C-Tran has entered into contract negotiations with the person it has chosen to become its new executive director/CEO.
The agency has entered into contract negotiations with Shawn Donaghy, following action taken by the C-Tran’s board of directors Friday.
“Shawn has a strong background in transit, particularly operations,” C-Tran spokeswoman Chris Selk said in an email. “He has a deep understanding of transit technology, which has become increasingly important within the industry, and which will continue to evolve. This, coupled with his collective-bargaining experience and safety/security background, make him an ideal candidate to lead C-Tran.”
Donaghy is currently the Chief Operating Officer for the Fort Worth Transportation Authority in Fort Worth, Texas, which operates about 40 bus routes and 175 vanpools.
In his current job, Donaghy is responsible for overseeing fixed route operations, paratransit operations, maintenance, information technology, and safety and risk management.
Donaghy is a third-generation transit executive and has worked in the industry for his entire career. Prior to working in Fort Worth, he was Chief Operations Officer for the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Donaghy holds a bachelor’s degree from Northern Kentucky University.
In 2016, Mass Transit magazine named him to its list of Top 40 Under 40.
C-Tran’s current CEO, Jeff Hamm, is set to retire at the end of June after 10 years at the head of the agency. The only other CEO to serve longer than Hamm was Les White, who led C-Tran from 1982 until 1997.
During Hamm’s tenure, C-Tran has opened the 99th Street Transit Center and the Salmon Creek Park and Ride, started the vanpool program, expanded its hybrid vehicle fleet, partnered with Portland’s transit agencies to introduce electronic fares later this year and launched The Vine, the region’s first bus rapid transit system.
C-Tran has a strong financial situation and is debt free.
According to Selk, in 2016, its expenses equaled $53.4 million; revenue was $62 million.
“Under the 2017-18 budget, the agency plans to add thousands of service hours — an increase that may come through longer span of service or better frequency on some routes,” Selk said. “We’re also adding new staff positions, mostly drivers, to meet those needs.”
