July/August 2023 - 38

Cristina Russell is an industry professional who has
supported business development and operations for
passenger transportation systems since 2010. She
joined Transdev in 2018 as vice president of business
development and is responsible for supporting Transdev's
client relationships across the United States.
Russell is responsible for supporting Transdev's
Cristina
Russell
Vice President
of Business
Development
Transdev
Operations Team to ensure continuous improvement
through presentation of new and innovative
ideas to benefit Transdev's public transit agency
partners and has implemented initiatives to help
Transdev become a valuable part of communities
across the country. She also supports charitable
organizations to feed and clothe those in need in
the communities that the company serves and has
experience developing strategy to pursue fixed route,
paratransit, autonomous, microtransit and mobility
as a service projects.
She has helped lead Transdev's successful renewal
efforts for some of the country's largest public transportation
contracts, including the city of Phoenix
with two operating facilities and more than 350
fixed route buses, NICE Bus in Nassau County, N.Y.,
a public-private partnership with a $100 million
operating budget and Foothill Transit's Arcadia
Facility with a more than 200 vehicle revenue fleet.
Russell worked with the Transdev team to develop
the concept for a first-of-its-kind One Seat
Jonny Simkin
CEO
Swiftly, Inc.
Jonny Simkin is co-founder and CEO of Swiftly,
Inc., a transit data platform for agencies to share
real-time passenger information, manage day-today
operations, and improve service performance.
Agency colleagues say Simkin's passion, commitment
and boundless energy have been instrumental in
enhancing the efficiency and rider experience of transit
agencies across the globe. Swiftly has partnered
with more than 145 transit agencies of all sizes, in
more than eight countries, to help improve the rider
experience for nearly 2 billion annual transit trips.
Simkin helped secure more than $27 million in
funding and fostered the growth of a dynamic team
of more than 75 dedicated professionals. Swiftly's
commitment to its employee' growth and its alignment
with the public sector's ethos are exemplified
by team members transitioning to public sector
agencies, solidifying Simkin's role in shaping the
future of the transit workforce.
One example of Swiftly's impact on the industry
and Simkin's collaborative mind-set is the partnership
developed with Miami-Dade County, where the
company's more accurate predictive arrival times
at stops contributed to a 41 percent reduction in instances
where passengers missed buses. The county
estimates these advancements enhance the transit
experience for approximately 8 million annual trips,
catering to a wide range of passengers, including
those without smartphones through Swiftly's textto-ETA
solution. Furthermore, Swiftly's data aids
38 Mass Transit | JULY/AUGUST 2023
I have come to realize working
with a strong and reliable team
is crucial for achieving personal
and professional balance. "
Regional Ride program, eliminating transfer trips
and significantly improving the quality of life for
paratransit passengers in the California Bay Area.
In recent years, she has also collaborated with
several regions in California to develop and implement
more cost-effective and customer-friendly
operations. She has also led business development
efforts for Transdev's autonomous vehicle operations
for its transit division and worked with
customers such as Livermore Amador Valley
Transportation Authority (California) and Regional
Transportation District (Denver) on their
AV pilot projects.
She is committee member for CalACT and actively
represents Transdev at CTA, CalACT, and
APTA among other industry organizations.
Fast Fact: Russell won first place in the spelling
bee for her elementary school in fourth and
sixth grade.
MassTransitmag.com/53067995
There's nothing like seeing
and experiencing the impact
of your work firsthand and
knowing that it truly is making
the world a better place. "
are assisting Miami-Dade County in the design of
more accurate and reliable schedules and to inform
the county on where capital investments should be
made to maximize its capital budget.
Beyond Swiftly's operational realm, Simkin has
been a speaker at prominent industry conferences
and panels, including APTA events, CoMotion LA
and Miami, Rail~Volution and GIS in Transit, among
others. Simkin's thought leadership and contributions
have left an indelible mark on the discourse
surrounding transit technology and innovation.
One of the more remarkable aspects of Simkin's
journey is his unconventional educational background,
which is not related to transit, but which
sets an inspiring precedent for aspiring transit professionals.
His success underscores the notion that
it is not too late to transition to a career in transit
and make a significant positive impact.
Fast Fact: Simkin was once ranked No. 2 in
California for table tennis (boys under 17).
MassTransitmag.com/53068602
http://www.MassTransitmag.com/53067995 http://www.MassTransitmag.com/53068602
July/August 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of July/August 2023
