Damon Blythe, a proven transit leader with 25 years of industry experience and a public transit rider himself since childhood, has been named Director of Bus Operations for OCTA.
Blythe will lead the oversight of day-to-day bus operations and bus operations support, as well as specialized transportation services, including the OC ACCESS paratransit group.
He will also provide direct support to the contracted fixed-route team, which makes up about 40% of the regular OC Bus service.
“We are very pleased to have Damon join our team because of his many years of experience and his proven ability to lead while building a strong team,” said OCTA Deputy CEO Jennifer L. Bergener. “I know that he will be invaluable to helping OCTA continue providing safe and reliable transit services now and for the future.”
Blythe will report directly to COO Johnny Dunning, who was appointed to that role last year and has previously worked with Blythe in San Diego County, to continue advancing Orange County’s evolving public transit needs.
“I’ve ridden public transit since I was a kid riding the bus with my mom to get around, so I know first-hand how important safe and reliable transit is for getting people where they need to be,” Blythe said. “I’m excited to see how the way people get around Orange County is evolving and I’m eager to be part of the team planning transit solutions that will best serve existing riders and attract new riders.”
Blythe said he was attracted to OCTA because of its size, resources and enthusiasm for continuing to grow and enhance the county’s transit system.
