Worcester, MA – At the February 20, 2025 Advisory Board Meeting, Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA) Administrator Josh Rickman and his team received an outstanding personnel review. The evaluation, conducted by the board, highlights the exceptional leadership, dedication, and teamwork demonstrated by the administration in moving the authority forward.
In their assessment, the Advisory Board commended Administrator Rickman and his team for their coordination with the thirty-seven communities and towns served by WRTA. They recognized Rickman’s strong management skills and his ability to foster effective teamwork. He was celebrated for the team’s implementation of innovative solutions, which have led to improved operations for WRTA and its stakeholders.
Rickman received high ratings across key categories, particularly for his collaborative approach with riders, community leaders, and stakeholders. He was praised for strengthening municipal partnerships and addressing community needs. His work with WRTA’s contractor, CMTM, led to a successful shift from part-time to full-time operator positions, a strategy approved in February 2024. Since then, CMTM has increased full-time drivers from 95 to 107, reducing missed trips to pre-COVID levels and improving service reliability. The board also recognized his effectiveness in managing WRTA contractors and ensuring smooth daily operations.
“The Administrator and his team have excelled in coordination with municipalities, focusing the Agency on improving service reliability, and generally creating a sense that the WRTA is on the move,” said Stephen Rolle, Worcester’s Transportation & Mobility Commissioner.
The positive review comes at a time when WRTA is poised for continued growth, with several new initiatives on the horizon, including projects focused on operational efficiencies, rebranding, fleet replacement and technology improvements.
“Josh and his team have displayed true leadership for the diverse interests of the thirty-seven cities and towns served by the WRTA. His team is responsive to our needs and concerns in a timely and thoughtful manner,” added WRTA Chairperson Doug Belanger. “The Board’s high marks during Josh’s annual evaluation speak volumes about his ability to lead and inspire all of our partners, including drivers, management, support staff, and community leaders.”
This favorable feedback reflects the strong collaboration between the administration, drivers, management, and the communities they serve, marking another milestone in WRTA’s ongoing success.
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The Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA) is a regional transit system that services the City of Worcester and the surrounding 36 communities in the Central Massachusetts area with a bus fleet that includes diesel-electric hybrid buses, and clean-diesel buses. The second largest regional transit authority in Massachusetts, the WRTA offers reliable, comfortable, and safe transportation for traveling to work, shopping, school, medical appointments, and leisure activities. The WRTA also provides paratransit service for the elderly and disabled, as well as a variety of special services for those groups in the entire service area. In 2024, WRTA provided 4.75 million passenger trips throughout its system. All fixed routes and paratransit services are free through June 2025.