The city of Phoenix’s Public Transit Department recently added an administrator to introduce bus rapid transit (BRT) under the city’s voter-approved Phoenix Transportation 2050 plan (T2050).

Mike James joins the department as the city’s first BRT administrator, after having spent the last four-and-a-half years planning and managing rail and transit corridors in Seattle, which included street car operations and seven new bus rapid transit corridors.

“I am excited to be back in Phoenix and starting a new challenge with public transit. I look forward to working with the team and innovatively developing a new transit mode that our community can be proud of,” said James. “We want to make sure we introduce a safe, clean, reliable and secure service that can be used daily to get to work, school and that will help develop and expand local businesses.”

James adds the key to success in transit is working with the communities, finding out what their needs are and showing how the project is going to benefit them. His involvement is in everything, from the design of the stations to evaluation of the operational and technological needs of each BRT corridor.

James has more than 20 years of transportation experience including previous work with Valley Metro, the city of Mesa and as a consultant in the private sector.