UTA Press Release

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Gerry Carpenter, 801-859-6095

Date: April 8, 2010 Press Release





UTA Board of Trustees Announces Organizational Changes

Michael Allegra designated as UTA general manager;
John Inglish transitions to new role as chief executive officer



Salt Lake City – The Utah Transit Authority board of trustees announced Thursday that it has appointed Michael Allegra as the agency’s new general manager. Allegra succeeds John Inglish, who has served as general manager for the past 13 years. Effective immediately, Allegra will assume all general manager responsibilities, including operations, projects and programs, and management of staff. Allegra previously served as assistant general manager and chief capital development officer.



The UTA board of trustees also announced that John Inglish has been appointed to a new role as chief executive officer. In his new capacity, Inglish is charged by the board to focus exclusively on national transit industry initiatives, to promote transit and influence national transportation policy, and to seek new federal and other funding opportunities for UTA.



“This is a natural transition that will move the agency forward at a pivotal time,” Larry Ellertson, UTA board chair said. “A lot of change is taking place in transit locally and nationally. Making this change now puts the right leadership in the right place for UTA to work through its challenges and opportunities.”



Both Inglish and Allegra have been with UTA for more than 30 years. They have been instrumental in the development and expansion of mass transit across the Wasatch Front, serving six counties and 1,400 square miles. Together, they have built the agency from a small bus company to a true multimodal system with more than 600 buses and 70 miles of passenger rail, including TRAX and FrontRunner. Under their leadership, UTA has received national and international recognition as one of the most innovative and successful transit agencies in the country.



In addition, Inglish and Allegra are currently leading the effort to build an additional 70 miles of rail along the Wasatch Front, with four new light rail lines and the 45-mile extension of FrontRunner from Salt Lake City to Provo. Over the past five years, they have brought more than $1 billion in federal discretionary funding to Utah for mass transit projects.



“UTA is at a crossroads, facing the significant economic challenges posed by the economic downturn while simultaneously embarking on major expansion of our programs and services,” Ellertson said. “Both John and Mike are exceptionally well prepared to meet the challenges and to take UTA to the next level.”



In other action, the UTA board designated Bruce Jones as general counsel and president of government resources. The new title reflects expanded duties in coordinating UTA’s government relations and resources at the local, state and federal levels.



For more information about UTA’s board of trustees, visit www.rideuta.com.



Photos and bios are available on request.





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Established in 1970, UTA has become a multi-modal transportation leader that is 100 percent accessible with 69 light rail vehicles, 35 commuter rail cars and more than 600 buses. UTA’s TRAX light rail system is currently averaging more than 40,000 riders a day along its 15-mile Salt Lake-Sandy line and the 4-mile University Line. UTA is an ISO 14001:2004 9001:2000 certified agency. During the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, UTA’s transit system was declared a great success on the international scene - carrying more than four million Olympic riders.



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