RTA Names Agnes Govern as Director of Express Bus/HOV Services Department

Agnes Govern, currently the Assistant General Manager of the Snohomish County Public Utility District, has been named to the position of Director of Express Bus/HOV Services for the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority. She will be responsible for implementing the RTA's regional express bus services and supporting facilities, working with the region's four existing bus agencies to develop coordinated schedules and fares, and working with the state Department of Transportation to develop the RTA-funded direct access improvements to the freeway HOV lanes.

Govern has been with the Snohomish County PUD since 1994, where she manages a division with more than 200 employees that is responsible for finance, information services and customer service. Prior to that she held various management positions with the Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle (now King County Metro), including serving as acting finance director and information systems division manager. She has managed the adoption of two multimillion dollar, multiyear information system business plans.

Govern has a solid reputation for strong leadership and communication skills, and the ability to manage complex, multifaceted projects, according to RTA Executive Director Bob White. "Her management skills combined with her reputation for being able to achieve consensus among groups with diverse views will be invaluable in working with the region's existing transit agencies and more than 50 local jurisdictions to implement the regional bus element of the regional transit plan," White said.

Govern holds a Masters Degree in public administration from the University of Washington. She will join the RTA on May 12, at an annual salary is $98,000. Govern becomes the third new member of the RTA management team. The RTA recently named Paul Price as commuter rail director, and Desmond Brown as chief legal counsel. The agency hopes to complete the management team with the announcement of a director of light rail services in May.

# # #

Sound Transit plans, builds and operates regional transit systems and services to improve mobility for Central Puget Sound.