Research Triangle Park, N.C. -  The Triangle Transit Authority (TTA) today announced the appointment of David King to interim General Manager, effective October 9, 2006.  

Mr. King’s appointment demonstrates TTA’s commitment to moving in a new direction as it works with community leaders to renew the create a vision for transit in the Triangle. He will fill the role formerly held by John Claflin, who announced his resignation earlier this month.  

“TTA is proud to welcome David King, who is well-respected throughout the state and among transportation professionals across the country,” said TTA Chairman of the Board Carter Worthy. “We are confident that Mr. King has the leadership skills necessary to further TTA's implementation of entrepreneurial solutions to address our region's mobility challenges.”

TTA’s goal is to enhance a network of transportation options in the Triangle that includes regional bus service, vanpool, carpool and regional rail. TTA’s regional bus service continues to achieve record ridership, and ridematching and vanpooling have enjoyed unprecedented success. A new one-month record was set for ridership in August, when 80,716 rides were recorded on all TTA regional routes, shuttles and express buses during the month.

“I am excited to help direct TTA as it responds to the new challenges presented by our rapidly growing region,” said David King. “I have long been a supporter of the agency,   and look forward to working with Triangle communities to develop the best transportation solutions that will improve mobility and provide choices for area residents.”

Mr. King joined the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) in 1973 and has dedicated his life to meeting the mobility needs of North Carolina.  As Deputy Secretary, King was responsible for the department's five multimodal divisions, including the Public Transportation Division and the Rail Division.  In this role, he also helped initiate TTA's regional vanpool, carpool and bus services.

Under Mr. King’s direction, the Rail Division launched the North Carolina Station Improvement Program, which used ISTEA transportation enhancement funds to rehabilitate passenger stations with historic significance. NC DOT has since expanded its station program to improve conditions for rail passengers at new stations.

Mr. King has served as a member of the States for Passenger Rail Coalition, a 25-state organization that is working for improved rail passenger service. He has also provided leadership to the NC DOT's Executive Committee for Highway Safety. Mr. King has provided staff support to the Governor's International Travel Task Force, and the Governor's Rail Council and Rail Passenger Task Force.

Mr. King’s additional past involvements include chairing the City of Raleigh Greenway Commission; and Raleigh's Parks, Recreation and Greenway Advisory Board; the Transportation Research Board Strategic Transportation Research Study for Transit; the UMTA Rural Technical Assistance Program Advisory Board; the Institute for Transportation Engineers; the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Public Transportation Association; North Carolina Operation Lifesaver Board of Directors.

Mr. King received his BA degree in Economics at Davidson College and his MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

TTA is a regional public transportation provider, offering a wide variety of transit and vanpool services to North Carolina's greater Triangle Region and outlying counties. Bus service is available to Apex, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, Garner, Hillsborough, RDU International Airport, RTP and Raleigh.  The Triangle Transit Authority also provides commuter resources and hosts GoTriangle.org, the on-line resource for public transportation information in the Triangle.  

TTA is the implementation agency responsible for carrying out a regional plan to build a rail transit system with stations connecting Durham, RTP, Cary and Raleigh, with shuttles linking RDU International Airport and RTP.

For more information, visit www.rideTTA.org or call (919) 549-9999.