Melissa Fesler

Transportation Director

First Capital Trolley

Melissa Fesler, transportation director of First Capital Trolley, based in Guthrie, Okla., directs the most visible transit system in Oklahoma. This historic city is home to more festivals and events than any other Oklahoma community. Fesler has been the FCT transportation director since 1999, taking the reins at age 23.

In February 2010, Fesler was named the 2009 Transit Professional of the Year by the Oklahoma Transit Association. Judges took note of Fesler leading the “most visible transit system in the state.” At the February 2009 Awards for Excellence banquet, FCT received the first-ever Ridership & Expanded Service Award for the calendar year 2008. In 2008, FCT trips increased by 16,000 from 94,000 to 110,000. FCT initiated a flurry of new routes and services across three central Oklahoma counties in four specific areas. The combination of increased ridership and new service routes proved to be a winning formula with the judges.

In 2008, under Fesler’s direction, First Capital Trolley added job routes to Langston, Edmond and Stillwater and moved into a new headquarters near the Guthrie-Edmond Regional Airport making the area an intermodal hub. FCT expanded the Guthrie-to-Stillwater route to include an Edmond stop.

In 2008, FCT was named ‘Business of the Year’ by the Guthrie Chamber of Commerce. This award recognized FCT’s collaboration with the business and industry community and its willingness to expand hours for many years to help meet the needs of the community such as providing service 6:00 a.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday and Sunday service.

“I am very proud of all of our accomplishments. Our employees go the extra mile and have made many events special. We have Santa pictures on the trolley. We have a ‘Haunted Trolley’ on Halloween. Just these little things help all of us to play a part in boosting our central Oklahoma region,” she said

“We are giving independence and reliability to our neighbors.”