Rock Region METRO CEO to leave Dec. 10
by November 12, 2021 4:03 pm 719 views
Rock Region METRO Chief Executive Officer Charles D. Frazier said Friday (Nov. 12) he would leave the post for an executive leadership position with “a leading innovative transportation authority.”
Frazier has held the job for three years. His last day will be Dec. 10.
“I am so thankful to the METRO Board of Directors and our funding partners for providing me the opportunity to lead the Rock Region METRO team, and I would be remiss if I did not thank the central Arkansas community for making me so welcome during my time here. My family and I love Arkansas – the friendliness of the people and its natural outdoors beauty simply cannot be beat. It has been an honor working with such an excellent leadership team and hard-working staff, and I’m proud of what we have achieved together,” said Frazier.
During Frazier’s tenure METRO increased system ridership by 8% pre-pandemic and implemented two new services – the METRO Pool jobs-access vanpool program and the METRO Connect on-demand microtransit service.
Rock Region Metro said the most notable accomplishment of Frazier’s administration is the completion of the first phase of the agency’s R.I.D.E. – Route Innovation, Development and Evaluation – 2020 comprehensive operational analysis.
The R.I.D.E. 2020 plan made possible a change to the agency’s original funding formula that allowed it to expand transit service as METRO emerges from the coronavirus pandemic. The plan allows METRO to expand its transit service footprint beyond Pulaski County for the first time in the agency’s history with the pending METRO Connect Conway on-demand microtransit service and expands the agency’s fixed route, on-demand and paratransit service within Little Rock and North Little Rock.
“This is really bittersweet for me,” said Little Rock City Manager and METRO Board Member Bruce Moore. “While I am very happy for Charles as he starts the next chapter of his life, his departure is a huge loss for public transportation in our region. I have enjoyed working with Charles and am very thankful for his adept stewardship of our capital city metro public transit system. Through his leadership, METRO has been able to offer new and different affordable transportation to more Arkansans and guests, while providing development opportunities to our essential public workers.”
“Charles’ leadership at METRO and embrace of innovation and continuous improvement has well-positioned the agency to meet central Arkansas’ future transit needs. We’re deeply appreciative of his work and passion for public service and for his friendship,” said Art Kinnaman, METRO Board of Directors chairman. “He will be missed.”