On November 18, the Board of Trustees of the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority approved a threeyear contract extension for chief executive officer Laura Koprowski, who has helped lead TARTA into a new era of system improvement, service expansion and investment in the workforce.
Ms. Koprowski came to TARTA in April 2020, and served in other executive leadership roles prior to being named CEO in October 2021.
The three-year agreement is retroactive to October 21, 2022, and contains an option for the TARTA board to extend the contract an additional two years through October 20, 2027.
“As a believer in the power of public transportation and the positive impact it can have on the lives of the people who depend on it, it is an honor to serve in this role,” Ms. Koprowski said.
“TARTA is fortunate to have an active board of trustees full of public servants who recognize the value of a strong transit system. I am delighted to continue working with them to serve all of Lucas County and Rossford.”
She added, “When I take our Route 20 in to work, I have the chance to talk to many of the customers who use our system. Those conversations give me a great sense of where we are, how far we’ve come, and where we need to go. I am eager to continue to the work of building a mobility ecosystem that serves the people and businesses of northwest Ohio.”
Ms. Koprowski has more than 25 years of experience in the transportation industry and served as the executive director of the Ohio Public Transit Association before joining TARTA.
Her tenure has been marked by progress toward rebuilding TARTA into an effective and financially stable transit system capable of serving all of Lucas County and Rossford.
“From the passing of Issue 12 bringing back Sunday and holiday service to financial stability for an organization that sorely needed it, Laura has piled up a long list of accomplishments in her short time at TARTA,” said Kelsie Hoagland, board president. “She is a proven leader with a track record of not only finding solutions to problems, but making those solutions a reality faster than anticipated.”
Ms. Koprowski’s time at the helm has been one of the most active and productive periods in TARTA’s history, highlighted by:
•the passing of Issue 12 at the ballot box and the resulting changes to TARTA’s funding structure;
•approval of the TARTA Next system redesign project and plans to cover all of Lucas County, expanding options for fixed-route and TARPS users;
•a new microtransit program, set to hit the road in the first quarter of 2023, greatly expanding the number of residents for whom public transportation is a viable option;
•investment in workforce with new contracts for both unions representing TARTA personnel;
•investment in customer experience with the addition of Sunday and holiday service, new vehicles in the fleet and technology upgrades;
•more than $20 million in competitive federal and state grants won by TARTA.
“One of the many things that strikes me about Laura is her drive to not only make things better for those who use the system, but to improve their quality of life,” said Mary Morrison, board vice president. “Laura has been a joy to work with, and I look forward to continuing to work with her to connect customers to jobs, medical appointments, and all the great things this area has to offer.”
