People on the move: Denver RTD, Spokane Transit

The Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) and Spokane Transit Authority (STA) have made new appointments to their respective leadership teams. 

Denver RTD names two to leadership positions  

Denver RTD has appointed Timothy Tyran as the agency’s director of safety and environmental compliance and chief safety officer. Tyran was selected following a national search, and he brings more than 35 years of experience in aviation and mass transportation in both the U.S. and Canada. In this role, he will be tasked with safeguarding Denver RTD’s employees, customers, facilities and transit network, which will include managing safety programs, conducting safety and environmental audits and coordinating with regulatory agencies when necessary. 

The agency notes Tyran’s expertise in multimodal transportation includes holding positions in operations, safety, quality, regulatory compliance and oversight –all of which position him as a highly experienced and engaging leader capable of enhancing the agency’s safety culture.  

Tyran joins the agency from Amtrak, where he served as director of system safety programs. Prior to that, he was chief safety officer at the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration, rail and facilities safety manager at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and SMS manager for technical operations at American Airlines. 

He holds a bachelor of science in occupational safety and health from Columbia Southern University and an associate degree in applied science/avionics technology from the Spartan College of Aeronautics. He holds several industry certifications related to safety and currently chairs the American Public Transportation Association’s Technology for Safety, Security and Risk Management subcommittee, leading industry efforts in using new technologies to mitigate operational hazards and risks at transit systems. 

The agency has also named Brett Feddersen its inaugural chief information and technology officer. Feddersen brings more than 20 years of experience in IT strategy and operational management.  

He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration, computer information systems, from Colorado Mesa University. He received a graduate degree in leadership and organizations from the University of Denver, with an emphasis in strategic innovation. He has completed the Leading, Educating and Developing leadership development program at the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service. Additionally, he is a published author of project management books producing review guides and practice exams for both the Project Management Professional and CompTIA Project+ certification exams. 

Feddersen first joined Denver RTD in 2015 as manager of shared technical services, implementing device standards that reduced user wait times. In October 2023, he assumed the role of acting senior manager of IT, where he led the TransIT ARCHITECTED initiative, a project that improved operational effectiveness and resulted in an increase in customer satisfaction of the technology division. 

Prior to Denver RTD, Feddersen worked at the city of Boulder, Colo., for which he served as assistant director of application services. His work in the IT department earned the city recognition from the Center for Digital Government for best practices in citizen engagement and digital solutions. He graduated from the Eno Center for Transportation's MAX Program in 2022 and Denver RTD’s Leadership Academy in 2019. 

STA appoints new CEO 

The STA Board of Directors have appointed Karl Otterstrom as the agency’s next CEO. Otterstrom, who currently serves as STA’s interim co-CEO and chief planning and development officer, is anticipated to assume the role in August, pending a mutually signed, board approved employment contract. He will succeed E. Susan Meyer, who served as CEO from 2005 to 2024. 

“I could not be more pleased to welcome Karl Otterstrom as the new CEO of the STA,” said STA Board Chair Pro Tem and Medical Lake Councilmember Lance Speirs. “He has clearly demonstrated a steady commitment to serving the community and a drive to continually improve the STA to make it the best it can be. The board looks forward to the opportunity to work with Mr. Otterstrom as he leads STA forward.” 

Otterstrom added, “I’m honored and humbled by the board’s trust in me to lead and partner in advancing public transportation in our region. I look forward to working with the board, our employees and the community in connecting everyone to opportunity and supporting our region’s economy and residents with efficient, effective public transportation.” 

Otterstrom has nearly 20 years of experience in public transportation, with over 15 of those years at STA. His leadership has been central to major initiatives such as the successful launch of the City Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project and the delivery of the ten-year strategic plan STA Moving Forward, which has expanded service, improved infrastructure and increased access to high-performance transit across the region. He currently leads the implementation of the Connect 2035 strategic plan and Division Street BRT projects. 

He holds a master of urban planning from the University of Washington and a bachelor of arts in urban and regional planning from Eastern Washington University. He joined STA in 2009 as director of planning and development. Since then, he has helped STA secure more than $170 million in grant funding and created programs like the Universal Transit Access Pass, which increased both ridership and revenue.  

Otterstrom also led the development of a new partnership with Spokane Public Schools to shift most high school students to public transit starting in 2022, helping the school district save money. During economic downturns, he led efforts to restructure STA bus service, cutting costs while still increasing ridership.  

He is a Spokane native who regularly rides transit. He has ridden more than 1,000 STA bus trips in some years.  

Otterstrom began his career with the agency as an intern in 2002. He has been active in many community and professional organizations, including the University District Development Association and the Spokane Regional Transportation Council. He has also shared his expertise nationally, presenting at industry conferences and helping shape transit policies beyond the Spokane region, and has taught in the Urban and Regional Planning Department at Eastern Washington University.