WTS Woman of the Year Announced

Phoenix, AZ (Dec. 15, 2009) 

Transportation industry association, WTS, has named Carol Ketcherside, Deputy Executive Director of Planning for Valley Metro Regional Public Transportation Authority (RPTA), the 2009 Woman of the Year for the Metropolitan Phoenix chapter.

Ketcherside, a north Phoenix resident, began her career in transportation 25 years ago, which included working for the Topeka Metropolitan Transit Authority in Topeka, Kansas and VIA Metropolitan Transit in San Antonio, Texas. For 12 years she served as the executive director of the South West Transit Association (SWTA).

Since joining the RPTA in November 2006, her transit-related accomplishments have included:

• Completion and ongoing implementation of the Valley Metro Regional Paratransit Study, which includes intense involvement from the disability community, member agency concurrence, and gaining approval of a new program requiring in-person assessments for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) eligibility.
• Leading the planning and development of several Proposition 400 projects including the Mesa Main Street LINK Bus Rapid Transit service, regional bus stops and park-and-rides.
• Involvement with regional planning activities including commuter rail studies, and the Maricopa Association of Governments Transit Framework Study.
• Serving as a mentor for career-minded women in the WTS Mentorship Program.

“Our agency is honored to have Carol’s unlimited collection of skills and talents to direct our planning efforts,” said David A. Boggs, Valley Metro RPTA executive director. “Despite unending challenges, her ability to gain consensus both within the disability community and our member agencies has been extremely valuable in the development of a vital regional transit program.”

Ketcherside earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree at the University of Kansas. She is also affiliated with the following transit-related industry associations: American Public Transportation Association, Community Transportation Association of America, a Federal Transit Administration advisory committee, South West Transit Association, WTS, and Transit Cooperative Research Program.

Valley Metro/RPTA provides eco-friendly public transit options to residents of greater Phoenix and Maricopa County, including a clean-fuel bus fleet, low-emissions light rail,  a bio-diesel Dial-a-Ride fleet, online carpool matching and bus trip mapping, and bicycle and telework assistance. Funding is provided by local, state and federal revenues; and administered by a board of 15 governments working to improve and regionalize the public transit system.                                                                               # # #