Monterey-Salinas Transit’s (MST) former General Manager and CEO Frank J. Lichtanski was recognized as the recipient of the prestigious 2008 American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Hall of Fame Award. This special honor is reserved for individuals who have concluded their careers and have made extraordinary contributions to public transportation.

Frank J. Lichtanski was an MST employee for 31 years, serving as general manager / CEO for the majority of his tenure. Between 1975 and 1978 he helped establish the first regional transit services to the cities of Marina, Salinas, and the unincorporated areas of Carmel Valley, and Big Sur and was promoted to assistant general manager in 1977. Frank was instrumental in the formation of the Joint Powers Agency that would eventually become Monterey-Salinas Transit. Through his efforts, the member jurisdictions of the Monterey Peninsula Transit JPA joined the cities of Marina and Salinas to form Monterey-Salinas Transit in 1981. Shortly after the formation of MST, Frank was promoted to general manager/CEO in 1982 where he would remain for the next 23 years until his passing in June 2005.

During his tenure, Frank grew MST from a fleet of six buses on nine routes serving 39,000 annual boardings to a regional system with 36 routes, five million annual boardings and a fleet of 86 buses. Through Frank’s leadership, MST was a leader in adopting new technologies. In 1979, MST was one of the first fleets in the state to begin deploying wheelchair accessible buses. In 1993, MST became an early adopter of alternative fuels technology implementing compressed natural gas technology on 25 percent of the MST transit fleet. In 1994, MST placed bicycle racks on its entire fleet. In 2003, MST became one of the first small transit operators to implement a fully functional advanced communication system featuring geographic positioning, automated vehicle location, and computer aided dispatch technologies.

His commitment to providing quality services, training and development, and dedication to public service, his legacy lives on to inspire all who choose a career in public transit.

The award ceremony will take place Tuesday, October 7 at the APTA annual meeting in San Diego, CA.

For more information call Monterey-Salinas Transit toll free at 1-888-MST-BUS1.