After a storied nearly 40-year career with the DTA, General Manager Rod Fournier has announced his retirement on July 24th.
A West Duluth native, Fournier has spent nearly his entire adult life in various roles with the DTA. Beginning as a part time Bus Operator in August of 1988, working in Dispatch, Supervisor, and Scheduling roles, Rod landed as the Director of Operations, which laid the groundwork for his path to leading the organization in recent years.
“You always strive to leave an organization in a better place than when you found it, and with the talented team at the DTA I think we were able to do that, and move public transit forward for the communities we serve,” said Fournier, who has been the General Manager for the past four years. Under Fournier’s leadership, the organization navigated the unique challenges presented by the pandemic, and positioned resources to ensure ridership recovery and financial stability for the DTA to preserve its vital service to the Northland.
A 2023 system redesign, ‘The Better Bus Blueprint’ ushered in a new service, including two high frequency “Go-Lines” and many other improvements to enhance the efficiency of the system and attract ridership. Upgrades to technology, building renovations, fleet expansion, and many other initiatives define Fournier’s tenure with the DTA.
DTA Board of Directors President Lindsay Biddle noted, “Rod Fournier's trusting leadership, non-anxious presence, and heartfelt commitment to the DTA's mission is felt throughout the organization, including its Board of Directors. As General Manager, he intentionally fostered a robust public service that provided critical transportation during the COVID pandemic, produced and fine-tuned our new bus lines, and positions the DTA to drive our growing communities in the coming years.”
After a robust nation-wide recruiting effort, current Assistant General Manager Chris Belden has been named the next General Manager of the DTA. Chris has been a transportation systems planner in the Duluth area for the last decade and is a certified urban planner. He’s been with the DTA for nearly 7 years as the Director of Planning and Grants and has led several projects to help the DTA recover from the COVID-19 pandemic quicker than many other agencies. Chris has developed a deep understanding of the public transportation industry and has a passion for helping people.
When asked about the opportunity to serve as the DTA General Manager, Belden said, “Our customers are at the heart of everything we do. I’m committed to deepening those relationships and serving them the best we can. The DTA is a top performing transit agency and we strive each day to meet the community’s needs. The amazing staff at the DTA make that happen by ensuring your bus will be there for you, get you safely to your destination, and to provide the best customer service.”
