The TARTA board of trustees last week appointed Laura Koprowski as the new chief executive officer, as of November 4.
She replaces CEO Kimberly Dunham who has accepted a transportation leadership role in another city.
Ms. Dunham and Ms. Koprowski worked collaboratively for the past 18 months to rebuild TARTA into an effective and financially stable transit system that can provide better connectivity to jobs, education, health care and other destinations for all residents.
Ms. Koprowski joined TARTA and returned to her hometown of Toledo in April 2020. She brings more than 25 years of transportation and public transit experience.
She previously served as the executive director of the Ohio Public Transit Association. While she was the vice president of government affairs and communications at the Central Ohio Regional Transit Authority, the organization was nationally recognized in 2018 as the outstanding mid-size public transit system by the American Public Transportation Association.
Currently as deputy CEO, she oversees TARTA’s seven divisions and is responsible for new business development and partnerships, including new service to Amazon’s fulfillment center in Rossford, the vaccine mobile in partnership with the V Project and the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department and the Jeep Fest Express.
“I am excited to take on this new role as CEO and continue the important work we have started,” Ms. Koprowski said. “My top priorities are to serve the community and ensure the transportation future for this region through the upcoming initiative on the ballot.
Downtown Transit Hub Reopens
After closing in March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, TARTA’s downtown transit hub on Huron Street has been reopened. Serving as the core of TARTA’s bus system, 17 local routes connect to the hub.
Riders will again have access to the information center, free wi-fi, climatecontrolled seating areas, inperson TARTA ambassadors and restrooms.
Masks are required and social distancing is encouraged in the transit hub, which is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays.
There are also improvements planned on the outside of the building in the coming weeks, including updated lighted signage on the top of the hub and weather protection awnings for customers.
“We have very much looked forward to reopening the hub, and are confident that we can provide this resource to our passengers in a manner that also protects their health and safety,” Ms. Koprowski said.