The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA), the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) and Viginia governor-elect Abigail Spanberger have made new appointments to their respective leadership teams.
COTA brings on new COO
COTA has introduced Alicia Walker as its new chief operating officer (COO), joining the agency with more than 20 years of leadership experience in public transit, multimodal transportation and large-scale operational management.
At COTA, Walker will oversee service operations and customer care, including management and maintenance for COTA’s fixed route, Mainstream, COTA//Plus and future rapid transit initiatives.
“Alicia’s extensive operational expertise and her deep commitment to serving customers make her an exceptional addition to our leadership team,” said COTA President and CEO Monica Téllez-Fowler. “COTA is entering a pivotal era of expansion and innovation, and Alicia’s leadership will help strengthen the foundation our community relies on every day.”
Before joining COTA, Walker served as general manager and acting COO at Trinity Metro in Fort Worth, Texas. At Trinity Metro, she led all operations, including bus, paratransit, on-demand and maintenance, while also aiding in labor relations and system modernization initiatives. Previous experiences include leadership roles at Dallas Area Rapid Transit, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and GTrans in Gardena, Calif.
"Central Ohio is growing rapidly, and COTA is preparing for that future with vision and purpose," Walker said. "The organization's commitment to safe, accessible and customer-focused service aligns with my values, and I look forward to supporting our teams as we elevate mobility options for every community we serve."
Walker is professionally affiliated with American Public Transportation Association, Women’s Transportation Seminar, Conference of Minority Transportation Officials and Latinos In Transit.
VRE introduces new CEO
VRE has hired a new CEO. Starting on Jan. 20, 2026, Katie Choe will head the commuter rail service that connects Northern and Central Virginia to Washington, D.C. Choe is set to replace VRE’s former CEO Rich Dalton, who retired at the beginning of October.
Choe bring 25 years of program management and safety oversight leadership in the transportation sector to the role. Most recently, Choe served as the chief of staff to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Choe has also been chief engineer for the city of Boston Public Works, and a program manager at Massport, the Massachusetts Port Authority. Choe delivered multiple major infrastructure projects focused with an emphasis on safety and quality in the role. In 2022, she was named WTS-Boston’s Woman of the Year.
“The VRE Operations Board believes Ms. Choe is uniquely qualified as VRE’s next CEO,” said VRE Operations Board Chair and city of Alexandria Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley, continuing, “Her record of delivering transformative results for organizations through innovative, safety-oriented and people-first leadership reflects the core values held dear at VRE.”
Choe takes the helm of VRE at what the agency calls a pivotal point. Following the adoption earlier this year of VRE’s 2050 Service Plan and Vision, and a multi-billion dollar investment in the region’s rail infrastructure through the commonwealth of Virginia’s Transforming Rail in Virginia initiative, VRE is gearing up to increase service to expand beyond commuter-focused rail and build a position as a regional rail network. To do so, VRE is planning to implement its first-ever weekend and late-night services and increased bi-directional service under Choe’s leadership.
“I am honored to join VRE at such a significant moment for regional mobility,” Choe said. “VRE plays a critical role in connecting communities and supporting economic growth across Northern and Central Virginia and the greater Washington region. I look forward to working alongside our talented staff and partners to enhance the rider experience, deliver transformative capital projects, and build VRE into the first choice for regional transportation in Northern and Central Virginia.”
Choe’s appointment comes after a nationwide search and selection process conducted over the course of several months, led by the VRE Chief Executive Officer Search Committee.
Virgina Governor-elect Spanberger announces secretary of transportation selection
Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger has announced the selection of Nick Donohue to serve as Virginia’s next secretary of transportation.
“To strengthen our economy long into the future, we need to make sure Virginia has efficient infrastructure that allows families to get to work and school, businesses to transport their goods and travelers to see all that the commonwealth has to offer,” said Governor-elect Spanberger. “Virginians deserve a visionary leader who understands the vital role that our transportation network plays in building a stronger, safer and more prosperous commonwealth. That’s why I’m excited to announce the appointment of Nick Donohue to serve as Virginia’s next secretary of transportation. His range of experience will ensure Virginia tackles our transit challenges, improves the reliability of our networks, and prepares for new opportunities ahead.”
Before being selected for the role of secretary, Donohue founded Transportation and Infrastructure Strategies LLC, a company that advised public and private sector clients on transportation issues focused on efficient use of taxpayer dollars, multimodal solutions and transparency and accountability in decision-making.
Donohue has also served in senior leadership roles under three Virginia governors, shaping transportation policies and investments. As deputy secretary of transportation, he worked with the General Assembly to pass one of the largest transportation packages in more than three decades, established the Interstate 81 Corridor Improvement Program and secured the first dedicated capital funding for Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.
“It is an honor to be nominated by Governor-elect Spanberger to serve as Virginia’s secretary of transportation. Transportation is ultimately about opportunity, connecting people to jobs, education, and the communities they call home. I am committed to ensuring every investment we make strengthens those connections,” Donohue said. “I am excited to advance the governor-elect’s agenda to improve the everyday lives of Virginians.”
Further, Donohue played a role in the Transforming Rail in Virginia initiative, which increased both Amtrak and VRE service across the commonwealth. He also led the development of SMART SCALE, Virginia’s project prioritization process and helped strengthen the state’s approach to public-private partnerships. Nationally, he worked to ensure federal transportation policy better reflected the needs of local communities.
About the Author
Noah Kolenda
Associate Editor
Noah Kolenda is a recent graduate from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism with a master’s degree in health and science reporting. Kolenda also specialized in data journalism, harnessing the power of Open Data projects to cover green transportation in major U.S. cities. Currently, he is an associate editor for Mass Transit magazine, where he aims to fuse his skills in data reporting with his experience covering national policymaking and political money to deliver engaging, future-focused transit content.
Prior to his position with Mass Transit, Kolenda interned with multiple Washington, D.C.-based publications, where he delivered data-driven reporting on once-in-a-generation political moments, runaway corporate lobbying spending and unnoticed election records.