016 as well. This after critics said they were too expensive for poor, working families.
RTD counters that the new transit system features three travel zones, making it simpler on passengers with fares actually being reduced in some areas.
The RTD board will interview the three finalists Friday and is expected to appoint a full-time general manager by the end of the year.
Within RTD’s 2,340square-mile, eight-county service area, the agency currently offers 150 bus routes, six rail line and speciality transit services.