Thomas N. Black SW 73 rd Way Gainesville, Florida Home (352) Cell - (703) redarrow77@msn.

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1 Thomas N. Black 3495 SW 73 rd Way Gainesville, Florida Home (352) Cell - (703) redarrow77@msn.com PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY Mr. Black has over 40 years of professional consulting and senior program/project management experience in all aspects of public transportation service delivery. His professional experience has been achieved at the operational level on several transit systems (large, medium and small). In these capacities, he has been involved in: developing and maintaining budgets as well as implementing fiscal management controls and procedures; providing supervisory and transit management expertise at each position; coordinating fleet maintenance management and program requirements; conducting training activities in operations and contract compliance; directing and implementing transit planning/scheduling and service modifications; institutionalizing a pro-active customer service approach throughout the operating organization(s); planning and reviewing designs for operating and passenger facilities with an emphasis on facility maintenance; and, administering complex, multimillion dollar, multi-year public transit programs, systems and contracts. His professional experience has been achieved with traditional fixed route/fixed schedule bus systems; rail transit planning activities; construction and operational program implementations; and, coordination with both rail transit and commuter rail operations including emergency preparedness responses. During his career, he was employed in almost all facets of the public transit industry. He has held senior management positions with primary emphasis on operations management; customer service; contract administration and compliance; performance monitoring and evaluation; and, conducting operations planning/scheduling activities. His expertise in these fields was acquired from a combination of relevant work activities with multi-modal public transit organizations, some of which included transportation demand management activities. Mr. Black s professional experience has been augmented by a wide variety of public transportation consulting assignments at the transit agency, city, county, regional, state, federal and/or international levels. Coupled with this was his tenure for more than 6 years as the Project Manager under a professional services contract for management of the Federal Transit Administration s National Transit Database (formerly referred to as Section 15).. Prior to his retirement in late 2010, he served for more than 9 years as the Section Chief (Chief Operating Officer) FAIRFAX CONNECTOR (Fairfax County, Virginia), then, the nation s 3 rd largest turnkey private provider service contract which operated the nation s 68 th largest public transit bus fleet (Metro Magazine, September/October 2010). Since his retirement, he has conducted several consulting assignments and continues to maintain an independent consulting practice under Tom Black Transit, LLC. However, he does not engage in any consulting activities in Florida. EXPERT WITNESS In 2009, Mr. Black was designated by the Fairfax County Circuit Court as an expert witness. Reference - Fairfax County Circuit Court, CL No ; Veolia Transportation Services, Inc., Petitioner, versus the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Defendant, Fairfax County, Virginia. WORK HISTORY AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2 Independent Transit Consultant Tom Black Transit, LLC Principal present Mr. Black has conducted several consulting assignments and projects related to transit contract operations management and customer service. Section Chief (Chief Operating Officer) (Retired) FAIRFAX CONNECTOR Transit Services Division Department of Transportation Fairfax County, Virginia Prior to his retirement, Mr. Black is served as the Section Chief (Chief Operating Officer) for the FAIRFAX CONNECTOR Section, Transit Services Division, of the Fairfax County (Virginia) Department of Transportation. The FAIRFAX CONNECTOR Section oversees and administers the delivery of fixed scheduled/fixed route public transit and support services through contractual mechanisms ( turnkey contracts ) in accordance with policies and procedures as approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. The FAIRFAX CONNECTOR bus system is one of this nation s 100 largest operations (68 th largest as of fall 2010) and was awarded a most improved transit system designation in the spring of Under Mr. Black s leadership, the FAIRFAX CONNECTOR grew from a 110 unit operation to 254 units; added a third operating facility jointly shared with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority; added 7 additional passenger facilities (2 parking garages with surface parking; 3 park-andride facilities and 2 transit stations); and, renovated two bus operations centers and one parking garage. In addition, he established design requirements for different facility proposals as well as reviewing joint use/service integration; developed transit proposals and proffers for the Dulles Rail Project and other Fairfax County commercial development projects. Many of these projects required the development of transit service delivery options during a particular project s development and construction phases. A substantial increase in service was also undertaken during his tenure including: the Dulles Corridor Express Service (a pre-rail service enhancement with Bus Rapid Transit elements in the service design); the South County Bus Service Plan, Phases I and II; the Centreville-Chantilly-Oakton Service Plan; and, other enhancements to existing service through the utilization of new funding mechanisms. The combination of these service enhancements resulted in an increase in annual revenue hours of over 350% with an even higher percentage increase in ridership. Further, he planned and implemented a transit service (EzBus) to alleviate parking congestion at a commuter rail parking facility and later designed and implemented additional shuttle service during the construction of the parking garage. The FAIRFAX CONNECTOR Section has, under Mr. Black s leadership, developed and implemented one of the most advanced and unique service provider turnkey contracts. Besides the traditional requirements for safe, reliable and dependable delivery of transit service, the contract established criteria for institutionalizing customer service; setting employee training criteria by different employee classifications; establishing fleet and facility maintenance standards and criteria; and, requiring minimum supervisory staffing levels based on hours of operation and vehicles in service. One of the more unique features of the turnkey contract was the development of a minimum staffing level for all positions to ensure adequate resource allocations by all bidders. Throughout this period, Mr. Black sought enhanced IT applications in recognition of the FAIRFAX CONNECTOR s movement toward an increased emphasis on service delivery coupled with the application of Advanced Public Transportation Systems, such as the TRAPEZE scheduling software Thomas N. Black Page 2

3 system; fleet maintenance management software (RTA); and, fluid management software (Fleetwatch) to continue to improve overall operational effectiveness and efficiency. During his tenure, he worked diligently to absorb an expansion of operating and passenger facilities by promoting programs related to sustainability and maintainability, and was actively involved in facility planning, design, construction and start-up. Unique among these facilities has been the development of a joint operating facility (West Ox Bus Operations Center) where multiple service providers share the same operating, maintenance and servicing facilities. Also, he oversaw the renovation of existing facilities; and, he implemented a separate internal facility maintenance capability through both County and service delivery contractor resources. From 1997 to 2001, Mr. Black served as the senior technical bus service planning/schedule and transit planning staff resource. During this period, he developed the Dulles Corridor Express Bus Service Financial Plan which was approved for financial assistance from the Commonwealth of Virginia; participated as the senior technical representative for Fairfax County on the Metrobus Regional Bus Study, the area's first comprehensive review of regional bus service; conducted all service planning interface with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority with regards to bus service and rail transit issues; and, provided service and operational planning assistance to all contract turnkey service providers. In his capacity as the Senior Transportation Planner, he assembled transit service delivery, service consumed and service supplied data for various funding agencies, such as the Commonwealth of Virginia; the Federal Transit Administration; the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority; the American Public Transportation Association; the Northern Virginia Transit Commission; the Fairfax County Department of Management and Budget, the combined FAIRFAX CONNECTOR operation by system and by division; and, by bench marks and prior performance. Further, he participated in numerous supportive activities related to bus service and other transit modes, such as commuter rail (Virginia Railway Express) and ridesharing services, within and outside the Department and Fairfax County. Senior Project Manager National Transit Database (formerly Section 15) The Federal Transit Administration s National Transit Database includes the standardized reporting of financial and operating performance statistics of over 550 transit operating agencies. Each agency reports their data based on a uniform system of accounts and records. Reports are validated, analyzed, and entered into a national database. The data is made available for numerous policy, research, academic, and economic applications through different publications, special studies and analysis; and, distributed in various forms of electronic media. The data is also used to provide formula grant apportionment in accordance with annual legislative appropriations by the United States Congress. Mr. Black served under a professional services cost plus fixed fee contract and was able during his tenure to increase its scope and contract revenue by over 50%. Senior Project Manager DIGICON Corporation Project Manager COMSIS Corporation Mr. Black served under contract to the Federal Transit Administration's Uniform System of Accounts and Records Program (formerly Section 15) as the senior manager for both technical analysis and project administration in validating and developing the national mass transit database (now the National Transit Database) and preparing associated publications for publication. He directed a professional staff in accordance with contractual requirements; ensured maintenance of data quality Thomas N. Black Page 3

4 and the achievement of the schedule for project deliverables. Further, he increased the program's data creditability among users and acceptance by the transit community; improved the overall quality and accuracy of the database. During his tenure, he implemented the largest restructuring of the program since it commenced in Under his leadership, his project team achieved, for the first time, the use and application of the database for formula apportionment to the most recent report year. And, he expanded the annual publications into more user friendly documents with emphasis on graphics and summary data. Lastly, he received a client letter of recognition and appreciation. Senior Associate Parsons Corporation (assigned to three subsidiaries) Barton-Aschman Associates Parsons-Brinckerhoff/DeLeuw Cather Joint Venture DeLeuw Cather & Company Mr. Black coordinated, monitored, and assisted all international programs and staff in achieving financial and performance objectives. He developed and maintained project evaluation models and implemented detailed reporting systems; and, he served as the transit operations resource for the evaluation of the preliminary design for the Zhongshan busway along the Bund in Shanghai, People s Republic of China. He also directed transit privatization studies to evaluate service delivery options for competitive bidding based on cost allocation plans (Birmingham, Alabama; Columbia, Missouri; and, Des Moines, Iowa. Assigned to the engineering consultancy, he conducted a System Redesign project for the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Authority to evaluate present level service levels compared to demonstrated demand; evaluated various service options based on findings; identified bus operating and service requirements for the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Authority to interface with the planned light-rail program; and, he reviewed proposed criteria and preliminary designs to determine impact on future operating costs. During his tenure, he provided operational input to rail station and bus transit planning activities; developed bus operating and maintenance cost models; prepared bus capital program estimates; directed development of a service fare adjustment model to measure impact of service adjustment and alternatives on revenues; conducted special studies to develop service standards and performance indicators; performed operational program evaluations to determine the adequacy (state-of-goodrepair) of maintenance and capital programs; directed operational program studies to improve productivity and efficiency; and, managed garage feasibility studies to determine the best alternatives for correcting identified problems. His consulting clients included: the Federal Transit Administration; Dallas Area Rapid Transit Authority; New York City Transit Authority; San Francisco Municipal Railway; San Juan Metropolitan Bus Authority; City of Des Moines, Iowa; City of Columbia, Missouri, Springdale- Fayetteville Transit Authority; Birmingham Jefferson Regional Planning Commission; Kansas City Area Transportation Authority; Jacksonville Transit Authority; Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District; Peninsula Transportation District Commission; State of Florida Department of Transportation; State of Iowa Department of Transportation; Gwinnett County, Georgia; and,the World Bank. Adjunct Professor (Transportation) Syracuse University Mr. Black served as an Adjunct Professor of Transportation for the Whitman School of Management s Franklin Program in Transportation and Distribution Management, Syracuse University. He was an Instructor for both graduate and under-graduate course levels in transportation. Thomas N. Black Page 4

5 Director, Office of Bus Services (Metrobus) Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Mr. Black served as the Chief Bus Operating Officer for all fixed route/scheduled bus service delivery. He implemented a decentralized division cost center concept which was recognized as a transit industry model; designed a method for evaluating operating performance for allocating limited resources; identified program deficiencies; justified budget allocations; analyzed adverse performance trends; developed programs to address negative trends to improve service reliability and dependability; increased part-time bus operator utilization while reducing full-time employment; and, developed operating budgets and maintained programs within fiscal allocations. He implemented bus service plans to support rail operations; coordinated high capacity corridor bus service delivery operations in Northern Virginia. In the winter of 1982, he led an emergency response to a combined rail accident with fatalities, an airplane crash into the Potomac River also with fatalities, and, an incurred an inclement weather situation which impacted emergency response and service delivery. Vice-President - ATE Management and Services Company, Inc (Resident management assignments at two contract management transit systems) Executive Director/General Manager Peninsula Transportation District Commission Mr. Black reported to a policy making Board and directed all transit system operations; coordinated all financial and capital assistance programs; functioned as the lead representative under a management services contract; improved system performance for Newport News/Hampton, Virginia. Working with the Commission s attorney, he negotiated labor agreements and achieved cost savings through favorable work rule changes. He reorganized staff; reduced overhead; and, developed operating budgets based on analyzing financial and operating performance to achieve bench marks; directed service evaluation ;implemented a transportation demand management/ ridesharing program that increased private sector participation; and, implemented the agency s first customer service program. Assistant Resident Manager Kansas City Area Transportation Authority Mr. Black represented the Authority to local jurisdictions and governmental agencies; developed and managed all financial assistance grants; coordinated operational activities with Executive Staff and Planning Department personnel; administered purchase-of-service agreements with local jurisdictions including: analyzed operating performance, forecasted financial requirements, and, maintained agreements within authorized levels. General Manager Fort Wayne Public Transportation Corporation Mr. Black reported to policy-making Board; directed the daily operation of the transit system and was responsible for system service delivery and performance utilization. He prepared capital and operating budget and maintained fiscal management control; prepared and implemented short- and long-term capital, financial, and operating plans; and, implemented the first successful customer service program. Deputy Commissioner, Transportation Thomas N. Black Page 5

6 City of Syracuse, New York Mr. Black performed all administrative staff support functions for the City s Department f Transportation including budget development including adherence and monitoring. He conducted studies of parking garage management operations; developed operating programs for garage operation including maintaining liaison with the private transit company; and, performed technical studies regarding public transit operational models and financing options for public acquisition of the then private transit system. Candidate for Masters in Business Administration Syracuse University, Graduate School of Business His studies included concentrations in business administration, finance and transportation Financial Analyst Provident National Bank, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Performed investment analysis of commercial accounts for changes in lines of credit and levels Captain Reserve Officer United States Army Intelligence Mr. Black served as an Order of Battle Specialist Officer analyzing data on enemy composition and intentions. Tour of duty included service in the Republic of Vietnam. EDUCATION Degrees: M.B.A., Business Administration, Syracuse University, 1970 B.A., Economics, Gettysburg College, 1965 Other: National Transit Institute, Service Planning course development, 2011 National Incident Management Courses (200, 300, 400 and 700), 2003 Fairfax County Web Emergency Operations Center Training, 2003 Federal Government Contracting and Management, George Washington University, 1992 Professional Program in Urban Transportation, Carnegie-Mellon University, 1979 Urban Planning, Federal Highway Administration, 1976 Transit Management Seminar, Northeastern University, 1972 Applications Software: Microsoft Office Awards: Department of Transportation Honors Award, 4/2010 Fairfax County Outstanding Performance Award, 5/2002 Department of Transportation Honors Award, 1/2001 Office of Transportation, Honors Award, 2/1999 Federal Transit Administration, National Transit Database, Letter of Recognition and Appreciation Outstanding Equal Employment Opportunity Award, 1981 Publications: National Transit Database Annual Report Publications (Data Tables, National Transit Summaries and Trends, and Transit Profiles) for the 1989 through 1995 Report Years. Thomas N. Black Page 6

7 Hobbies: Affiliations: References: Electric Railway Clubs of Florida; North Central Florida Model Railroad Club; Northern Virginia Model Railroad Club; Civil War history; public transit museums including history and memorabilia; active vacations; furniture assembly/finishing; spectator sports None since moving in August 2013 from Northern Virginia to Florida. Available upon request Thomas N. Black Page 7