RTD Appoints Eric Williams as Permanent CEO Amidst Leadership Turnover and Service Rethink
The San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD) Board of Directors has unanimously appointed Eric Williams as its permanent Chief Executive Officer, approving a contract with a base salary of $321,657 annually. This appointment follows months of significant leadership turnover at the agency, including the firing of former CEO Alex Clifford in February and the resignation of interim CEO Bearnard Veasley. Williams, who returned to RTD as Chief Operating Officer in May and became acting CEO in July, will prioritize completing outstanding audits, financial recovery, protecting grant funding, filling critical vacancies, and rebuilding relationships with cities and regional transportation agencies. The agency is also preparing to revise its Short Range Transit Plan, adopted just 15 months ago, as it no longer reflects RTD's current finances, ridership, or strategic direction. This revision could lead to changes in bus routes, frequency, and the exploration of microtransit options.
