SPRINGFIELD — The Pioneer Valley Transit Authority has selected Sandra E. Sheehan as the agency’s next administrator.
Sheehan, of Hampden, will fill the seat of Mary MacInnes who retired on April 28. MacInnes served as administrator for 10 years and helped to turn the agency around after it faced major financial problems. In a past article, MacInnes said all of the milestones she wanted to accomplish would be achieved by then.
As the largest regional transit authority in Massachusetts, the PVTA has an operating budget of $47.3 million and a fleet of 186 buses, 132 vans and 24 participating member communities.
Sheehan, the director of grants and contract administration for the Greater Hartford Transit District in Connecticut, has spent decades in the transportation industry. From 1994 to 2007, she was PVTA’s director of transit and procurement, and from 1991 to 1994, she was a transportation planner with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission.
Sheehan could not be reached for comment.
Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz, chairman of the PVTA Advisory Board, said he was impressed with Sheehan’s experience in the transit field, her leadership skills and knowledge.
Sheehan said in an interview for the position that she would focus on transitioning PVTA’s Springfield hub to Union Station, a project that starts next month, according to a news release.
Sheehan also said she will focus on managing construction of the agency’s new $55 million bus operations and maintenance facility on Cottage Street in Springfield set to open late 2018, the release states.
“She is arriving at a time where there are a lot of important initiatives underway,” Narkewicz said.
Sheehan’s contract is being negotiated and will be voted on by the end of the month, according to Narkewicz. She is expected to start within four to six weeks.
Until Sheehan assumes her new post, Chief Information Officer Carolyn Hart-Lucien will continue to serve as acting administrator.
Caitlin Ashworth can be reached at cashworth@gazettenet.com.