First Transit appointed Fadi Chakbazof as its sr. VP, operations for the west region, effective immediately. In this role, Chakbazof will be responsible for all operations in the west region, reporting directly to Beverly Edwards, COO.
“Fadi has an impressive track record delivering operational excellence and innovative solutions for transit agencies,” said Edwards. “We are excited to add such a talent to our executive team and look forward to him applying his leadership in transportation for our customers.”
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Chakbazof has more than 17 years of transportation experience in areas such as operations, finance, legal, labor negotiations, and customer engagement and leadership. He most recently was a sr. VP for MV Transportation Inc.
Nick Promponas, currently sr. VP, operations for the west region, will support Chakbazof through the summer. In the fall, Promponas will assume a new role as sr. VP for all North America transit management operations, continuing to enhance service delivery to First Transit’s customers.
Additionally, Rick Dunning, sr. VP, transit management operations, who has more than 40 years of distinguished service at First Transit, announced his retirement. Throughout his career, Dunning has been active with various transit industry associations and trade groups, and will continue to make significant contributions to customers until the end of year. First Transit recognizes the extent of Dunning’s impact on the transportation industry and communities across North America.
The region’s fixed-route system finished out the year with a total of 373.5 million rides. Adding 12.3 million rides over 2024 represents an increase that is equal to the annual transit ridership of Kansas City.
Rolling out in electric yellow and seafoam blue, the first battery-electric buses purchased from GILLIG will begin serving riders in south King County on February 2.
The agreement provides competitive wages and reflects strong labor-management collaboration, positive working relationships, and a shared commitment to building a world-class transit system for the community, said RTA CEO Lona Edwards Hankins.
The priorities are outlined in the 2026 Board and CEO Initiatives and Action Plan, which serves as a roadmap to guide the agency’s work throughout the year and ensure continued progress and accountability on voter-approved transportation investments and essential mobility services.
In this edition, we cover recent appointments and announcements at HDR, MCTS, and more, showcasing the individuals helping to shape the future of transportation.
While their comprehensive analysis of bus stops focused on Massachusetts, the researchers are excited about the generalizability of the findings and application to other locations.
CEO Nat Ford’s address offered a look at highlights from 2025, with a focus on the future and the innovative ways the JTA is shaping mobility in Northeast Florida.
