News releases
Read the latest Sound Transit news, expansion developments, and more here.

Sound Transit Board creates two new governing committees

Publish Date
Body

New committees will focus on operations and ST2 construction

The Sound Transit Board of Directors yesterday adopted a new governing committee structure to position the agency to manage expanding transit services and construction work.

“Our new committee structure will sharpen the Board’s focus on maintaining Sound Transit’s success in building mass transit projects and at the same time increase our role in providing exceptional service for train and bus riders around the region,” said Sound Transit Board Chair and Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon. “The voters placed an enormous responsibility on Sound Transit when they approved the ST2 package in 2008. These changes will help us meet those expectations.”

The new structure dissolves the Board’s Finance Committee, transferring its authority and responsibilities among the Executive Committee and two new committees: the Capital Committee and the Operations and Administration Committee. Starting March 1, the full Board will meet once each month—1:30 to 4 p.m. on the fourth Thursday—instead of twice a month. Each of the committees will also meet once a month.

Below is a summary of committee responsibilities and meeting schedules:

Capital Committee – Second Thursday of the month – 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The Capital Committee will be chaired by Fred Butler with Julia Patterson as vice chair. The other members of the committee are Claudia Balducci, Richard Conlin, Jan Drago, Jake Fey, Joe Marine, Mike McGinn and Larry Phillips. The committee is responsible to continue and expand the Board’s oversight of capital projects and picks up the roles previously carried out by the Central Link Oversight Committee. Its focus includes:

  • Reviewing and monitoring stages of all capital projects consistent with the transit improvement program
  • Providing oversight, strategic direction, and recommendations to the Board as required for moving projects from one phase to the next (for example, final design to construction)
  • Reviewing and providing recommendations to the Executive Committee and/or the Board on new and existing capital-related policies
  • Reviewing scope, schedule, budget, risks, construction activities, and claims
  • Reviewing proposed annual capital projects budgets and providing recommendations to the Executive Committee and/or the Board

Yesterday’s Board action gave the Capital Committee final approval authority for capital program transactions under $5 million.

Operations and Administration Committee – Third Thursday of the month – 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The committee will be chaired by Dave Enslow and vice chaired by John Marchione. The other members are Fred Butler, Dow Constantine, Paul Roberts, Claudia Thomas and Pete von Reichbauer. The committee carries such responsibilities as:

  • Reviewing and monitoring operating plans, transit services and customer-facing programs
  • Providing oversight, strategic direction and recommendations to the Board on fleet and facility plans
    Approving the annual Service Implementation Plan
  • Reviewing operating impacts of facility and corridor capital projects
  • Reviewing proposed annual transit operations and staff budgets and providing recommendations to the Executive Committee and/or Board
  • Reviewing and providing recommendations to the Executive Committee and/or the Board on new and existing operations and administration policies

Yesterday’s Board action gave the Operations and Administration Committee final approval authority for operating and administration transactions under $5 million.

Executive Committee – First Thursday of the month – 10:30 a.m. to noon

The Executive Committee will be chaired by Aaron Reardon, with Claudia Thomas and Fred Butler as vice chairs. The other members of the committee are Dow Constantine, Dave Enslow, Paula Hammond, Pat McCarthy, Mike McGinn, Julia Patterson. The committee will focus on issues including:

  • Reviewing the Board rules, operating procedures, and governance structure
  • Reviewing agency-wide policies and providing recommendations to the Board
  • Reviewing and monitoring the legislative program
  • Considering public and government relations and communications strategies
  • Reviewing the overall Agency budget upon recommendations of other committees
  • Reviewing and monitoring the Agency’s financial plan
  • Reviewing proposed bond issues
  • Evaluating the performance of the CEO

The Executive Committee does not have final approval authority; however, existing Board policies allow it to act in lieu of the Board.

The Audit and Reporting Committee is now a permanent Board committee and will meet continue to meet quarterly on the third Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The committee is chaired by Richard Conlin and vice chaired by Joe Marine. It also includes Sound Transit Board members Fred Butler, Dave Enslow and Claudia Thomas, and Citizen Oversight Panel Chair Paul Wiesner.