The Hood River County Transportation District Board appointed John Andoh to serve as asst. executive director of Columbia Area Transit (CAT), with a transition to the position of executive director in July 2022 when current Executive Director Patty Fink retires.

Under the mentorship of Fink, Andoh will assist with updating the Transit Master Plan, meet and collaborate with community members and civic leaders, and learn the ropes at CAT to assume the Directorship next year.

When Andoh assumes the role in July 2022, he will be responsible for managing the day-to-day operations, executing the Transit Master Plan projects, and leading policy development and planning for a balanced, safe, and efficient transportation system. Additional responsibilities include promoting increased use of sustainable forms of transportation like walking, biking, and transit use in the District’s service area, while working to improve equity in transportation policies, programs, and services.

Andoh previously served as executive director/CEO of the Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (The COMET) in Columbia, S.C. He has held this position since 2018 and was responsible for directing all aspects of a multi-county public transit system’s operations while ensuring compliance with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations, and managing many agreements for service delivery. During his tenure with The COMET, Andoh implemented innovative partnerships for bikesharing, transportation network companies, mobility management, and vanpooling. He also established a transportation program to combat food deserts, provided fresh produce at a downtown transit center, nighttime needs, and connecting people to vaccinations.

Andoh has performed part-time work for both the City of Escalon, Calif., since 2000 and the other for the City of Quartzsite, Ariz., since 2013. His duties for these positions included route planning, scheduling, procurement, contract administration, budget management, customer service, and public outreach and marketing. His prior transit experience includes positions with the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority in Austin, Texas, Yuma County Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority in Yuma, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency in Stateline, Nev., and City of Elk Grove in Elk Grove, Calif.