Former Operation Lifesaver Inc. (OLI) President/CEO Joyce Rose will lead a broad range of transit and rail safety initiatives as a principal consultant in the Baltimore office of WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff.
In her new position, Rose will provide client services nationwide relating to transit/rail operations safety and security. She will also serve as project manager for the on-call systems safety services contract with the Maryland Transit Administration, supporting the agency in all aspects of its safety and security needs.
Rose has over 25 years of experience as a manager and policy analyst for rail and transit operations. At OLI, she was responsible for developing and implementing strategic goals, objectives, plans and budgets for the national organization. She previously served for 25 years as a congressional staff member for U.S. House and Senate transportation committees, and is a recognized national rail and transit policy expert.
Rose is a member of the Transportation Research Board, serving on the committee on highway/railroad crossings and as chairman of the subcommittee on right-of-way fatality and trespass prevention. She is also a member of the American Public Transportation Association, serving on the rail safety and commuter rail safety and security committees.
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.
The service is a flexible, reservation-based transit service designed to close the first- and last-mile gaps and connect riders to employment for just $5 per day.
The upgraded system, which went live earlier this month, supports METRO’s METRONow vision to enhance the customer experience, improve service reliability, and strengthen long-term regional mobility.
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.
