People News: MDTA, Sound Transit

Bruce W. Gartner, Executive Director, MDTA (left); and Goran Sparrman, interim CEO, Sound Transit (right).

Bruce W. Gartner will serve as the Maryland Transportation Authority’s (MDTA) Executive Director. Also, Sound Transit approves the appointment of Goran Sparrman as interim CEO.

MDTA

Following a vote on Jan. 11 by Board Members, MDTA has announced that Bruce W. Gartner will serve as the agency’s Executive Director, taking over for Acting Executive Director Percy E. Dangerfield.

Gartner will begin serving officially in his role on Jan. 31 when Dangerfield resumes his role as MDTA Chief Administrative Officer. As head of the MDTA, Gartner will lead a 1,700-employee agency that finances, constructs, operates, preserves and improve the state’s eight toll facilities, including the DriveEzMD Maryland tolling system and the nationally accredited Maryland Transportation Authority Police.

Immediately prior to joining MDTA, Gartner served as the Administrator of the Howard County Office of Transportation. In this role, he was responsible for the planning and development of bicycle and pedestrian facilities and enhancements to the regional transit network. Gartner led Howard County’s efforts to develop long-term transportation plans and served as the County Executive’s “empowered representative” on the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (BRTB). Previously, he served as the Maryland Transportation Client Account Manager at Jacobs Engineering Group in Baltimore.

Gartner has a long history with MDTA and the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT). This is his second time serving as MDTA Executive Director, having previously held the role from 2013 to 2015. Before that, he served as the Director of Policy & Governmental Affairs and Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy & Freight at MDOT. He also served as Director of Strategic Development at MDTA.

“We are pleased to welcome Executive Director Gartner back to the MDTA,” said Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld, who also serves as MDTA’s Chairman. “I want to thank Acting Executive Director Dangerfield for jumping into the role and for his tireless commitment to the agency, our employees and our customers. During his more than 25 years of public service, Acting Executive Director Dangerfield has set a strong example of the importance of fostering employee development and an inclusive environment.”

Sound Transit

The Sound Transit Board of Directors on Jan. 11 approved the one-year appointment of Goran Sparrman as the agency’s interim CEO.

Sparrman’s first day at the agency will be Jan. 13. Departing CEO Julie Timm’s last day at the agency is Jan. 12. Timm announced her resignation last month in order to return to the East Coast to take care of family matters.

“In the next nine months, we will expand Link light rail at a scale never before seen at the agency, and we’re excited to have Goran’s skillset and background leading the way,” said Sound Transit Board Chair and King County Executive Dow Constantine. “This is ambitious, exciting and, of course, daunting. The Board believes in Goran’s ability to lead the agency through this transformative period of growth while continuing to focus on delivering reliable, frequent, and safe transit service for all our passengers.”

“I am looking forward to joining with the dedicated professionals at Sound Transit to celebrate the upcoming successes and tackle the challenges ahead,” said Sparrman. “By working together creatively and efficiently, I am confident that we will be able to deliver for the residents of our region.”