After a thorough six-month national search, the UTA Board of Trustees is excited to announce that they have chosen Carolyn Gonot as the agency’s new Executive Director.

Gonot is a 25-year transit professional with a background in Civil Engineering. She will join UTA after 22 years with Santa Clara Valley Transit Authority (VTA) where she led the funding and planning for the 16-mile, six-station extension of the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system into San Jose.

“Gonot’s breadth of experience in the transit industry is extensive, ranging from service and program planning to managing and implementing major capital projects,” said Carlton Christensen, UTA Board Chair. “Her decades of transit experience give her an understanding of the entire transit agency, and she has the leadership qualities to ensure UTA continues to improve its service to the community.”

VTA has been challenged with many of the same issues the Wasatch Front now faces including diversifying demographics, significant population growth and rapid economic development. “There are valuable lessons from Silicon Valley that can be applied to the Silicon Slopes,” Gonot said. Her experience with these conditions is valuable as the Wasatch Front population is estimated to double by 2050.

Another unique aspect of VTA that has prepared Gonot to serve the Utah community is that it handles everything transit — from bicycle paths to congestion management. UTA is continually embracing its mission to provide integrated mobility solutions, connecting many transit types to serve as many people as possible. Gonot is well prepared to lead this effort.

Gonot will officially become the next UTA Executive Director following approval at the June 26 board meeting.

She is expected to start at UTA on August 19, 2019. Please give her a warm welcome to UTA and the Beehive State!