New interim CEO ascends, among numerous changes
By Mercedes Deutscher, Staff Reporter
Since the results of the transit referendum were made public in early July, TransLink has decided to further cut costs and reorganize the company.
Interim CEO Doug Allen will be stepping down on August 10 as a new interim CEO, Cathy McLay, steps up.
McLay has been working with TransLink for years, notably as the executive sponsor of Compass Card, a position she will continue to hold during her time as CEO.
TransLink continues to search for a new CEO for the company. If selected, the new CEO will make up to $415,000. The salary for the position has been cut back in comparison to the salaries of previous CEOs in an attempt to appease public opinion about high-costing executive salaries.
In addition to the changes in CEO, the position of vice president of planning and stakeholder relations will be discontinued. In addition, the CEO of SkyTrain operations, Doug Kelsey, will be replaced.
Christy Clark has made changes to the BC Cabinet that will place Peter Fassbender, formerly involved in the Ministry of Education, as the minister in charge of TransLink. TransLink will no longer be considered an area covered by Todd Stone, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. Fassbender was previously involved with TransLink, serving as a chair on the Mayors’ Council for numerous years.
Fassbender wishes to help restore public trust in TransLink, which was damaged during the transit plebiscite earlier this year.
“That is not going to be a small job,” Fassbender told the Vancouver Sun. “I think it requires some patience and some really strong discussions about what needs to be done in the future.”
Meanwhile, many bus drivers who drive HandyDart buses are facing layoffs as TransLink cuts down in slow service areas. This action will result in 28 layoffs, and about 10,000 hours and two per cent of service reduced from the HandyDart.
In an effort to consolidate areas where service is being cut, TransLink is attempting to offer discounted taxi fare to HandyDart users. However, it has not been made apparent if and how TransLink plans on training taxi drivers to meet the needs of those who use HandyDart.
“There’s also a question of comfort, of handling the people, because it is a door to door service,” Bob Chitenky, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, speculated.
