When you think of Portland, Oregon, it’s hard not to envision the Willamette River, microbreweries, youth, environmentally friendliness, and perhaps the most walkable city in the country.  It’s no wonder then that the affable CALSTART Board Member, Fred Hansen, has lived and breathed “green” for the past twelve years as the General Manager of the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet). 

Twelve years ago, Mr. Hansen went to work for TriMet, following a four year stint with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C.  He announced earlier this year that he’ll be retiring from his job to pursue one last, good solid career run in bridging land-use transportation connections and sustainability.  “One of the most important issues has always been what our urban areas are just from a straight pollution standpoint and how they operate…and public transit is connected to all of that,” opined Hansen.  He knows what he’s talking about, too.  In a recent story in Mass Transit Magazine he offered his perspective on the transit industry and sustainability.  As the former chair of the American Public Transportation Association’s Sustainability Task Force,  he observed that communities across the country are demanding that transit become more environmentally friendly and the industry needs to step up to make that happen. 

As Mr. Hansen prepares for his next venture, he’s thoughtful about his accomplishments at TriMet.  His greatest successes are the expanded use of light rail, the restoration of quality service to minority and lower income communities, and developing efficiency gains through technology advances.  His openness to letting the community build transit as an asset was responsible for tech savvy creativity when a transit rider activist programmed his phone to figure out the quickest route home on any given day.  As a result, he relies on his tech staff to come up with a variety of phone apps to save money and improve personalized transit communication options.  Who needs a reader board when you have an iPhone? 

Mr. Hansen will no doubt re-emerge in a place that allows him to pursue his sustainability passions.  In the meantime, CALSTART is fortunate to have his continued guidance as a member of our Board of Directors.

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