Media Relations Contact:
Morgan Lyons
214-749-2662

August 1, 2002

Former COO of Maryland Commuter Rail

Kathryn Waters to Head DART Commuter Rail Program

Kathryn Waters has been named the new vice president of Commuter Rail for Dallas Area Rapid Transit. Waters comes to DART from the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) in Baltimore, where she was chief operating officer of Maryland Rail Commuter (MARC) for seven years.

Doug Allen, DART's executive vice president of Program Development, says Waters "is a strong resource that DART was able to bring to our region, where there is great interest in commuter rail." DART and the Fort Worth Transportation Authority introduced the area's commuter rail service, the Trinity Railway Express, in 1996. The 34-mile rail line links Dallas and Fort Worth.

"Kathryn has a tremendous amount of operating experience with MARC trains in Maryland, she is very well respected in the rail industry and we're delighted she is representing DART's role in the Trinity Railway Express. DART also owns more than 200 miles of railroad in North Texas, and she will be invaluable in managing our interests and helping develop any future commuter rail service," Allen continued.

A planner by training, with a B.A. and M.C.P. (Community Planning) from the University of Maryland, Waters began her career at the Maryland Department of State Planning before going to work at the Maryland State Railroad Administration as a freight rail planner in 1980. She served as manager of commuter rail marketing and as head of budgets and planning for MTA's Transit Operations Department before becoming MARC chief operating officer in 1995.

Waters is invigorated by the possibilities ahead. "I hope to continue to provide safe, reliable and convenient service to residents and visitors in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, seeking creative and cost-effective ways to insure that Trinity Railway Express provides the quality service required to attract and retain riders."

Waters has served as the chair of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Commuter Rail Committee, on the Rail Safety Advisory Committee of the Federal Railroad Administration and on the Maryland Chapter of the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials.

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