SMART Bus HIres New General Manager

[MichiganMan]

SMART has hired John Hertel as its next General Manager. The decision was made at today's board meeting. He will start in 2 weeks.

[BVos]

Sources? This is a big deal since he's the head of the Transit Coordinating Council and was one of the few regional leaders who could successfully work across the various municipal factions in SE Michigan and push a regional transit plan through to agreement.

[BVos]

Never mind, just answered my own comment:
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...FREE/100329914

As usual, our own Bill Shea was on it breaking the story [[still nothing from the Freep or Snews), and also adeptly listing the truly important work John has been doing under the political radar screen these days. I'd really like to see some analysis of this story. What does it mean for the regional transit plan? Is this a preemptive move for a potential merger of DDOT and SMART? This is probably one of the biggest personnel moves in mass transit in the Detroit area in a long time and it leaves one with a lot of questions as to the motives behind the move [[which could be fantastic motives by the way!).