New TransLink CEO could be revealed tomorrow

In King County, he oversaw the launch of light rail, streetcar service and several bus rapid transit lines and an electronic smart card, the Orca.

While TransLink is in charge of both its mass transit fleet, and maintaining roads and bridges, Desmond has a history of focusing on ridership.

Desmond said he wants to talk to the public and businesses as well as TransLink brass and employees – citing everyone from those who clean the stations to those who drive buses – before coming up with a game plan to improve the reliability of the transit system.

Metro’s general manager Kevin Desmond is set to take a new job next month, as the CEO of TransLink, Vancouver, BC’s regional transit authority. He has also worked as the operations manager for New York City transit.

Desmond’s annual pay will be $365,000 – in the mid-range of the salary approved last fall by the Mayors’ Council for TransLink.

“I think the way he rode Metro through multiple recessions down here speaks well to his management skills”, said Shaner. Many people north of the border say their current transit system has been mismanaged by its leadership. “If we’ve got a good level of customer satisfaction, the rest of it will grow”.

That’s what Shaner wrote in a post about Desmond’s departure from King County, and what he believes will serve him well in his new position.

“Ridership is a big deal to me.If we’re focused on ridership, that means we’re focused on the customer, if we’re focused on the customers as an organization, we’re probably always focused on the right thing”. He was chosen after an global search to replace former CEO Ian Jarvis, who stepped down about a year ago. For the first year only, Desmond will receive a housing allowance of $1,500 per month.