The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) board officially appointed Carolyn Gonot as VTA’s next GM and CEO. Before Gonot became the first woman to serve as Executive Director at Utah Transit Authority in August 2019, she fostered an impressive career with VTA spanning over two decades. She will begin her new role at VTA July 12, 2021.

At UTA, Gonot leads the Board of Trustees’ vision and focus by directing and administering a district that spans six counties with an operating budget of $336 million and a capital budget of $255 million. She leads a workforce of over 2,500 employees and is responsible for operating service over a 1,400 square mile region that includes: three light rail lines, FrontRunner commuter rail, a streetcar line, over 120 bus routes, two bus rapid transit routes, ski buses, paratransit, Flex (route-deviation) service, and vanpools.

Prior to heading to Utah, Gonot served in multiple leadership roles over her 23-year tenure with VTA, including Chief Engineering and Program Delivery Officer, Chief BART Program Officer, Chief Development Officer, and Deputy Director of the Congestion Management Program.

As GM and CEO of VTA, she will be responsible for 2100 employees, delivering projects, programs, and transit services (bus, light rail, and paratransit) for more than two million people who live or work in Santa Clara County.

The GM/CEO position was temporarily filled by VTA General Counsel Evelynn Tran after Nuria Fernandez left in January to join the Biden Administration as Acting Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration. The VTA Board formed a search committee in addition to the nationwide search conducted by executive search firm Krauthamer & Associates, Inc.

The vote on Gonot's employment agreement, including salary package, will take place at the June 3 regularly scheduled board meeting.