Auten to start as Lane Transit District GM/CEO in November
It’s official: Jameson Auten will be Lane Transit District’s (LTD) next general manager and CEO with a start date in early November.
Auten was offered the position in May, but withdrew from consideration, prompting LTD to relaunch its search. With an alignment of professional and personal elements, Auten reached out to LTD expressing his interest in the position. LTD suspended its search and entered negotiations with Auten. Following the start of negotiations, LTD Board President Caitlin Vargas summed up the situation, “timing is everything.”
Not only did the timing work out for Auten and LTD, but he arrives with substantial experience advancing transit initiatives in mid-size urban environments. Auten currently serves as deputy CEO and chief operating officer at the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority where he was involved in the integration of systems and networks, the development of microtransit and zero fare transit.
Before KCATA, Auten worked with the Greater Richmond Transit System; he currently serves on the American Public Transportation Association Board of Directors and serves in a voluntary role with the National Academies of Sciences.
“We are excited to have a nationally recognized transit leader of Jameson’s caliber accept LTD’s top job,” said Vargas. “All of us serving on the board of directors look forward to his arrival as we chart the path for the district to move forward to provide the transit service our communities need and deserve.”
Auten succeeds Aurora Jackson as LTD’s general manager and CEO. Jackson stepped down in August 2021 to pursue a private sector opportunity and Mark Johnson was appointed interim general manager. Johnson will resume his previous position as assistant general manager through the leadership transition.
“I am honored and humbled to be selected to lead LTD by the board of directors. LTD enjoys a national reputation for innovation and collaboration,” Auten said. “I look forward to building relationships with LTD employees and with community members so that together we identify opportunities to implement right-sized mobility solutions that connect our communities.”
Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director
Mischa Wanek-Libman is director of communications with Transdev North America. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the transportation industry covering construction projects, engineering challenges, transit and rail operations and best practices.
Wanek-Libman has held top editorial positions at freight rail and public transportation business-to-business publications including as editor-in-chief and editorial director of Mass Transit from 2018-2024. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.
She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and served 14 years as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.
She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.
