Brian Waterman, AICP
Transit Planning Manager
StarMetro
Brian Waterman led his team on a two-year endeavor to redesign the entire route system of StarMetro changing from the 70-year-old downtown oriented hub-and-spoke system to a multi-point/multi-transfer, decentralized system. The new system is more efficient, customer friendly and has resulted in a six percent increase in ridership even with a significant decrease in transfers. The success of the new system was recognized by the American Planning Association which awarded Waterman and his team the 2013 National Planning Excellence Award for Transportation Planning.
In addition to his leadership on the new decentralized route system, he has developed a positive and productive relationship with other departments and organizations. In implementing with the new decentralized route system, Waterman worked with the city of Tallahassee Public Works to increase sidewalk coverage on the routes from 74 percent to more than 90 percent and for the inclusion of bus boarding and alighting areas in new sidewalk construction.
He also worked with the Tallahassee/Leon County Planning Department to identify funding sources to construct more shelters in the community. He maintains constant communication with FSU, Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University, and Tallahassee Community College to propose service levels and agreements to effectively transport students.
Currently, Waterman’s interest in transit funding has led to analysis and ideas which will help StarMetro diversify its funding sources to increase revenue in order to support service expansion.
“I enjoy working with my planning team to solve transportation problems by improving route performance, identifying new service areas, analyzing funding mechanisms and marketing our service to the community.
“Public transit needs to be viewed as an equal transportation option with driving, biking or walking to work or other destinations. A perfect transportation system is one where a family has multiple, equally valid transportation options to get around.
“At least once a month, I get together with friends to play board games. We typically play non-traditional board games that involve more strategy and analysis than a simple roll of the dice. I enjoy the fellowship with friends, and it helps to improve my critical thinking skills.”
