TriMet Board names single finalist in GM search

TriMet’s Board of Directors has named current TriMet COO Doug Kelsey as a single finalist in the search for a new GM. This comes after an international search, including interviews that narrowed the candidates down to Kelsey. At a special board meeting at the end of the month, the board will either authorize the Board Chair to negotiate a contract with Kelsey or choose to continue the GM search.

Current GM Neil McFarlane brought Kelsey to TriMet in late 2015 where he has quickly improved the overall on-time performance of the transit system.

Under Kelsey’s direction, TriMet implemented its first comprehensive strategic business plan. The rolling five-year plan lays the framework for TriMet to achieve overall strategic goals and objectives in response to projected regional population and employment growth while pursuing continuous improvement. Through this new approach, divisions across the agency have aligned priorities to better track progress, plan for future needs, match growth with performance and prioritize all efforts to meet customers’ needs, according to the agency.

With the additional funding provided by House Bill 2017 and the agency’s ability to expand service, Kelsey will take on a renewed role for the agency in shaping and managing the TriMet’s urban planning strategies in support of the region’s transportation and land-use policies.

Kelsey has spearheaded a focus on key performance indicators, integrating efforts across the agency to improve operations, emphasize accountability, and focus on the customer experience. He led the charge to improve MAX Light Rail on-time performance from 75% in November 2015 to more than 88% by November 2017. Much of the on-time performance improvement has come from tracking daily departures from rail yards to assure trains are starting service on time, providing added training for operators, putting Portable Data Devices in the train cabs so operators can track their time points, and coordinating with police, first responders and staff to speed up efforts to get and keep the tracks clear.

Kelsey has directed improvement in bus on-time performance as well, from 81% to 86% in one year’s time. He also launched a rail safety review that has led to a more than 200% reduction in rail rule violations in just a year.

Kelsey has placed an increased focus on enhancing diversity within TriMet operations during his tenure. Within operations, Kelsey increased utilization in 2017 for both women and minorities to 22.4% and 25.1%, respectively. This is generally representative of the community, where the workforce availability for women and minorities for operations positions is 23.2% and 24.6%, respectively. Kelsey’s progress in building diversity in TriMet’s operating departments is noteworthy given most positions there are filled solely by union seniority and given the historical challenge of building gender diversity within maintenance ranks.

Prior to his position at TriMet, Kelsey worked at TransLink, the regional transportation authority in the Vancouver, B.C. metro area, where he served in many capacities including COO. He also led subsidiary British Columbia Rapid Transit Co. Ltd. as president/GM, was president of subsidiary Coast Mountain Bus Co. and served as president/CEO of subsidiary West Coast Express. Prior to TransLink, Kelsey worked in executive, managerial and technical roles within the transportation, multi-unit retail, waste management, and oil industries.

Kelsey and his wife Janet live in the Johns Landing area and have three grown children. He enjoys spending time with his three grandkids whenever he gets the chance. He’s an avid basketball and football fan, enjoys cycling, taking his motorcycle out on weekend trips, and hiking. Kelsey is a passionate believer in public transit and takes the Line 35-Macadam/Greeley or 36-South Shore for his daily commute.