Travelers on the Go: Denver's RTD and Spokane's Transit Systems in Focus

Travelers on the Go: Denver's RTD and Spokane's Transit Systems in Focus

New Leadership at Spokane Transit Authority and Denver Regional Transportation District

The Spokane Transit Authority (STA) and Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) have announced new leadership appointments in their respective organisations.

In Spokane, Karl Otterstrom has been appointed as the agency's next CEO, succeeding E. Susan Meyer who served as CEO from 2005 to 2024. Otterstrom is a Spokane native and a regular transit user, having joined STA in 2009 as the director of planning and development. He has nearly 20 years of experience in public transportation, with over 15 of those years at STA.

Otterstrom's accomplishments at STA include securing more than $170 million in grant funding and creating programs like the Universal Transit Access Pass, which increased both ridership and revenue. He has also led the development of a new partnership with Spokane Public Schools to shift most high school students to public transit starting in 2022. Otterstrom's appointment is pending a mutually signed, board approved employment contract, and he is expected to assume the role in August.

Meanwhile, in Denver, Timothy Tyran has been appointed as the director of safety and environmental compliance and chief safety officer. Tyran brings more than 35 years of experience in aviation and mass transportation in both the U.S. and Canada. Before joining Denver RTD, Tyran worked at Amtrak as Director of System Safety Programs, Maryland Department of Transportation/Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) as Chief Safety Officer, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) as Rail and Facilities Safety Manager, and American Airlines as SMS Manager for Technical Operations.

In his new role, Tyran will manage safety programs, conduct safety and environmental audits, and coordinate with regulatory agencies. Tyran holds a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety and Health and an Associate Degree in Applied Science/Avionics Technology. He also chairs the American Public Transportation Association’s Technology for Safety, Security, and Risk Management subcommittee.

Brett Feddersen has been appointed as the inaugural chief information and technology officer at Denver RTD. Feddersen has over 20 years of experience in IT strategy and operational management. He first joined Denver RTD in 2015 and has implemented device standards that reduced user wait times. Feddersen also led the TransIT ARCHITECTED initiative, a project that improved operational effectiveness and increased customer satisfaction of the technology division at Denver RTD.

Karl Otterstrom is currently serving as STA's interim co-CEO and chief planning and development officer. Otterstrom and Feddersen bring a wealth of experience and innovative ideas to their new roles, and their appointments are expected to drive further growth and improvement in public transportation services in both Spokane and Denver.

[1] Denver RTD Press Release

[2] Spokane Transit Authority Press Release

[3] American Public Transportation Association - Technology for Safety, Security, and Risk Management Subcommittee

[4] Columbia Southern University

[5] Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology

1. The financial department of Denver RTD may witness significant advancements under Brett Feddersen's tenure as Chief Information and Technology Officer, given his 20 years of IT strategy and operational management experience.
2. Technology in public transportation, including safety programs and infrastructure, will be a key focus for the new Safety and Environmental Compliance Director at Denver RTD, Timothy Tyran, who brings more than 35 years of experience in aviation and mass transportation.
3. Both the Spokane Transit Authority and Denver Regional Transportation District are expected to undergo infrastructural growth under the leadership of Karl Otterstrom and Brett Feddersen, who are bringing innovative ideas from their expertise in transportation management and technology.
4. Karl Otterstrom, the interim co-CEO and chief planning and development officer at Spokane Transit Authority, is also a member of the American Public Transportation Association’s Technology for Safety, Security, and Risk Management subcommittee, advocating for advancements in technology across the transportation industry.

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