Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Todd Stone has issued the following statement on the appointment of Frank Carson as the new BC Transit board chair, beginning July 4, 2016:

“I am pleased to announce the appointment of Frank Carson as the new chair of BC Transit’s board of directors.

“Mr. Carson brings with him years of experience advising transit organizations and crown agencies. He has served on the boards of the Vancouver Island Health Authority, the Victoria Police Board and was a council member of the Oak Bay Municipal Council. He has spent many years providing legal counsel to government agencies, including BC Transit, Translink and Canada Line Rapid Transit Inc., and he’ll be able to draw from this experience as he advises and helps guide BC Transit over the coming years.

“BC Transit works closely with local governments, delivering public transit in over 130 communities throughout B.C. Mr. Carson’s 12 years of service as a municipal councillor in the District of Oak Bay and his time as the former deputy mayor provides him with the experience and insight necessary to work closely with local governments and reflect their region’s needs in transit service.

“BC Transit is growing and expanding in communities throughout the province. This growth will only continue as we move forward with the recent commitment by the province and federal governments to invest nearly $160 million in transit capital over the next three years. This is in addition to the $40 million that the province has also committed for transit capital. Mr. Carson will have the opportunity to work with the BC Transit executive as they oversee this needed investment.

“BC Transit, the province and the 1.6 million BC Transit users are fortunate to have Mr. Carson take on this challenging and important position, and I look forward to working with him as we continue to invest in and expand transit service throughout the province.

“I would also like to thank Kevin Mahoney for his service as the BC Transit board chair. Mr. Mahoney made the decision to move on after providing nine years of strong leadership to the board and to BC Transit. He guided the BC Transit board during a time of considerable growth and expansion, with ridership increasing by 20% during his time, and now exceeding 51,000,000 riders every year. And he helped oversee BC Transit’s role during the 2010 Winter Olympics and, more recently, in bringing in the first two CNG fleets, in Nanaimo and Kamloops, and bringing BC Transit’s first rapid transit line to Kelowna.

“Once again, I’d like to thank Mr. Carson for taking on this position and Mr. Mahoney for his many years of dedication and service.”