Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Design, University of Nebraska-Lincoln | Master of Architecture, Ohio State University
Volunteer experience
ORBT Stakeholder Advisory Committee; Transit Oriented Development Stakeholder Committee, City of Omaha Landmarks Commission, Heartland 2050 Infrastructure Committee, Omaha by Design Advisory Council, ConnectGO Communications Committee
Transit is about connecting people, places, and opportunity. However, serving the community requires more than simply connecting riders with where they need to go, when they want to go there.
Whether we’re talking about someone who relies on the system today – or someone who might do so in the future – focusing on the rider experience is key to growth. This means extending service and enhancing frequency so that riders don’t need to consult a schedule, earning trust with on-time reliability, and respecting riders as valued customers with appropriate standards of comfort, courtesy, and convenience.
Even more important than coverage, what makes a transit system truly regional is its impact.
RMTA District 4, covering 24 square miles in south-central Omaha, is served by 10 bus routes. Yet whether you ride Metro daily, occasionally, or not at all – everyone benefits from the access these routes provide: cleaner air, less road congestion, and enhanced economic activity, to name a few.
As your elected representative, I will apply my depth of experience to enhance Metro Transit’s network in service of current riders, future riders, and the community as a whole. I will study the data to support expansion where it makes most sense, responsibly stewarding our civic resources while ensuring high-quality connectivity throughout the city.
Achieving goals such as increasing ridership and expanding regionally are only possible with the support of a dedicated team of drivers, mechanics, and staff. Metro Transit is not immune to the industry-wide challenge of recruiting and retaining skilled operations and maintenance personnel. I am aware that, in recent months, an acute shortage of drivers has caused on-time performance to slip.
As your representative, I would emphasize the importance of building a workplace culture of respect, appreciation, and teamwork. With robust support for training and career advancement, plus the technology, equipment, and facilities needed to do the job, I have every expectation that Metro’s hardworking team will tackle this challenge successfully.
Education
Bachelor’s Degree
Current Public Office, dates held
None
Past Public Office, dates held
None
Military experience
None
Volunteer experience
Septemberfest, SONA treasurer
I want to ensure our routes and services match the needs of students, workers, seniors, and underserved communities. I also want to promote the benefits of mass transit to our community, including reduced energy consumption, savings for riders in fuel and accident costs, and relief of stress from limited parking availability in business and entertainment districts throughout our community.
We should explore feasible ways to extend the routes to western Omaha, Council Bluffs, and Sarpy County. Addressing sustainable demand can help increase revenues without putting an additional burden on taxpayers. It is crucial to be wary of politicians who make promises that sound too good to be true; such promises often fail and cost more taxes. A successful transit system will contribute to the diverse and mobile workforce required to grow our local economy.
Mass transit addresses one of commuters' most serious challenges: congestion on our roads and transportation infrastructure. When construction, road conditions, accidents, or other factors cause bus schedule delays, riders may lose a sense of reliability. We must continue to use current and evolving technology to inform customers of delays or schedule changes. A smart city approach will keep traffic moving optimally during peak demand. If the City could once again require signage at all road construction projects to identify the entity in charge, all citizens could know what is responsible for extended traffic delays and plan accordingly.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
