Rosa Evans chosen to head Metra when Hunter steps down

City Manager Isaiah Hugley has selected current Columbus Consolidated Government Transit Manager, Rosa Evans, to fill the position of the Director of Transportation.

The current Transportation Director, Saundra Hunter will retire on June 30 after 37 years of service with the city. Hunter served as the Director of Transportation/METRA for eight years.

Hugley will go before the Columbus Council for approval of his appointment on Tuesday, July 12, the next scheduled business meeting of the Council.

Evans started as a METRA bus operator in 1988 and then worked as METRA transit supervisor in 1994. Evans also worked as METRA’s ADA coordinator for four years until she accepted her current position as METRA’s transit manager in 2001.

“We are fortunate to have someone of Rosa’s caliber already in-house. She has worked and managed nearly every position within METRA,” said Hugley. “This is a critically important role for Columbus because METRA provides over one million one-way trips a year for our citizens and handles millions of dollars in funds from the federal and state governments,” said Hugley.

Evans graduated Magna Cum Laude from Troy University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology in 2014. She has been with METRA for 28 years. Her work experience includes transportation operations, paratransit, planning, and administration.

“I am grateful for this opportunity,” said Evans. “I have been privileged to serve our community for many years, and I look forward to serving the city in this new capacity.”

Evans was born and raised in Elgin, S.C. She has been living in Columbus for over 35 years. She has two adult children and seven grandchildren who live in Columbus.

This story was originally published June 22, 2016 at 12:12 PM with the headline "Rosa Evans chosen to head Metra when Hunter steps down."