SFMTA
SFMTA Director of Transportation Jeffrey Tumlin on Dec. 12 announced that he would be stepping down from his position at the end of 2024. Tumlin has led the SFMTA since December 2019, and his five-year contract was due to expire at the end of the year. SFMTA’s Director of Transit, Julie Kirschbaum, will serve as the agency’s Acting Director of Transportation beginning on Jan. 1, 2025.
“Serving in this position has been the greatest honor of my life, and I’m extremely proud of what the SFMTA has accomplished during my tenure,” said Tumlin. “While we’ve faced many challenges over the past five years, we’ve also made historic progress. Muni is better than it’s ever been and is experiencing record-high customer satisfaction. San Francisco is one of the safest larger cities in the U.S. for walking and biking. And we have one of the strongest paratransit programs in the country. There is still far more to be done but I have full faith that our talented and highly motivated staff and leadership, working alongside city and state partners, will shepherd the agency into a successful new chapter.”
When Director Tumlin took over the agency in 2019, the SFMTA was suffering from “systemwide Muni delays and an inhospitable agency culture with a high rate of equal employment opportunity (EEO) complaints and concerns.” Under his leadership, the agency says it has made “dramatic improvements,” including:
- “Creating a significantly more reliable transit network, with major subway delays down 76% since 2019 and short delays down 89%.
- “Achieving Muni’s highest customer rating in 20 years with 72% of riders rating Muni as excellent or good.
- “Making streets safer for people walking, biking and rolling through innovations like the Quick-Build Program, which installs adjustable traffic safety improvements that can be installed quickly and affordably.
- “Reducing crashes involving pedestrians by 32% and crashes involving bikes by 33% on streets where the SFMTA has installed Quick Builds.
- “Reducing the number of SFMTA EEO complaints by nearly 50% between 2020 and 2024.
- “Creating an Office of Civil Rights within the SFMTA.
The SFMTA says it is proud to make these improvements even while facing a once-in-a-century pandemic and the resulting fallout in the years after, including an economic downturn that has severely impacted its budget.
ASLRRA
ASLRRA recently announced that Robert Allen Grossman, who was inducted into the Short Line Railroad Industry Hall of Fame last year, has passed away.
Grossman was one of the founders of short line holding company Emons Transportation Group in 1971 and later joined the executive team at Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (G&W) when G&W acquired Emons in 2002. In 1996 Grossman helped start the Keystone State Railroad Association in Pennsylvania and served as the organization’s first president. He also helped establish the Railroads of New York and Oregon Rail Users League organizations.
Grossman was an active member of ASLRRA’s Board of Directors from 1999 to 2008 and served on the Association’s Legislative Policy Committee. He was instrumental in advocating for the short line railroad infrastructure tax credit, ASLRRA noted. Grossman also helped plan many ASLRRA events at which his wife Gloria often volunteered.
After his retirement, Grossman remained active in a number of community organizations. He served on the board of directors of Aaron’s Acres, an organization providing recreational activities to children and young adults with disabilities, as well as the board of Prima Theatre. He also enjoyed powerboating excursions along the upper East coast with his family and friends.
Grossman is survived by his wife, his son Jeff and four grandchildren.
Savage
After more than a decade of leadership, Savage on Jan. 2 announced that President and CEO Kirk Aubry has retired from the company, effective Dec. 31, 2024. Chief Operating Officer Jeff Roberts was promoted to the additional role of President, effective immediately, and assumed the role of CEO on Jan. 1, 2025.
“Kirk’s leadership has made a significant impact on Savage, and we’re extremely grateful for his vision and dedication to the company,” said Savage Chairman of the Board Don Stebbins. “We believe Jeff’s passion for the business and commitment to Savage’s culture make him the ideal choice to continue that success into the future.”
As a privately held, family-owned business, Todd Savage, Vice-Chairman of the Board, shared his views on behalf of the Savage family. “The impact Kirk has had on Savage is undeniable. During his time as CEO, we entered new markets, saw tremendous growth and developed a sustainable, long-term strategy. The Savage family is thankful for all he’s done to ensure the company’s continued success. We’re pleased to see Jeff take on this new role. He’s a proven leader and has demonstrated his commitment to the Vision and Legacy of our company.”
While leading Savage, Aubry and the Savage team brought new businesses into the company in the agriculture, infrastructure, and environmental sectors, the company noted. During his tenure, safety, operational and financial performance surpassed even historically strong levels.
“It’s been an incredible journey, and I’m grateful for the dedication and hard work of every Savage Team Member who helped build this thriving company,” said Aubry. “This is a remarkable organization, and I’m excited to watch its continued success and growth under Jeff’s leadership.”
This transition, Savage says, is part of the Board’s succession plan that’s been in process for several years. Roberts joined the company as Chief Financial Officer in 2016 and was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2022. He was selected unanimously by the Savage Board of Directors to succeed Aubry as CEO.
“I’m honored that the board selected me to lead this innovative and dynamic company,” said Roberts. “Savage has a rich history and strong foundation, and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to build upon the great work Kirk and our team have done over the past decade.”
The company says it “remains committed to its strategic direction and is positioned to continue to grow and thrive during this transition and beyond.”
