Quote:
The arrival of Keith Parker, the new president and CEO of VIA Metropolitan Transit, is expected to further fuel the push for the development of a multi-modal transportation system in San Antonio.
Parker, who has only been on the job for a few weeks, hails from Charlotte, N.C., where he served as CEO and director of public transit for the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS). At CATS, Parker was responsible for bus and para-transit operations and also helped to develop Charlotte’s light-rail transit system.
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From
http://charlotte.bizjournals.com/cha...8/daily11.html
Before he became CEO at CATS, Parker was chief operating officer and deputy director of CATS from 2000 to 2004. After that, Parker became assistant city manager and was a finalist for the city manager’s job in 2007 before becoming CATS’ top executive later that year. He also worked at the Clark County (Wash.) Transit Authority and the Greater Richmond Transit Co. in Virginia.
In San Antonio, VIA Metropolitan Transit has a
$165 million budget. The agency is prepping plans for a proposed light-rail line and expanded bus system in 2012, Ingle says. Parker will replace John Milam, who worked at VIA for 33 years and was president and CEO for 16 before retiring in January. Roland Lozano has run VIA as interim president and CEO since then.
My opinion:
I just wanted to point out that Parker didn't work at CATS between 2004 to 2007, a three year gap when most of the construction of the CATS light rail line was underway. CATS light rail opening day was 24 November 2007. CATS 2009 operating budget was $112.6 Million.
Source:
http://www.charmeck.org/NR/rdonlyres...SFY2009SOP.pdf
CATS is funded primarily with income from Federal and State sources, fare revenue, and the voter approved one half cent Sales & Use tax. The tax is utilized to fund annual debt service expense and operating and capital costs. CATS operates as an enterprise fund of the City and as such, all accounting practice is controlled by the City’s Finance Department in compliance with established financial and governmental reporting principles and standards.
In order to build on the programs of the past years; promote the mission, vision and strategic goals of Public Transit; implement directives of the MTC and City Council; and handle its challenges and priorities, CATS Operating Budget for FY2009 is $112.6 million; the Operating Balance is projected at $21.0 million and the Capital Budget is $143.9 million.
Will San Antonio citizens ever give VIA a full cent sales tax to build and maintain rail projects?
Presently, the VIA bus system is supported by the half cent sales tax. To add any significant rail lines of any type, VIA will need more tax revenues. If VIA doesn't add more tax revenues, VIA will have to take some financial resources away from bus services to build and fund rail services.
I know a few will point out that CATS only charges a half cent sales tax, and was able to build a 9.6 mile starter light rail line. But they're not capable of building more miles of light rail without more local taxes. Might as well seek a full penny sales taxes so you can build all your train lines faster.