For Immediate Release: Thursday, April 1, 2004
Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan today named Gordon Linton, the former Federal Transit Administrator (1993-1999) in the Clinton administration, as Montgomery County’s representative to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) board of directors. As the President's top official for national public transportation policy, Linton is credited with the enactment of many of the administration's public transportation innovations. Linton is also widely recognized for advocating and promoting transit and commuter tax benefits.
“Metro is under attack from those who lack the vision to see that a healthy and expanded system is essential to this region’s well being,” said Duncan. “Mr. Linton has a 25 year record of outstanding accomplishments in implementing innovative transportation policies, and he will fight to ensure that Metro continues as its founders intended.”
Linton has an acknowledged record of accomplishment in advancing and executing transportation and other public policies at the local, state and national level. He was a major architect of the Federal Transit Authorization Act of 1998, which authorized an unprecedented $41 billion of new investment in bus and rail transit systems throughout the country. Under his leadership, $10 billion in federal investments were committed for the construction of new rail transit, extensions, and busways. Linton lobbied Congress to increase the tax benefit for public transportation, and was an early advocate for full transit benefits for federal employees, launching the development of the Federal Transit Commuter Choice program. Linton also launched the “Livable Communities Initiative” as the centerpiece of the federal transit program to strengthen the linkage between transit services and communities.
Duncan hailed Linton as a champion of transit, commuter benefits and public transportation. Duncan has vowed to challenge the Ehrlich administration’s lack of support for transit, and through Linton’s appointment, plans to strongly advocate strengthening and expanding the Metro system.
“The widespread availability of effective and efficient public transportation is directly linked to the livability of cities,” said Linton. “The decisions we make today about the challenges and opportunities facing Metro will shape the landscape of this region for decades. I am deeply committed to keeping Metro a world class transit system, and increasing the number of people using transit. If we don’t, our communities will have even more congestion, deteriorating air quality, and an overall worsening of quality of life.”
Prior to his service with the Federal Transit Administration, Linton served six terms in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives (1982-1993) and as Regional Administrator in the Office of Pennsylvania’s Auditor General’s office (1980-82). In addition, he served on the Board of Directors of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority.
Linton is currently a Senior Advisor and Vice President of Business Development with WageWorks, Inc. in Bethesda, the nation’s largest provider of commuter benefits programs and the fastest-growing provider of flexible spending accounts for health care and dependent care.
In accordance with the Maryland Public Ethics Law, Linton submitted documents to the Maryland State Ethics Commission describing his employment with and ownership interest in WageWorks, as well as details regarding the company’s business dealing with WMATA. WageWorks purchases and delivers transit passes, including passes from the WMATA system, to participants in WageWorks commuter benefits program.
The County Executive, with the Council’s approval, appoints an alternate board member to the WMATA board of directors. The Council will vote on Linton’s in April.
Linton holds a master's degree in counseling psychology from Antioch University and a bachelor's degree in economics from Lincoln University. He lives in Rockville with his wife Gina and his two daughters Briana and Nia.
A photograph of Linton is available on the County’s website.
Release ID: 04-136
Media Contact: David Weaver 240-777-6530