On Board With… Executive Committee Member Jeanne Krieg
Jeanne Krieg has been with Eastern Contra Costa Transit Authority (Tri Delta Transit) since 1991. She first worked as the Marketing Director and was named Chief Executive Officer in 1995. She served in that position until her successor was selected in September 2022, at which time she was named CEO Transition Officer. In this position she will assist the new CEO until her retirement in February 2023. Before coming to the transit industry, Jeanne held positions in sales, marketing, and management in the public utility and publishing industries. She has been active with the Transportation Cooperative Research Program for more than 25 years, serving on many project panels. She currently is the vice-chair of the TCRP Oversight and Project Selection Commission (TOPS). She is a member of the Executive Committee of the California Transit Association and is active on many Association committees. She has served three terms on the APTA Executive Committee, is a graduate of the inaugural class of Leadership APTA, and is an active member of many APTA committees.
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You are retiring this year from Tri Delta Transit after 27 years as CEO and 32 years at the agency. As you look back at your time with the agency, of what accomplishments are you most proud?
Jeanne Krieg:
The programs we have implemented over the past 32 years have contributed in a positive way to the community — my community. The agency has grown from five-day/week service to seven day/week. The fleet has grown from 13 buses to 106 fixed route, cutaway, and minivan vehicles. The employees have earned many awards over the years, including Best Small System in North America and International Bus Roadeo Champion. We have enthusiastically embraced new technology and plans are in place for more exciting changes in the future. I am confident that I am leaving the agency in good hands and look forward to watching it continue to evolve into a provider of mobility — whatever that might look like in the future.
Transit California:
As an industry, we often emphasize the role public transit plays in uplifting communities and creating access to opportunities for everyday people. What was a signature development or improvement you oversaw at Tri Delta Transit that made a real difference to the riders you serve?
Jeanne Krieg:
Over the years, our staff has built a suite of services that serve various groups in our community. This means those who do not have many options for access to work, shopping, education, and healthcare have a set of services from which to choose. For example, we partnered with Uber, Lyft, and United Taxi so our senior citizens can get same-day trips at an affordable price. When no private providers were available to offer much-needed non-emergency medical transportation for dialysis patients, Tri Delta Transit became the first transit agency in California to be a certified MediCal transportation provider. When the school districts in Tri Delta Transit’s service area discontinued secondary busing, we stepped up to make sure our service met bell times so children could get to school. The most recent addition to our service is our very successful microtransit service that allows us to provide public transportation services in our suburban tangle of winding streets and cul-de-sacs that are not fixed-route bus friendly. We also provide robust commuter service to the three local BART stations.
Transit California:
What will you miss most about Tri Delta Transit?
Jeanne Krieg:
I will miss the people I work with — they are a professional team of men and women who work tirelessly everyday to make sure our community has access to reliable and safe transportation services. Tri Delta Transit is a great place to work — I genuinely look forward to going to work every day and will miss my three-mile commute to spend time with my work family.
Transit California:
You remain a long-time member of the California Transit Association’s Executive Committee and served as Chair from 2002 to 2004. You also serve on the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Executive Committee and the Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Oversight and Project Selection Committee, as well as many sub-committees. How has participation in these organizations helped you as a transit leader, and how do you believe these organizations benefit the industry?
Jeanne Krieg:
One of the great things about the transit industry is we do not compete with each other, so the sharing of ideas, programs, and creative solutions is the norm. My participation in industry organizations has benefited Tri Delta Transit in many ways. As a small organization, we do not have staff dedicated to many of the functions provided by industry organizations. Being active in the Association, APTA, and TCRP means we have an adjunct staff that conducts research, analyzes legislation, advises on regulatory requirements, keeps us up to date on reporting obligations, guides us through technological changes, and alerts us to funding opportunities.
Transit California:
In your role as a leader of the California Transit Association, what accomplishments do you see as most important and impactful to the membership?
Jeanne Krieg:
I have had the pleasure of watching the Association evolve from being a provider of useful information to being an influencer for public policy and legislation. The organization is respected in Sacramento as well as Washington, D.C. The early vision of Ed Gerber when we changed the name from CAPOTS was elevated by Josh Shaw and now by Michael Pimentel. The committee structure allows anyone to participate and learn, as technology changes the way we provide valuable services to our communities.
Transit California:
What advice do you have for transit leaders early in their careers?
Jeanne Krieg:
Be open to taking chances. Never say “no” when an opportunity comes your way. Never ask an employee to do something you would not be willing to do yourself. Listen. Participate. You are representing your agency 24/7 and are always in the public view…behave accordingly.
Transit California:
What advice do you have for senior transit leaders managing those early in their career?
Jeanne Krieg:
Create an environment that encourages those early in their career to express ideas and opinions — even if those ideas are not the way that has always worked in the past. Many of the best ideas implemented at Tri Delta Transit have come from a “what if” conversation with newer employees. For example, Tri Delta Transit is building a Regional Emergency Operations Center complete with satellite communication that will be available for emergency responders in our area. Instead of shipping a retired over-the-road coach to the auction house, we will be providing a long-term value to our community thanks to a “what if” conversation.
Transit California:
What is next for you?
Jeanne Krieg:
A project I have been thinking about since plastic hotel cards were introduced as a replacement to actual keys in the 70s is some sort of art piece made from the thousands of key cards I have collected over the years. I’m not sure what it will look like and I am not sure WHY I think it is important — especially since I am not particularly artistic — but I plan to create something from those cards. Sorting them by brand and color was one of the last projects my mother and I worked on before she died, so it will be a nice remembrance of her. Beyond that, the oldest of our four grandsons just turned eight so spending more time with them will be a priority. We have a few cruises planned along with some road trips to see relatives. It is likely I will stay involved in the transit industry in some fashion, but mostly I look forward to being unscheduled for a bit.