Gerald Francis Email & Phone Number

Greater Boston Area

Responsible for growing and improving Keolis’ existing and future business activities, showcasing the company’s capabilities and ensuring best practices across the U.S. and Canada.

Greater Boston Area

Managed daily operations for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority commuter rail system in Boston, one of the largest and most complex systems in North America carrying more than 127,000 passengers each week day.

San Jose, California

General Manager of Caltrain operations, managing contract and providing overall guidance and direction, including regulatory compliance. Ensure correlation between client RFPs and proposed solutions. Maintain client/contractor relations. Work closely with the corporate office in interpretation and coordination with procurement contracts, contract billing, required reports, operational analysis, monthly/quarterly meetings with client, and additional services. Responsible for various departments under the scope of service.

Dallas, Texas

Build market position by locating, developing, defining, negotiating, and closing business relationships. Locate or propose potential business deals by discovering and exploring opportunities. Develop negotiating strategies and positions by studying integration of new venture with company strategies and operations. Close new business deals by coordinating requirements, developing and negotiating contracts, and integrating contract requirements with business operations.

Analyzed client's safety and/or operational excellence system. Presented analysis and recommendation (s) to the client. Guided client through best practices in safety and/or operations excellence. Assisted client in developing goals, objectives and action plans relating to safety and/or operational excellence. Developed client safety and/or operational excellence and liaison plan. Audited client project status, progress and issues relating to safety and/or operations excellence.Directed a team of consultants and instructors to manage and integrated programs. Responsible for developing technical solutions , value proposition, and business understanding for challenging clients wants and issues. Provided technical consulting in one or more engineering specialties to analyze client needs , develop solutions, and if required assist client with implementations.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Managed an annual operating budget of $1.1B and an annual capital program of $700M. Reported directly to the General Manager/Chief Executive Officer and manage both the Board Planning, Development and Real Estate Committee and the Board Customer Service, Operations and Safety Committee working closely with Board members and the Tri‐State Oversight Committee.WMATA Operational achievements include:Grand opening of the Nationals’ new baseball park in April, 2008: Successfully carried 1.2M rail and bus passengers.Historic Papal visit to Washington, DC in April, 2008: Successfully carried 1.3M rail and bus passengers.Obama Presidential Inauguration in January, 2009: Successfully carried the highest ridership in Metro’s history, 1.54M rail and bus passengers.Directed the 3,900‐employee bus reorganization, eliminating 5 levels of management to provide direct responsibility and accountability to managers for bus safety, efficiency, and on time performance while establishing clear lines of bi‐directional communication with an emphasis on front‐line employees and customers. This resulted in improving the on‐time performance from 60% to 75% within the first year. Improved labor relations with local unions by partnering with the union leadership to resolve open grievances, revise procedures and develop a consistent discipline approach.Established new capital contracting approach with the implementation of infrastructure segment contracts that reduce Metro’s cost through economies of scale, consolidated approach and minimized single tracking. Proactively created capital rehabilitation programs for major rolling stock components that maximized the useful life of the asset, improved reliability and reduced costs.Completed $1B of capital projects, including rail yard expansions, openings of parking garage, bus transfer facility, police station, and upgrade of Metrorail traction power equipment to enable 8‐car train operations.

Greater Los Angeles Area

Managed and directed all daily bus/rail operations for an 18,500 stop, 189‐line bus system covering 1,433 square miles with a fleet of 2,100 buses and a 72.7‐mile, 72-station rail system with a fleet of 153 rail cars and a daily ridership of 333,125 passengers. Reported to the Deputy General Manager and managed a staff of 1,010 employees, with eight direct reports responsible for an annual budget of $228.2M. Responsible for the development and oversight of the $202M rail/bus financial plan. Managed the $150M procurement of 50 light rail vehicles. Agency was named “Transit Agency of the Year for 2006” by APTA.Developed, implemented, and directed Rail Operations objectives, goals and strategic business plans. Provided direction and support to all rail operation functions to ensure attainment of MTA’s vision, mission, values and goals. Worked closely with California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) to establish standards and practices for regulatory and safety oversight over light rail transit operations.Established the first Rail Capital Oversight Team responsible for creating a multi‐year capital program that prioritized agency needs, ensured project schedule adherence and resulted in meeting 90% of the forecasted budget expenditure. Facilitated the Rail Strategic Performance Plan identifying clear departmental specific, measurable, action‐oriented, realistic and time based (SMART) objectives that enabled the development of detailed management action plans for all responsible parties.Successfully opened the $900M, 13.7 mile Metro Gold Line extension linking Los Angeles to Pasadena delivering service to the public commencing July 2003 on time and under budget through close coordination with Metro Gold Line Construction Authority.

Dallas/Fort Worth Area

Executive level operational oversight of DART’s Rail Operations including both day‐to‐day transportation and operations control center responsibilities ensuring DART met its operating goals. Agency named “Transit Agency of the Year” by APTA in 1997. Managed the development and implementation of directives and programs for the rail division in the areas of organizational procedures, passenger safety, and adherence to operating schedules, personnel management, training curriculums, and labor relations. Managed a $55M operations budget and a $20M capital budget and implemented Convention Center and Service and Inspection Facility expansions. Prepared and delivered presentations to the DART Board of Directors. Worked closely with Texas Department of Transportation (TDOT) to ensure adherence to safety and security practices, and facilitate compliance with the American Public Transit Association's guidelines for the development of rail transit system safety program plans. Opened the 20‐mile; 14‐station DART light rail starter system. Directed the opening of two new light rail extensions, Garland and Plano.

Dallas/Fort Worth Area

Responsible for the recruitment, training, and day‐to‐day management of Central Rail Operations union and supervisory staff. Managed the planning for all major engineering work. Monitored adherence to operational standards, rules, and regulations, as well as health and safety legislation. Acted to restore and maintain services affected by operational incidents, bad weather, staff shortages and equipment failure. Developed and deployed safety and performance standard surveys and analyses. Consistently achieved on‐time Rail performance goals. Directed the opening of the first Light Rail system.

Greater St. Louis Area

Responded to and investigated rail accidents and incidents coordinating closely with emergency response agencies/teams. Conducted interviews with operators and witnesses and was responsible for developing well documented accident reports. Directed train operators during emergencies, equipment breakdowns, and service delays. Operated Rail Control Center equipment which monitored and directed train movements, and resolved operational problems. Member of the Metrolink light rail system starter team. Worked closely with Missouri Department of Transportation (MDOT) safety oversight commission to ensure BSD’s compliance with established standards and practices and to develop new guidelines and procedures for state‐wide implementation.

Operation Lifesaver