Broward County Transit Bids Farewell to Director Chris Walton

After 22 years of service to Broward County Transit (BCT), Florida’s second-largest transit system, Transportation Director Christopher Walton is retiring. Over the years, Mr. Walton’s advocacy and leadership have profoundly impacted public transportation in Broward County and the South Florida region. His tireless work has provided the foundation for the continued growth of a transit system that provides safe, convenient, and accessible transportation for the residents and visitors who depend upon its services. Walton began his tenure with BCT in 2000 as Operations Manager. In 2002, he was promoted to Associate Director, responsible for overseeing bus and maintenance operations. During this time, he improved bus service by introducing peak ridership hours and establishing the County’s first limited-stop bus service. In 2007, he was promoted to Transportation Department Director in charge of both the Transit and Fleet Services divisions. Under his watch, BCT introduced inter-county Express Bus Service to Miami in 2010; new bus service along I-595 to downtown Fort Lauderdale and Miami in 2012; and in 2015, one of the largest alternative fuel Paratransit fleets in the nation. In more recent years, Walton turned his attention to expanding services and modernizing the fleet. He believed that BCT could become a world-class transit system and focused on projects that would support that goal. Penny Surtax for Long-Term Funding “A penny sales tax would dramatically reshape the County. We intend to provide the kind of transportation system that our County should have. We have all the ideas. All we need is the money.” —Chris Walton Mr. Walton played a key leadership role in the development and passage of Broward County’s 2018 Transportation Surtax Referendum when Broward County voters approved a 30-year Penny for Transportation surtax, resulting in BCT receiving $16 billion over 30 years. The surtax dollars, along with state and federal dollars, provide the funding needed to make public transportation in Broward County more convenient and accessible by expanding mass transit and increasing connectivity. It will also address traffic congestion, safety issues, and infrastructure, and allow BCT to keep up with the latest technology. In addition, BCT now has the resources to grow its fleet and provide funding for existing Community Shuttles. Revenue from the tax will also fund on-demand transportation services for Paratransit, build 26 miles of light rail and 150 miles of bus rapid transit along locally supported corridors, and design a more responsive transit service. A Greener Transit System “BCT’s goal is to transition to a fleet that is not only safe and convenient for our riders but also environmentally friendly and economical.” —Chris Walton Walton has been an advocate for utilizing as much green technology as possible throughout BCT’s system. In 2018, BCT began testing electric buses from several manufacturers to determine which would best meet the needs of Broward County riders. After considering many factors and completing many test runs, the Proterra bus was selected. BCT currently has 12 Proterras in its fleet with 30 more coming soon, along with 2 over-the-road electric buses for Express Service routes. BCT’s facilities are also getting a green makeover. BCT’s Copans and Ravenswood garages have been retrofitted with charging stations to accommodate the new electric buses; Ravenswood also has charging stations for electric cars. New construction is being built with sustainability in mind, and eco-friendly technologies are being integrated. The Lauderhill Transit Center, opened in 2021, is equipped with a solar canopy system, charging stations for electric vehicles, and a natural gas-fueled energy generator. It is the County’s first net-positive facility, generating more electrical power than the Center is expected to consume. The new Miramar Park and Ride is anticipated to be completed in May 2022 and will house six extra-large transit shelters with solar-powered lighting. The facility will be equipped with the necessary infrastructure to accommodate on-route charging for electric buses and the capability to charge up to 20 passenger cars. Supporting the Community “BCT is committed to doing our part to assist the community during this challenging time by partnering with the Florida Department of Health-Broward to make vaccines available at our facilities and offer incentives to encourage people to get vaccinated.” —Chris Walton Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, BCT has been committed to providing safe and reliable transportation for the community. Under Walton’s leadership, proactive measures were quickly enacted to ensure that riders would continue to have access to public transit. All buses receive a rigorous nightly cleaning with supplemental cleaning and disinfecting throughout the day, and safety protocols such as rear door entry and exit, mandatory face coverings, and social distancing on the buses were implemented. BCT also ran a “Safety is Our Number One Priority” campaign to inform riders about the steps BCT was taking to keep riders and bus operators protected on the buses. As a service to the community, BCT partnered with the Florida Department of HealthBroward to hold vaccination pop-ups at all four of its terminals and at early voting locations throughout the County. Free Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines were distributed to the public, and as an incentive, BCT gave out free 31-day bus passes to each person who got vaccinated. As a result of this initiative, a total of 2298 vaccines were distributed to the community. Looking Toward the Future Walton leaves BCT with no shortage of projects in the pipeline. There are plans to test a pilot program for late-night transportation services, and micro-transit utilizing alternative modes of transportation. Additionally, state-of-the-art operational facilities are being constructed to support BCT’s expanding bus operator and maintenance staff, and a new downtown headquarters and intermodal center, scheduled to be completed in 2025, will include light rail, public parking, and accommodations for Transportation Network Companies (TNC), rideshare companies, taxis, and bikesharing. Walton’s dedication and hard work will undoubtedly leave a mark on BCT and the Broward County community. Although he is handing over the reins, Walton has laid the groundwork for future BCT leaders to build the world-class transit system he always imagined BCT could be.