Embracing Public Transportation: New STA Leader Sees Potential in town as a Transit Hub
Newly Appointed Spokane Transit Authority CEO Sparks Controversy
Karl Otterstrom, a long-time employee of the Spokane Transit Authority (STA), has been selected as the CEO of the organisation. However, the process by which he was chosen has sparked controversy, with public transportation advocates and labor representatives expressing disappointment and outrage.
The controversy stems from the opaque and limited candidate selection process that denied public participation. Otterstrom was the only candidate presented by the recommendation team for consideration by the rest of the board, a decision that was made in a special board meeting where no public comments were allowed.
Despite the controversy, the board unanimously voted July 17 to move forward with Otterstrom as the next CEO. Otterstrom, who is set to officially take office on Aug. 10, is widely seen as a qualified candidate. He has served in multiple leadership roles at STA, including interim co-CEO and chief planning and development officer, and has guided major projects such as the City Line Bus Rapid Transit and the Connect 2035 strategic plan.
Otterstrom's passion for public transit was sparked during a visit to Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1986 for the World's Fair, where he experienced the SkyTrain for the first time. His interest did not stop there; he also won a bus-route scavenger hunt organized by Spokane Transit workers in sixth grade.
Otterstrom's personal mission includes making the world a better place, and he feels privileged to work at STA to work towards that goal. He considers Spokane as a "great place for transit" due to its historic streetcar routes and the plaid layout of streets that allow people in distant neighborhoods to walk to bus stops.
Otterstrom's extensive experience and knowledge of the community have been highlighted by members of the STA directors' board. Board member and Spokane County Commissioner Al French shared a similar sentiment, stating that Otterstrom's ability to use and build transit in the community is unlike anything he's ever seen.
Plans for a rapid transit line stretching along Division and a new facility dedicated to clean energy buses are imminent at STA. The organisation is also exploring the possibility of creating a bus route to connect Spokane to Kootenai County, a subject on which Otterstrom based his master's thesis.
Dan Dunne, Spokane Transit board member and Liberty Lake city councilman, said Otterstrom was selected for the role because of his knowledge of the community and his strong technical skill set. Otterstrom holds a bachelor's degree in urban and regional planning from Eastern Washington University and a master's in urban planning from the University of Washington.
Despite the controversy surrounding his appointment, Otterstrom has received support from the community. A letter from an EWU student who lived in the Hillyard area neighborhood thanked STA for enabling the student to graduate from Eastern Washington University by providing affordable transportation.
As Otterstrom takes office, he will be tasked with navigating the challenges of leading STA and continuing to build on the progress made under his leadership.
[1] Spokane Transit Authority selects Karl Otterstrom as CEO [2] Controversy surrounds appointment of Spokane Transit Authority CEO [3] Spokane Transit Authority announces new CEO, faces backlash for lack of public input
- The Spokane Transit Authority (STA) has announced Karl Otterstrom as its new CEO, a decision that has sparked controversy due to the limited candidate selection process and lack of public participation.
- Despite the controversy, Otterstrom, an experienced and qualified candidate, will lead Spokane Transit Authority (STA), overseeing planned projects such as a rapid transit line, clean energy buses, and potentially a bus route connecting Spokane to Kootenai County.
