Knoxville Transportation Authority (KTA) board members elected new officers at their meeting on Thursday. Outgoing Chair Renee Hoyos presided over the election of new officers, which include Jim Richards as Chair, Liliana Burbano Bonilla as Vice Chair, and KAT employee Lauren Robinson as KTA Recording Secretary. 

Richards, the new Chair, is the General Manager of Mast General Store in downtown Knoxville and an avid alternative transportation advocate. He has served on the KTA board since September 2012. 

"Transit in Knoxville is continuing to move forward, and I am happy to be a part of and assist in that effort," says Richards. "I look forward to working with the KAT team on continuing to improve the system." 

Burbano Bonilla, who joined the KTA board in January 2014, is a regular transit rider and is the Project Coordinator of the Safe Routes to School Program for the Knox County Health Department. 

The nine-member KTA board sets policy for all for-hire intra-city passenger transportation services, including bus transit service, taxicabs and private for-hire transportation services. Additionally, KTA sets schedules, fares and routes for KAT services.