Cities own the streets that transit agencies need for their bus lanes. Regions often lack a coordinated entity to oversee implementation of road pricing. Freight rolling off a regional port hub is not always synced with the state and local roadways that connect it. Complicated governance is often at the root of the obstacles to implement transportation solutions aimed to fight congestion, improve the environment, and target social equity. Several regions around the world have reformed regional governance to consolidate decision making and ensure the right voices are at the table. Join Eno at this webinar to explore how the governance in cities can help or hinder them from enacting smart transportation policies.
Speakers:
M.J. Maynard, Chief Executive Officer, RTC
Leslie Richards, General Manager/Chief Executive Officer, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority
Kevin Quinn, Chief Executive Officer, TransLink
Paul Lewis, Chief Finance Officer and Policy Director, Eno Center for Transportation
Watch the Recording:
As Chief Executive Officer of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC), M.J. Maynard leads the only agency nationwide that is responsible for a region’s public transit system, traffic management, roadway design and construction funding, and transportation and overall planning efforts – all under one roof.
M.J. and her team manage a budget of more than $679 million annually, and incorporate the best practices of the private sector with those of the public sector, utilizing statistics, analytics, and monthly as well as annual benchmarks to ensure the agency’s fiduciary responsibility to taxpayers.
M.J. Maynard joined the RTC in February 2007 and served as Assistant General Manager of Administrative Services and later as Deputy Chief Executive Officer prior to leading the agency. During her 13-year history with agency, she has launched several groundbreaking initiatives including the RTC’s Club Ride program, which rewards commuters for using alternative modes of travel; the rideRTC smartphone app; and a massive transit safety expansion project encompassing the replacement of more than 3,000 bus shelters and amenities.
M.J. worked in Las Vegas’ hospitality industry for more than 25 years prior to joining the RTC, where she served as Vice President for Hard Rock Hotel and Casino for more than a decade. In this role, she oversaw a culturally diverse staff of more than 750 employees and was responsible for managing a multi-million dollar annual budget that included capital expansion projects.
Considered a leader in public transit management, M.J. was recently appointed to serve on the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) Board of Directors, an organization leading efforts to ensure public transportation is available and accessible in communities around the country. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel Administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Leslie S. Richards is the CEO and 11th General Manager of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), the sixth largest public transportation agency in the U.S. with a budget of more than $2 billion and a vast network of 9,500 employees that enable the five million residents of the Greater Philadelphia region to connect to each other. SEPTA operates across six transportation modes and has 2,800 vehicles in service, 285 subway and rail stations, 13,000 bus and trolley stops, and 150 routes.
Prior to joining SEPTA, Richards was the first woman secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), one of the largest and most innovative transportation agencies in the U.S. Richards left a lasting mark on the department by creating strategic solutions for the long-term success of Pennsylvania’s transportation needs through innovative, collaborative programs such as PennDOT Connects.
A staunch advocate for women and diversity in transportation and government, Richards has been recognized for her leadership in the industry and commitment to public service. Prior to her public service, she worked in the private sector as a senior project manager for environmental and civil engineering firms. Richards is a graduate of Brown University, where she concentrated in economics and urban studies. She received a master’s of regional planning from the University of Pennsylvania. She lives with her husband in Philadelphia.
Kevin Quinn is the Chief Executive Officer of TransLink, Metro Vancouver’s award-winning transportation authority. As CEO, Kevin Quinn oversees management, planning, financing, and delivery of a growing world-class transportation network that includes bus, SkyTrain, SeaBus, HandyDART, and West Coast Express transit services, along with five regional bridges, walking and cycling paths, and the Major Road Network.
Before joining TransLink, Kevin served as Administrator and Chief Executive Officer of the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), one of the largest multi-modal transit systems in the U.S. with six transit modes, including buses, subway, light rail, paratransit, and commuter bus and rail. He also oversaw the construction of a new 25-km light rail line outside Washington, D.C., which is currently the largest transit public-private partnership in the U.S.
Prior to serving as CEO, Kevin was the Director of Planning and Programming for MTA. In this role, he was responsible for all aspects of design and implementation for the comprehensive overhaul of MTA’s local and express bus network, which included the restructuring of more than 60 bus routes and the introduction of new, high-frequency lines. Kevin also has private sector experience, as the Mid-Atlantic Transportation Planning and Policy Manager for STV, Incorporated.
Kevin holds a master’s degree in Public Policy from Johns Hopkins University. He has been a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) since 2010 and was recognized as one of Mass Transit magazine’s Top 40 under 40 transit professionals.
