The Riverside Transit Agency (RTA) Board of Directors unanimously approved Kristin Warsinski to be the new CEO of the agency at he Oct. 28 board meeting.
Warsinski officially assumes her new role on Dec. 31.
Warsinski will take leadership of an organization that looks to rebound from the pandemic by building ridership, continuing to make good use of taxpayer dollars, focusing on equitable service and fostering healthy bonds with the community. Several projects are already in the works, including the creation of a transit hub in Riverside, Calif., the launch of microtransit service in San Jacinto and Hemet, and the transition to a zero-emission bus fleet.
“I am truly honored and humbled to lead the best transit agency in the nation,” Warsinski said. “RTA has a proud history of serving the community and providing world-class transportation for the people of Riverside County. I look forward to building on that momentum and partnering with our talented employees and community partners to provide an exceptional service that our customers can be proud of in the weeks, months and years ahead.”
A Riverside County native, Warsinski has more than a decade of service in the public transit industry. As RTA’s director of planning, she oversaw the development of RTA’s routes and schedules, short-range transit plans and grant applications from federal, state and local sources. Warsinski also spearheaded RTA’s Zero-Emission Bus Rollout Plan, a blueprint for converting RTA’s entire fleet to hydrogen-powered buses.
She also led the agency through the Transportation Development Act and Federal Transportation Administration triennial audits, both of which resulted in perfect reviews, ensuring the agency’s ongoing competitiveness in acquiring future grant money.
Since her arrival to RTA more than six years ago, Warsinski has also served as grants manager and planning and programming specialist. Prior to RTA, she held various administrative positions with the city of Beaumont, Calif.. She has a master’s degree in public administration from California Baptist University and a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from UC Irvine.
Public service runs in her family. Warsinski is the second-generation daughter of a career city government executive — something that she credits for helping familiarize her with the innerworkings of the public sector, the fine art of business management and the importance of having empathy for constituents.
“I am excited to keep the agency’s mission alive, its core values in the forefront and its employees challenged, focused and inspired,” she said. “I will work tirelessly to maximize our success as we enter a future ripe with possibility.”
Linda Krupa, Hemet City councilmember and chair of the RTA Board of Directors, says Warsinski will bring a fresh perspective and a unique level of expertise to the Agency.
“Kristin Warsinski brings the necessary leadership experience and skills to guide and implement RTA’s service goals for years to come,” Krupa said. “This is an exciting time for public transportation as we all work to recover from the pandemic and look to rebuild, inspire and give our customers more reasons to ride the bus.”
