RTA Board Appoints Leanne P. Redden Executive Director

October 15, 2014

The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) Board of Directors today unanimously approved an ordinance to appoint Leanne P. Redden the RTA Executive Director. Redden, who had been serving as the RTA’s acting executive director since March 1, 2014, thanked the Board for the appointment, and said she looks forward to continuing to work with the board members, RTA staff and Service Boards to advance transit for the riding public in our region.

“I look forward to working with my colleagues at the RTA, community leaders and elected officials from around the region to continue to improve our mass-transit system and ensure that the RTA continues to serve as an effective oversight agency,” Redden said.
Redden served as the RTA’s Senior Deputy Executive Director of Planning since 2005. She was instrumental in developing strategic long range planning initiatives for the region’s transit system and was a key player in the 2008 Funding Reform Legislation. Under her leadership, the RTA Planning Department completed the first Regional Market and Systems Analysis and Bus Rapid Transit work, including the planning and engineering for region’s first bus-on-shoulder service in November 2011 and region-wide Traffic Signal Priority Program. In addition, with her guidance, the RTA Board of Directors adopted the 2013 Regional Transit Strategic Plan earlier this year.  Redden’s team also oversaw the development of the first plan in 2007. Her group led the development of the region’s first Green Transit Plan and secured $40 million in federal funds to support the projects.

Redden has a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of New South Wales, Australia.