METRO Director of Operations Donna Bowers Named Mass Transit 40 Under 40 Awardee

Bowers Is First Arkansan Honored with This Distinction

Rock Region METRO is proud to announce Director of Operations Donna Bowers’ recognition as a 2017 Mass Transit 40 Under 40 awardee. Bowers is the first Arkansas-based transit professional to be inducted into this distinguished program, now in its ninth year.

“We are so fortunate to have Donna’s expertise and dedication to excellence as we work to modernize the METRO transit system,” said Wanda Crawford, chief financial officer and interim executive director. “Ever since she joined METRO three years ago, she has worked consistently to improve daily operations for our bus, streetcar and paratransit services. We are so thrilled her hard work has been recognized by industry peers; it is a tremendous achievement, and we are so proud of her.”

Bowers is responsible for the operations project management oversight and the management of 160+ members of operations team, which includes 130 bus and paratransit vehicle operators, 10 streetcar operators, six supervisors, four paratransit staffers, four dispatchers and eight administrators.

She was the lead project manager for the successful launch of the METROtrack real-time arrival information system and is the lead project designer and manager of METRO’s annual service enhancements process, which details proposed route and schedule changes through project implementation.

“Although it can be challenging at times, I enjoy playing a role in delivering a vital service to our community’s residents and visitors,” said Bowers. “We regularly engage in creative work to address the improvements our riders would like to see in our transit system, and I love seeing the payoffs, both big and small.”

Bowers joined the METRO team in September 2014 after serving six years at Denton County Transportation Authority in Texas. There, she worked in multiple roles, including as operations manager, where she managed the implementation of several major projects, including DCTA’s intelligent transportation system (real-time arrival information system) and support work for the design, construction and operations phases of the agency’s $320 million A-train commuter rail project. She is a graduate of Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas.

For more information, visit masstransitmag.com/40-under-40.