Edmonds Mayor Elected to Lead Board of Directors; New Transportation Director

Snohomish County, Wash. – Edmonds Mayor Dave Earling was elected as the new chair of Community Transit’s Board of Directors for 2019. Earling replaces Stanwood Mayor Leonard Kelley, who will remain on the board.

Earling is in his second stint on the Community Transit board, having served from 1992 to 2003 and 2012 to the present. Earling served as the board’s chair once before, in 1999. Earling also serves on the Sound Transit board.

Snohomish County Council Chair Terry Ryan was elected Vice Chair of the Community Transit board and Marysville Mayor John Nehring was elected Secretary.

Community Transit’s Board of Directors is comprised of 10 members, nine of whom are elected officials from Snohomish County and the cities within the transit agency’s service district, as well as a labor representative elected by the agency’s bargaining units. There are five alternate board members. The board approves the budget and sets policy direction for the agency. To learn more about the Community Transit Board of Directors visit this page.

New Transportation Director

After a national search, Community Transit has hired a new director of Transportation. Steve Kim will oversee the agency’s directly operated transportation department, including drivers, dispatchers, supervisors, and an administrative team, to deliver safe and reliable transportation services to our customers.

Kim began his new role on Jan. 28, just before snow impacted service. His most recent position was Northwest Regional Manager for National Express/Durham School Services, one of the nation’s largest student transportation and transit companies. He also served as a Commander in the U.S. Navy and Naval Reserve. He is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and the Northwestern University Kellogg Graduate School of Management.

“We are fortunate to have Steve Kim joining our agency. He is an experienced leader who will continue the great work our employees have been doing for 42 years and help guide future expansion and growth,” said Community Transit CEO Emmett Heath. “Steve arrives just in time to help launch our Swift Green Line in March of this year, and help plan for the transformative changes Link light rail will bring to Snohomish County in 2024.”

Community Transit is responsible for providing bus and paratransit service, vanpool, and alternative commute options in Snohomish County. The agency is building a network of Swift bus rapid transit lines with Swift Blue Line along Highway 99 and the Swift Green Line between Canyon Park/Bothell and Boeing/Paine Field opening on March 24.