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SALT LAKE CITY — There is a changing of the guard at the state’s largest public transportation agency.
The Utah Transit Authority Wednesday elected a new chairman of its board of trustees, naming former vice chairman Robert McKinley to lead the 16-member volunteer board for the remainder of his term, which expires in December 2017. He replaces H. David Burton, who will step down immediately and focus on new responsibilities following his recent appointment as chairman of the University of Utah board of trustees.
Additionally, Gov. Gary Herbert named Greg Bell, his former lieutenant governor, to the Utah Transit Authority board. Bell was sworn in at the meeting. It was also announced that current board members Jeff Hawker and Sherrie Hall Everett will now serve as vice chairpersons of the board.
The announcements were made at the monthly meeting of the UTA board at the agency’s headquarters near downtown Salt Lake City.
McKinley has served on the UTA board for 2 1/2 years and represents municipalities within Salt Lake County and the municipalities of Grantsville and Tooele in Tooele County. Besides various civic leadership positions, he is a longtime labor and employment attorney at the Salt Lake law firm of Kirton McConkie and a fellow at the College of Labor & Employment Lawyers.
McKinley said he wants to continue down the path of reform started by his predecessor.
“Our focus on increasing service, improving operational efficiency and debt restructuring have saved taxpayer money and demonstrate that the board and leadership team are diligently working to make this already fine transit agency even better,” he said.
McKinley replaces Burton, a former presiding bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who was appointed to the UTA board by the governor in 2012. He assumed the position of chairman in 2014, following tumultuous times at the agency that has been criticized for ethical lapses, compensation packages and travel. It received a scathing legislative audit that cited concerns about debt and almost $3 billion in expected maintenance costs for existing rail projects.
During the past two years, Burton has worked to repair the agency’s image and restore trust and credibility to varying degrees of success.
He said that he is proud of the work the board has done during his time on the panel and believes the agency is heading in the right direction.
“You always have some ups and down, but there were lots more ups than downs,” Burton said of his tenure. “Certainly, a lot of progress has been made on what has been accomplished (so far) and what continues to be accomplished (at UTA).”
Meanwhile, McKinley said he is pleased with the progress made at the agency.
The board has reduced executive compensation following an independent total compensation survey completed last year, and implemented new policies on travel, especially international travel, he said. The board is currently in the process of redesigning its governance and meeting structure in a way that ensures communication and dialogue among all board members and increases public access and transparency, he said.
