- One word to describe yourself: Curious
- Alma mater: Oxford College of Emory University, Emory University; Georgia Institute of Technology
- Favorite book: "The Aeneid" by Virgil
- Favorite TV show: "Parks and Recreation"
- Favorite movie: "Legends of the Fall"
- Favorite hobby(ies): Biking, reading, finding good beaches on which to read
- Fun fact about yourself: "[I was] part of a team that won an AICP Student Project Award for a paper entitled 'Tracking the Effect of Sea Level Rise.'"
- Favorite station or stop that you have ever visited or frequent (and why): Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) Midtown Station – This station has been my gateway to home, school, and work at different points. The station itself, as well as the stores and restaurants around it, seem to improve each time I visit.
Since beginning her tenure at the FTA, Richelle Gosman has been on the forefront of ensuring it continually strives to meet its goal of improving public transportation for America’s communities through her commitment to excellence, striving for innovation and improvement, and her focus on customer service.
Gosman is an integral member of the region that partners with eight southeastern states and the territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, to provide more than $1 billion annually to nearly 200 transit agencies and departments. She works directly with the Florida and Mississippi departments of transportation, 26 transit agencies across Florida and Georgia, managed Veteran’s Transportation and Community Living initiative, and served as team leader for the Georgia and Florida team. She has also participated in a number of competitive award reviews, assisted with a number a major capital projects, such as the WAVE Streetcar, Miami SMART Plan, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority Joint Development, and the Atlanta Streetcar. In Federal Fiscal Year 2017 alone, Gosman worked to award almost 100 grant applications for more than $400 million.
When hurricanes Irma and Maria struck, Region IV transit providers were hit particularly hard. Region IV staff worked tirelessly to coordinate with transit agencies on status, damages, and needs before, during and after the events. Gosman was an instrumental part of the effort, working day and night to ensure FTA senior leaders and other federal partners were aware of the situation and able to best assist in helping transit agencies return evacuees to homes and bring systems back online as quickly as possible.
Gosman’s desire to innovate has led to numerous process improvements since coming to Region IV. Improving the dialogue with between the FTA and transit grantees, while leveraging innovative processes, she played an integral role in the development and execution of the 2015 Southeastern Regional Transit Conference sponsored by FTA, Georgia Tech, and the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR). The three-day conference featured speakers such as the then-mayor of Atlanta, Kasim Reed, the then-general manager of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, Keith Parker, along with FTA leadership from Washington D.C. FTA Region IV staff were responsible for the management of the conference in which more than 300 participants attended. Gosman played an important part of the development and organization of this monumental effort. Specifically, she ensured the conference was “paperless” using smartphone applications to provide participants with an agenda, presentations, instructions, etc. Without her involvement, the conference would not have been nearly the success it ultimately became.
Another example of process improvement is her development of an electronic routing system using Microsoft SharePoint. When she came to Region IV, staff used a paper folder system for signed correspondence. Gosman developed the paperless system and an instruction guide, which allows the region to more efficiently review, sign and respond to important documents and letters.
Working with her teammates on a Knowledge Management Team, Gosman began developing the “Regional Guide,” a virtual encyclopedia of information for FTA staff (and eventually transit agency partners) to reference on particular questions or topics. This continuing effort required the coordination of every member of the Region IV team, with Gosman helping lead the effort. When completed, almost 75 different topics and regional best practices will be captured and catalogued for future use. This resource will be invaluable in assisting FTA in providing clear, consistent guidance to transit agencies and partners throughout the Region.
"It does not take too many weeks of a 1-2 hour commute in Atlanta traffic to ask yourself: “There has to be a better way, right?” Transit has been the answer for me, and I have enjoyed my role in ensuring that it continues to be an option for others."
"Transit is such a small industry of people doing what they can to deliver service to the public. The people you meet and learn from in year one are likely to cross your path again many times throughout the course of your career."
