VTA Hires New GM, CEO: Carolyn Gonot Was A Longtime Executive

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA — Carolyn Gonot, a former longtime executive at the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, was tapped on Friday to lead the agency as its next CEO and General Manager.

Gonot served for 23 years at VTA before leaving to become the executive director of the Utah Transit Authority in 2019. She returns to oversee the South Bay transit agency during a pivotal time as it attempts to recover from pandemic-induced losses and work on building a $6.9 billion BART extension through downtown San Jose.

“It is my great honor to take on the role of general manager and CEO at the transit agency where I spent so many productive and fulfilling years of my career,” Gonot said at a board meeting Friday, when her appointment was finalized.

VTA, like many transit agencies, is taking a financial hit from the pandemic, facing net losses over the next decade.

“COVID knocked many of the transit agencies down, but it did not knock us out,” Gonot said. “I look forward to renewing our commitment and building back even better as we come out of the restrictions we have been living under for the past 14 months.”

In her prior roles at VTA, Gonot served as Chief Engineering and Program Delivery Officer and Chief Development Officer, among several other positions. She also oversaw the program that brought the BART extension to Santa Clara County.

Gonot said one of her initial goals will be making sure that VTA secures $1.735 billion in funding from the Federal Transit Agency for Phase II of the BART extension project. It was the first agency to submit an application for funding through the FTA’s Expedited Project Delivery Pilot Program earlier this year.

“It’s all the more critical that we do that right, as we will be a model for other agencies to come in that program,” Gonot said.

Evelynn Tran, VTA’s General Counsel, has been leading the agency on an interim basis since January, when Nuria Fernandez stepped down to lead the Federal Transit Administration in the Biden Administration.

Gonot was selected from a nationwide process led by a search committee consisting of four VTA board members — Board Chair Glenn Hendricks, Vice Chair Chappie Jones, Board Member Cindy Chavez and Ex-Officio Board Member Margaret Abe-Koga — with help from the executive search firm Krauthamer & Associates, Inc.

Six candidates were interviewed for the position, with the board holding multiple closed session meetings before choosing Gonot.

“Congratulations to Carolyn,” said Glenn Hendricks, Chair of the VTA Board of Directors. “Your proven track record in delivering major capital projects and programs, your leadership and your extensive experience in transportation will ensure VTA can further improve our service to our community and residents as we go forward.”

Gonot will begin her role on July 12, after the board votes to approve her contract on June 3. Her contract includes a $350,000 base salary and $500 monthly car allowance.