[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 185 (Friday, December 18, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1844]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           HONORING JONI EARL

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. ADAM SMITH

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 18, 2015

  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Joni Earl, 
longtime Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Seattle area's regional 
transit system, Sound Transit, on her retirement. Joni has been an 
extraordinary and transformative civic leader; forever changing the 
public transportation system in the Puget Sound region.
  Joni's public service has been a lifelong endeavor and began when she 
was just a teenager, when she served as Assistant Treasurer at the City 
of Bremerton's City Treasurer office. Upon graduation from Washington 
State University, Joni would continue her career in 1987 as the City 
Manager of Mill Creek. Later, she brought her leadership abilities to 
Snohomish County as the Deputy County Executive until 2000, when she 
was recruited to join Sound Transit as its Chief Operating Officer 
(COO).
  As COO, Joni was tasked with saving a $1.9 billion light rail project 
that was years behind schedule and a billion dollars over budget. Just 
months after arriving, Joni was unexpectedly appointed to the role of 
CEO, where she discovered the true extent of Sound Transit's 
difficulties with several projects behind schedule, over budget, and in 
danger of losing federal and public support.
  With the agency's future very much in doubt, Joni spearheaded Sound 
Transit's remarkable turnaround in the early 2000s. She immersed 
herself in the subject material, gaining a realistic perspective from 
agency staff and realigning expectations for the then-troubled light 
rail line. Her skillful navigation of the relationship with the Sound 
Transit board, which includes local elected officials from throughout 
the region, won her the trust of Democrats and Republicans alike. To 
those who had worked with Joni in the past, the transformation of Sound 
Transit came as no surprise: her career is filled with stories of 
successful turnarounds.
  Thanks to Joni's careful stewardship, the Puget Sound region's 
transit system is today on stable footing with Sound Transit rolling 
out new light rail and bus service. The initial portion of an extensive 
light rail system--the first of its kind in the region--was up and 
running by 2009; in 2016, a new light rail extension to the University 
of Washington is set to open months ahead of schedule and $150 million 
under budget. Moving forward, Sound Transit is expected to expand its 
light rail throughout the region, providing new transportation 
opportunities for citizens and transforming the economic vitality of 
the region in the process.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize Joni Earl on her 
retirement from Sound Transit and for her lifetime of service to the 
Puget Sound region. It is without a doubt that her leadership and 
commitment to a better future of public transit will continue to impact 
the region for generations to come.

                          ____________________