RTA NAMES PAUL BAY AS DIRECTOR OF LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT DEPARTMENT

Paul Bay has been named Director of Light Rail Transit Department for the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority. Bay is currently a Vice President of the engineering firm BRW, Inc., as well as the Transportation Group Director for BRW's Seattle office.

Bay has more than 35 years of experience in transportation engineering, including light rail transit planning and design projects in the Twin Cities, Norfolk, Salt Lake City, San Diego, Portland, Newark, Denver and Orlando. He has played lead consulting roles in several Puget Sound area transportation projects including the environmental planning services for the Puget Sound regional transit project before the RTA was created.

As Executive Director of Planning and Development for Tri-Met, the three-county transit agency in metropolitan Portland, Bay directed planning, financing, design and construction of the initial MAX light rail line between Portland and Gresham. With BRW, he is currently the principal-in-charge of civil engineering for final design of the Portland Westside Light Rail Project. He is also currently directing civil engineering for the final design of the Utah Transit Authority's 15-mile light rail project in Salt Lake City.

Bay describes his leadership style as collegial, and he describes his leadership philosophy using the words of Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu: "A leader is not so great when people say, 'See what he has done.' A leader is greatest when the people say, 'See what we have done.'" Bay said that the light rail project in this region is a community project and must be put together by everyone in the community.

As Director for the RTA's Light Rail Department Bay will put his leadership style, strong management skills and extensive technical expertise to good work. He will be responsible for directing all RTA staff and consultant work to design and build 26 miles of electric light rail facilities, including 24 stations in communities along the line.

Bay lives in Redmond with his wife, Joan, and their youngest of nine children, Elizabeth who is 18. Bay was born in Utah and graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Civil Engineering. He is a registered professional engineer in California, Oregon, Washington and Michigan.

Bay will join the RTA in June at an annual salary of $105,000. He becomes the fourth and final new member of the RTA management team. The RTA recently named Agnes Govern, as Director of Express Bus/HOV Services Department, Paul Price Commuter Rail Department Director and Desmond Brown as Chief Legal Counsel.

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