Sound Transit’s new CEO is not any stranger to King County or the transit board.
Dow Constantine, who has served as county government for 16 years and can also be a Sound Transit board member, was chosen as the brand new CEO by the transit board out of a area of 60 candidates.
In contrast to Constantine, lots of the candidates for the job have direct expertise operating transit techniques, together with the 4 different finalists who misplaced out to the profession politician. Sound Transit insists the general public mustn’t know who the finalists have been as a result of “the company maintains confidentiality of all candidates.” Secrecy earlier than, throughout and after the hiring of a high public official ought to concern the elected officials on the board and the individuals who elected them.
As government, Constantine appointed a lot of the members of the Sound Transit board. These board members in flip voted to rent Constantine. In another sector, public or personal, that might be thought of a battle of curiosity. The plain battle evaded these members of the board, although, as a board member Constantine eliminated himself from the method.
As a board member Constantine has been a part of Sound Transit’s successes and failures. The company’s determination to construct 4 miles of monitor on the bottom floor versus elevated rails has contributed to dozens of accidents, together with a minimum of eight fatalities.
The company has skilled a number of pricey delays in increasing the 1 Line and years of delays in beginning service to the Eastside. More moderen system breakdowns have inconvenienced passengers’ journey simply as many are returning to make use of the service because the pandemic.
But, Constantine has been a part of some successes.
The $4 billion system is present process its biggest enlargement due to assist Constantine and others garnered from voters. The choice to construct two stations close to the College of Washington has made journey for college kids, college and hospital staff, and sports activities followers extra environment friendly. And the return of fare ambassadors ought to assist generate extra earnings by fare enforcement.
As CEO, the buck stops with Constantine. He should shepherd the expansions to the Eastside and north and south; repair the issues with breakdowns and delays; and put together the system for when Seattle hosts six World Cup matches subsequent yr.
As Constantine leads the company, passenger security aboard and outdoors the trains ought to all the time be within the forefront, together with nice stewardship and accountability of the folks’s tax {dollars}.
