The following items are excerpted or summarized from news releases issued by the California Transit Association members. If you are a member of the Association and would like to submit an item to be considered for inclusion in the Member News Library, please email your press releases to Managing Editor Jacob Herson (jake@caltransit.org). Photos and cutline information with your news release submissions, when possible, are encouraged.
Rashidi Barnes Becomes New Tri Delta Transit CEO
After an extensive nationwide search, the Board of Directors unanimously selected Rashidi Barnes as Tri Delta Transit’s new CEO. He will assume the role on September 7, 2022. Mr. Barnes replaces long-time CEO Jeanne Krieg, who is retiring after 32 years at the agency, and who has served as a longtime member and former chair of the Association's Executive Committee.
Tri Delta Transit Board Chair Anissa Williams states, “We are greatly saddened by the retirement of Jeanne Krieg, who has been a strong leader for the last 32 years. We are extremely fortunate to be bringing Rashidi Barnes on board, who will no doubt continue Jeanne Krieg’s strong leadership and direction while forging his own legacy.”
Most recently, Mr. Barnes served as Director of Mobility as a Service (MaaS) for First Transit. Prior to that, he spent more than five years at Central Contra Costa Transit Authority (County Connection), where he served as Senior Manager of Transportation, Senior Manager of Innovation and Shared Mobility, and then Director of Innovation and Shared Mobility. Projects that he helped to deliver include the initial Clipper System implementation for County Connection, introducing on-demand transportation service, shepherding bus-on-shoulder legislation and congestion mitigation options, and working with the region’s local utility provider to help launch the agency’s first electric bus. Mr. Barnes also oversaw the daily operations of 160+ bus operators, 12 supervisors and 1 transit manager.
Prior to County Connection, Mr. Barnes served as Director of Procurement for Foothill Transit, where he was responsible for ensuring contract compliance and procurement of materials/supplies and professional architectural and engineering services. He also served as Foothill Transit’s Disadvantaged Enterprise Liaison Officer during his tenure. In 2015, Mr. Barnes was listed by Mass Transit Magazine as one of the Top 40 Under 40 to watch and follow.
CEO Jeanne Krieg will assume the title of CEO Transitional Officer until she retires officially in February after a long and distinguished career.
Wheels and County Connection Consolidate Paratransit Services
The Boards of Directors of the Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority (Wheels) and the Central Contra Costa County Transit Authority (County Connection) have approved the consolidation of paratransit services previously operated independently by the two transit systems. The innovative approach of this partnership will help increase agency productivity, improve service delivery, and enhance the customer experience, as evidenced by a recent customer satisfaction survey.
This agreement follows a successful pilot project to test the concept, called One-Seat Ride, which features regional collaboration between Wheels, County Connection, WestCat, and Tri Delta Transit. Designed to address essential paratransit interagency travel during COVID-19, the service took riders within the four agencies’ areas of service to their final destination with no transfers.
“This new partnership with County Connection goes way beyond the One-Seat concept,” said Alameda County Supervisor and Wheels Board Chair David Haubert. “The 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) required cities to provide paratransit service for residents with disabilities, but provided no operating funds. The consolidation of Wheels and County Connection paratransit services allows the agencies to more efficiently spend transportation funding dollars by sharing resources, while providing vital services to those riders unable to use a fixed-route service due to disabilities.”
A smartphone app will make the paratransit network more accessible and give passengers real-time information to track their ride, receive status notifications, cancel their ride, and rate their ride. Booking a paratransit trip continues through phone reservation systems; however, coming this winter, riders will be able to book trips online through the mobile app as well.
“As the population ages, more and more people rely on paratransit to get around,” said City of San Ramon Mayor and County Connection Board Chair Dave Hudson. “With the growing need, we have to be smart about how we provide these services. This paratransit consolidation enables Wheels and County Connection to offer better access to transportation, especially to destinations that cross the boundaries of the two agencies, without riders having to get out of their seat to transfer between rides, saving time and enhancing safety.”
GTrans Awarded Over $2.2 Million in Federal Funds for Zero-Emission Buses
The City of Gardena’s GTrans was awarded $2.21 million under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) for its Zero-Emission Bus Replacement Project, which helps fund a portion of the purchase of five new, 40-foot, zero-emission buses (ZEBs) for its fleet.
“This is a tremendous accomplishment for the City of Gardena and for the GTrans team,” said Tasha Cerda, Mayor of the City of Gardena. “We are proud of our efforts to provide clean transit for our residents and for customers who rely on our service each day. As we work to convert our entire fleet to zero-emissions by 2034, these funds will allow us to continue on our path to improve system reliability and reduce maintenance costs while contributing to the prioritization of environmental justice for communities in our service area.”
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has awarded $1.66 billion nationwide in its first competitive grants under the BIL through its Bus and Bus Facilities and Low and No Emission Vehicle Programs. The funding supports 150 projects for people and communities in 48 states and territories. GTrans successfully competed under the FTA’s Low and No Emission Vehicle Program, which helps fund the purchase or lease of zero-emission and low-emission transit buses.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said, “With today's awards, we’re helping communities across America — in cities, suburbs, and rural areas alike — purchase more than 1,800 new buses, and most of them are zero-emission. Funded through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this announcement means more good jobs for people across the country, cleaner air in our communities, and more affordable and reliable options to help people get to where they need to go.”