Mass Transit magazine features agency profiles, industry trends, management tips and new product information.
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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014 | MassTransitmag.com | Mass Transit | 17 Ryan Bailey, CPA Chief Financial Officer North County Transit District Adam Barth Transportation Manager Fairbanks North Star Borough/ MACS Transit and Van Trans Systems RYAN BAILEY was introduced to the transit industry in September 2009 when he joined the North County Transit District as con- troller. Since December 2011, he has overseen a staf of 16, a budget of nearly $100 million and an agency of 151 members as CFO and member of executive management. During this time, he has enhanced the agency through a combination of innovation, fs- cal responsibility and fexibility. Under Bailey's leadership, NCTD is partnering with Am- trak to expand Coaster com- muter rail service through use of existing Amtrak passenger carrying capacity. Tis part- nership allows NCTD to have six additional trains serve all eight of NCTD's Coaster sta- tions. Tis agreement provides customers with increased trav- el options at a fraction of the cost of operating a new service and increased ridership for NCTD. Another innovation instituted by Bailey is the online and mobile ticketing program. Initially begun for a special event, he has expanded it to include ticketing for San Diego's National Foot- ball League and Major League Baseball teams, the county fair, horse racing and every day round-trip and single-ride ticketing. Afer the recession, NCTD's Capital Improve - ment Program was funded at only $8 million a year. Under Bailey's guidance, NCTD's in - vestment into capital projects swelled to $26 million for FY13, $27 million FY14, and FY15 is budgeted for $21 mil- lion. Bailey was able to reach these signifcantly increased funding levels through ef - ciencies he created in the op- erating budget and measured use of working capital. Bailey was motivated to create the frst-ever reserve fund at NCTD. Te board re- serve fund target of at least 15 percent of the operating budget was hit within one year of its creation. Bailey also championed fnancial transparency providing in-depth fnan- cial updates to the board of directors. www.MassTransitmag.com/11617647 ADAM BARTH has been with the Fairbanks North Star Borough for 4 years, manag- ing the MACS Transit and Van Tran system. Com- ing into this position, he saw some areas needing improvement and committed to make them better. Tese projects include a sim- plifcation of the MACS Tran- sit routes, new bus stop signs and schedules, and new routes to previously uncovered areas of Fairbanks. Tese improve- ments have resulted in a rid- ership increase of 30 percent. Barth has been dedicated to this position, continually looking at ways to improve the operation by providing conve- nient, easy-to-understand and frequent bus service for the residents and visitors of the borough. He is currently working on estab- lishing an AVL system for the transit feet. He has worked with the Alaska Department of Transportation and other private land own- ers to construct bus stop shelters throughout the system, with the frst group scheduled for con- struction this summer. He's involved in transit statewide with the Alas- ka Mobility Coalition, and is currently serving on its board of directors as vice president. He's also been heavily involved with regional coordination plans to bring transit providers together both in Fairbanks and Interior Alaska. Barth is known statewide as a source of transportation experi- ence in both the public and private sectors as he worked for 10 years in the cruise and tour industry prior to coming to the borough, includ- ing at Holland America Line as a manager overseeing the land tour operation in Fairbanks. Barth led the efort to arrange and plan the transportation for the Arctic Winter Games held in Fairbanks in March 2014. Tis involved setting up a transit system for more than 2,000 athletes from the United States, Canada, Greenland, Russia and Norway, to get them to sport and accommodation venues scattered across Fairbanks. Te games were a success and he received numerous accolades for a well-run transportation system. www.MassTransitmag.com/11610351 "The future of public transit must continue to provide services that further integrate into the strategic goals and objectives of a region. Public transit has an amazing history of moving people, but public transit should strive to move people with a purpose." "As I ride the bus in Fairbanks talking with drivers and customers, I see the impact that MACS Transit has on everyday people. Knowing that many people rely on it drives me to make it the best. I like being a part of this growing industry ..."