ETCOG hires transit services manager

East Texas Council of Governments' (ETCOG) vision is to become the best rural transportation provider in the country as measured by customer validation and earned national recognition.

On April 1, public transit veteran Tommy Hibdon will join the ETCOG team as its new operations manager to assist in achieving this mission.

Hibdon will be responsible for developing longterm goals for the ETCOG transit services and regional coordination efforts as well as reviewing current technology investments and future plans for technologies to further the Transit Department's goals. He will aim to streamline transportation services and organizational structure so ETCOG can maximize funding dollars spent directly serving transit customers. Hibdon will also prepare and present a comprehensive report to ETCOG Executive Committee as well as other stakeholders and funding agencies.

"ETCOG Staff is excited to welcome such a valued employee to our East Texas Rural Transit Team," said Roxanne McKinley, director of transportation. "With Tommy's experience and expertise in the delivery of Demand Response Transit Services, we are on our way to being the best rural transit system in the nation."

Hibdon is a former two-time winner of the American Public Transportation Association's Na- tional Merit Scholarship Award and has been active in public transportation as an operator and industry supplier for almost a decade. Before joining ETCOG, Hibdon most recently worked for RouteMatch Software Company as the Senior Implementation and Operations Consultant, StrataGen Systems and the City of Lubbock Metropolitan Planning Office.

The mission of the ETCOG Rural Transit District (RTD) is to design, implement and maintain an efficient and effective transportation system. ETCOG RTD operates a safe, dependable, and effective transportation network that provides mobility, improves the quality of life, and stimulates economic development through the provision of rural public transportation services for residents of the ETCOG Region.

The ETCOG RTD provides a 24-hour advance notice, demand response, curb to curb transportation to the residents of its service area with door to door service available for elderly and persons with disabilities upon request and determination of need. Ninety percent of the ETCOG buses are equipped for customers who may be physically challenged. Transportation is available to the general public for work, medical appointments, education, shopping, senior centers, socialization, etc.