D5-4-Staff Discipline 5.pdf

ARIZONA DOT DISCIPLINE 5 1

DISCIPLINE 5 - STAFF QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE FOR

STRATEGIC PLANNING

OVERVIEW

RLS has concentrated on improving public transportation system operations and administration through the use of sound financial management practices, the responsible use of capital resources, and quality customer service, believing that these are the core areas where the greatest contributions can be made and where the talents and resources of the firm can provide the greatest benefit. As a result, the RLS professional staff conducts projects across the country in many areas Including:

Transit Service Operations, Design, and Evaluation Financial Management and Cost Allocation Human Service Coordination, Mobility Management, and Paratransit Service Planning, Development, and Implementation Civil Rights—ADA, DBE, EEO, Title VI, and LEP Drug & Alcohol Regulations Effective Customer Service Governing Board Training and Assistance On-going Technical Assistance and Training to Meet the Specific Needs of State DOTs and Transit Systems

Performance Measures and Monitoring, and Risk Management Procurement and Third Party Contracting Program and Policy Development and Review Regulatory Compliance Rural Transit Assistance Program (RTAP) Management and Operations Safety Management Systems Strategic Planning Compliance/Management Performance Reviews Surveys and Data Collection Transit Asset Management Transit Technology and Facility Design

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STAFFING

RLS takes pride in an experienced and professional staff that is proficient in a wide variety of disciplines, enabling the team to quickly and effectively respond to the client’s needs. It is the team’s combination of human resources and innovative practices rooted in the individual needs of teach client that places this RLS team ahead of many of its competitors. This section describes the relevant experience of each team member.

Under Discipline 5 Tasks, Project Manager Julie Schafer will be primarily responsible for the work and all communication between the RLS team and Arizona DOT. She will ensure that commitments for deliverables and support are fulfilled to meet and exceed expectations. Robbie Sarles, RLS President, will be the Principal-in Charge to provide oversight of contractual obligations and support, as needed.

ARIZONA DOT DISCIPLINE 5 2

Staff Qualifications and Experience

The following paragraphs provide individual qualifications of the key staff proposed for Discipline 5 projects.

Robbie L. Sarles, President, Principal-in-Charge, Contract Manager

Ms. Robbie Sarles is the founder and president of RLS with more than forty years in operations, management, training, compliance and planning. A national expert on FTA drug and alcohol testing regulations, she directs major federal oversight programs. She provides technical assistance to rural and urban transit systems and is a sought-after trainer on ADA, civil rights and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regulatory requirements. Ms. Sarles is currently the Project Manager for the RLS team’s work under the FTA Comprehensive Oversight Review and Technical Assistance,(CORTAP) program. Under the CORTAP program, RLS provides triennial compliance assessments for FTA subrecipients nationwide.

For over 46 years, Ms. Robbie Sarles has worked in the public transportation field in both the public and private sectors in progressively responsible positions, culminating in the founding of RLS & Associates, Inc.

in 1987. For much of that time, she has provided transportation management consulting services to public transit systems, paratransit systems, government agencies, and the private sector, working directly with senior-level DOT staff, legislators, and local elected officials to discuss complex issues. Of particular importance to this project, Ms. Sarles is the Principal-In-Charge of overseeing RLS’ on-site staff for several State DOT technical assistance engagements, including those for Indiana, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Nevada, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Because of this, Ms. Sarles has worked closely with the State Managers responsible for FTA program administration in these states, as well as several others, and has provided insight and guidance on several issues relevant to FTA program administrative and funding issues, and rural or coordinated transit issues, in particular.

Ms. Sarles and the RLS staff are unequaled in their experience and knowledge of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) programs and regulations, including Sections 5307, 5309, 5310, 5311, Charter, Intercity, FAST Act coordination requirements, and cost allocation and community transportation, including non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT).

Finally, for the last eight years, Ms. Sarles has been intimately involved with the creation of a tool to calculate the fully allocated cost of providing public and human services trips and coordinating the invoicing and reporting of funding these resources in a streamlined and efficient manner. The culmination of this effort is being played out in a nationally available tool called CCAM Transportation Coordination Cost and Pricing Tool which is currently hosted by CCAM (https://www.ccam-tac.org/cost-allocation/).

Related Project Bibliography o Project Manager — Comprehensive oversight review and technical assistance program (CORTAP) nationwide o Mobility Ohio — statewide policy alignment and regional pilot programs o Nineteen State DOT Drug and Alcohol Program technical assistance and training contracts;

twelve on-call assistance contracts o Multi-state compliance monitoring and Drug and Alcohol training — Alaska, Nevada, Indiana, North Carolina, Oregon, West Virginia, Georgia, California, and New York

Years of Transportation Experience: 46

ARIZONA DOT DISCIPLINE 5 3

Education: M.S., Transportation Engineering and M.S., City and Regional Planning, from The Ohio State University and a B.S., Geography and Psychology, Western Kentucky University.

*Julie Schafer, RLS Senior Associate, Project Manager Ms. Schafer has 19 years of experience in the transit industry. Ms. Schafer joined RLS & Associates, Inc.

after a successful career with an area agency on aging in southeast Indiana. Ms. Schafer had a lead role in the development of and then management of a seven-county public transit system. Ms. Schafer’s role in the development of the public transit system included; needs assessment, system design, grant writing, local fund development, branding, and marketing. Ms. Schafer has considerable expertise in state and Federal compliance, grant writing, resource development, data analysis, and policies and procedures. As RLS’ resident Rural Transit Circuit Rider, she works with transit systems in several states—Ohio, Indiana, New Hampshire, Nevada, North Carolina, and West Virginia to strengthen administrative and operating practices, evaluate, enhance and improve services, and identify, document, and solve administrative and operating issues.

Related Project Bibliography o Project Manager and Lead Circuit Rider – Contract Negotiations and Cost Allocation Assistance (2011–ongoing) / Ohio DOT o Research and Planning Support – Ohio Statewide and Regional Coordination; Mobility Transformation Phase 1 (2016–2019) / Ohio DOT o Project Manager – New Hampshire Rural Technical Assistance Program (2017–current) / New Hampshire DOT o CTAA eLearning Module – Reaching Consensus Among Coordination Partners (2018) / CTAA o Lead Planner – Indiana, North Carolina, and New Hampshire: Critical Assessments and On-Site

System Assistance Projects (2018–2020) o Lead Planner – West Virginia DOT: New Section 5307 System Start-Up and Section 5311

Provider Transition (2019) o Lead Planner – New Hampshire DOT: Transition of Section 5311 System to New Provider and

Start-Up of New Transit System (2019) o Lead Consultant – Ohio Mobility Transformation and Pilot Projects (2019–ongoing) / Ohio DOT o Project Manager/Lead – Tennessee Office of Mobility and Accessibility Strategic Plan

Development (2020–2022) o Project Manager – Mobility Ohio Project (2020) o Georgia RTA – RHST Reporting Services

Years of Transportation Experience: 19

Education: Attended Miami University-Hamilton; completed the CTAA Transit Manager Certification

Christy Campoll — RLS Senior Associate

Ms. Christy Campoll leads transit planning and feasibility studies, matches scope to the right subject matter experts and manages budgets and schedules. Formerly a rural transit manager and vice president, she oversaw a 1.5-million-dollar, twenty-two-bus system with significant ridership growth and revenue gains, and has supported Mobility Ohio regional pilot and multiple Transportation Development Plans, Coordinated Plans, and Feasibility Studies.

Related Project Bibliography o Rural Utah Transit Needs Assessment – Utah Transit Authority

ARIZONA DOT DISCIPLINE 5 4

o Illinois Statewide Transportation Plan – Illinois Department of Transportation o Indianapolis urbanized area urban/rural cost allocation study — Indiana Department of

Transportation o Transportation Development Plans — Preble County, Ohio; Columbiana County, Ohio; North

Central Indiana o Route Optimization — Monroe County, Indiana; 10-Year Transit Plan, Richland County, Ohio o Northwest West Virginia New Start Regional Transit Feasibility Study

Years of Transportation Experience: 9 Education: Master of Public Affairs and Bachelor of Arts, Indiana University, Bloomington; PhD. Candidate, Wright State University, Ohio.

Sean Oswald, Chief of Operations

Mr. Sean Oswald is an experienced project manager, compliance reviewer, and trainer. He is the Project Manager for most of RLS’ largest multi-year FTA compliance oversight and task order contracts, including those for Arizona DOT, Georgia DOT, Massachusetts DOT, North Carolina DOT, and Oregon DOT. He is also the Project Manager for all of RLS’ drug and alcohol program compliance and training engagements for seventeen different State DOTs across the nation. As the project manager he will provide overall project management, staff assignments, deliverables, technical assistance, training, and compliance oversight.

o Project Manager, Georgia DOT FTA Compliance Support Services (2018 – Current) o Project Manager, Georgia DOT Drug & Alcohol Program, (2012 - 2018) o Project Manager, Oregon DOT Drug & Alcohol Program (2012 - Current) o Project Manager, Oregon DOT General Compliance Program (2017 - Current) o Project Manager, Arizona DOT Drug & Alcohol Program (2018 - 2025) o Project Manager, Arizona DOT General Compliance Program (2018 - 2025) o Project Manager, Massachusetts DOT General On-Call Consultant Services (2019 -o Current) o Project Manager, California Association of Coordinated Transportation, FTA Compliance

Training and D&A Oversight (2012 - Current) o Project Manager, New York State DOT, Drug & Alcohol Program (2012 - Current) o Project Manager, Alaska DOT & PF, Drug & Alcohol Program (2014 – 2024) o Project Manager, Nevada DOT, Drug & Alcohol Program (2012 – 2017; 2020 - Current) o Project Manager, Texas DOT, Drug & Alcohol Program (2017 - Current) o Project Manager, West Virginia DOT, Drug & Alcohol Program (2012 - Current) o Project Manager, North Carolina DOT, Drug & Alcohol Program (2012 - Current) o Project Manager, North Carolina DOT, General On-Call Consulting (2021 – Current) o Project Manager, Utah DOT, Drug & Alcohol Program (2019 - Current) o Project Manager, Colorado DOT, Drug & Alcohol Program (2017 - 2025) o Project Manager, New DOT, Drug & Alcohol Program (2017 - Current) o Project Manager, New Mexico DOT, General Compliance Program (2017 - 2025)

Years of Transportation Experience: 14 Education: Mr. Oswald holds a Bachelor of Science in Substance Abuse Counseling from University of Cincinnati. He is also a certified Drug and Alcohol Program Administrator, Certification of Commission for Drug and Alcohol Program Professionals (CCDAPP). He successfully completed CTAA’s Certified Safety and

ARIZONA DOT DISCIPLINE 5 5

Security Officer training. Mr. Oswald served in the U.S. Marine Corps and is an Honor Graduate: Analysis and Reporting Certificate Course; Honors completion: Communication and Signals Collection; GIS Training:

Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Geospatial Metadata Analysis courses.

Laura Brown, RLS Senior Associate, Lead Planner

Ms. Laura Brown has a diverse background of transit planning and financial management and analysis experience as well as a solid history of experience with rural and urban transit systems planning. An experienced Project Manager, Ms. Brown is RLS’ Lead Senior Associate for Planning, with a concentrated focus in Human Service and Paratransit Planning. In this regard, Ms. Brown has directed dozens of high-profile projects across the country resulting in the development of State, regional, and locally developed coordination plans, short- and long-range transportation plans, service evaluations, service assessments, and public outreach activities, including passenger on/off counts and surveys.

Related Project Bibliography o Project Manager/Lead Planner, NOACA Regional Coordinated Transportation Plan (2024) o Project Manager, CityBus Comprehensive Operations Analysis and Fare Structure Analysis (2024-

2025) o Project Manager, Fayette-Madison Transit Development Plan (2025) o Project Manager, Lorain County Transit Development Plan (2025) o Project Manager, Midland, Michigan, Transit Governance Restructure Study (2024-2025) o Planner, FAST Transit Fare Structure Analysis (2025) o Project Manager, Bowling Green and WKU Transit Consolidation Feasibility Study (2024-2025) o Project Manager, West Virginia DOT On-Call Planning (2022-ongoing) o Lead Planner, Central Ohio Employer Transit Route Study (Intel) (2023) o Project Manager, Ohio DOT On-Call Transportation Development Plan Task (2023-ongoing) o Project Manager, Knox County Fixed Route Study (2023) o Project Manager, Seminole Nation of Oklahoma Transit Development Plan (2023) o Project Manager/Lead Planner, Regional Coordinated Transportation Plans for Southwest, Southcentral, and Southeast TN HRAs (2022-2023) o Project Manager/Lead Planner, Central Chicago RTA Regional Coordinated Transportation Plan

Update (2021) o Project Manager, Wausau, Wisconsin/Metro Ride Transportation Development Plan (2021) o Project Manager, Bangor Community Connector Regional Transit Structural Analysis (2021)

Years of Transportation Experience: 21 Education: Master’s in Public Administration at Wright State University and B. A. in Sociology from The Ohio State University. Ms. Brown has completed National Environmental Policy Act Training and Categorical Exclusions Training.

Micah Leonard Ph.D., Associate

Ms. Leonard is research professional and planner with experience in public policy, transportation safety, and accessible multimodal mobility. She joined RLS in August 2025 and provides technical assistance and planning support grounded in her multidisciplinary background and strong communication skills in English and Spanish. Prior to RLS she served as a Research Associate at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute where she integrated equity and safety into Vision Zero and Safe Systems projects, coordinated with agencies such as TxDOT, the Federal Transit Administration and metropolitan planning organizations, and led stakeholder outreach, community engagement and data-driven reporting. She holds a Ph.D. in Political

ARIZONA DOT DISCIPLINE 5 6

Science from the Universidad de Belgrano and dual Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Spanish from Rhodes College.

Related Project Bibliography o Principal Investigator, Rural and Tribal Nations Bus Stop Improvements and Safety (TCRP SH-25) (2024-2025) and Mobility Performance Metrics: Partner Testing & Demonstration Project (2023–2025) o Developed Metropolitan Planning Organization Safety Plans for the Texas Department of Transportation (2023–2024) o Led statewide pedestrian safety forums and equity workshops for TxDOT (2023–2025) o Created community engagement strategies for Safe Systems Approach statewide public participation initiative (2023–2025) o Led statewide Strategic Highway Safety Plan for TxDOT (2022-2025) o Led statewide Needs Assessment for Texas Workforce Commission (2021-2022)

Years of Transportation Experience: 5 Education: Ph.D., Political Science, Universidad de Belgrano, Buenos Aires, Argentina; B.S., Psychology and Spanish, Rhodes College, Memphis, Tennessee

Will Reckley, Associate

Mr. Reckley brings analytical and program management experience from federal and nonprofit transportation roles. He joined RLS in May 2025 and has since conducted an analysis of Small Transit Intensive Cities (STIC) funding for a proposed regional transit authority in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Previously he served as a Transportation Industry Analyst at the Federal Railroad Administration, where he designed grant application submission and evaluation systems to improve implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), drafted program guidance and Notices of Funding, and provided technical assistance to applicants. Prior to that he was a Senior Program Associate at the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA), administering mobility planning and pilot grants, performing needs assessments and providing technical assistance to communities across the United States.

He holds a B.A. in International Studies from American University and a Design Thinking for Innovation certificate from the University of Virginia.

Related Project Bibliography o Analysis of Small Transit Intensive Cities (STIC) funding for proposed Bowling Green Regional Transit Authority (2025) o Designed and implemented grant application systems for Federal Railroad Administration discretionary programs to improve IIJA implementation (2024–2025) o Administered mobility planning, design and pilot grants for CTAA communities nationwide (2019–2024) o Statewide Coordinated Human Services Transportation Plan Update, Virginia DRPT (2025)

Years of Transportation Experience: 9 Education: B.A., International Studies, American University; Design Thinking for Innovation Certificate, University of Virginia

Julie R. Black – Associate

Ms. Black is a certified planner with expertise in data visualization, report design and transit planning. She joined RLS in October 2019 after more than a decade as a senior planner at the Miami Valley Regional

ARIZONA DOT DISCIPLINE 5 7

Planning Commission. At RLS she supports the Administration and Planning divisions by developing graphics, reports, e-learning modules and databases and assists with data collection and management for transit coordination plans. She has over 17 years of transportation experience and is proficient in Adobe Creative Suite and ArcGIS.

Related Project Bibliography o West Virginia DOT / Potomac Valley Transit Authority Facility and Service Needs Study (2021) o Indiana Statewide Transit Report and Tennessee DOT Accessibility Report (2020–2024) o Lapeer County, MI Transit Plan (2020–2024) o Wisconsin RTAP Training Modules (2020–Present) o Ohio Mobility Manager Program Training Modules (2020–Present) o Indianapolis MPO Section 5307/5311 Allocation Analysis (2020–2023) o RLS Training Course: Desktop Mapping Fundamentals (2020) o U.S. DOT SBIR Cost Allocation Technology for Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (2021–

2023)

Years of Transportation Experience: 17 Education: M.U.P., University of Louisville; B.A., Philosophy and Pre-Veterinary Medicine, University of Kentucky; certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP)

Anne Marie Coughlin, RLS Senior Associate, Director of State Initiatives

Ms. Coughlin brings over a decade of experience in transit system management, State DOT contract oversight, and technical assistance to rural and small urban transit systems. As RLS’ Director of State Initiatives, she leads contracts with multiple State DOTs, where she is recognized for her ability to critically assess complex challenges and develop practical solutions that benefit agencies and the citizens who depend on transit services. She has extensive expertise in Federal and State grants management, compliance monitoring, interim system management, and start-up assistance for new transit providers. Her work spans Ohio, Tennessee, Indiana, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, West Virginia, and North Carolina, giving her a unique perspective on both local system operations and statewide program management.

o Project Manager/Lead, Tennessee Office of Mobility and Accessibility Strategic Plan development (2020–2022) o Project Manager, Mobility Ohio Project (2020) o Lead Planner, West Virginia DOT – New Section 5307 system start-up and Section 5311 system provider transition (2019) o Lead Planner, New Hampshire DOT – Transition of Section 5311 system to new provider; start-up of a new transit system (2019) o Lead Planner, Indiana, North Carolina, and New Hampshire – Critical assessments and on-site system assistance projects (2018–2020)

Years of Transportation Experience: 14+ Education: Bachelor of Arts, Business Administration, Bluffton University

Richard Garrity, RLS Senior Associate, Subject Matter Expert

ARIZONA DOT DISCIPLINE 5 8

Mr. Garrity is a nationally recognized transit professional with more than 46 years of progressive experience in rural and urban transit planning, compliance, and program management. A former Rural and Small Urban Programs Manager for the North Carolina Department of Transportation, he has led national research and training initiatives in financial management, cost allocation, ADA, Title VI, and regulatory compliance. He serves as a Lead Reviewer and Subject Matter Expert (SME) for the Federal Transit Administration’s Comprehensive Oversight Review and Technical Assistance Program (CORTAP), where he has conducted Triennial and State Management Reviews in multiple FTA regions, including some of the nation’s largest transit agencies. Mr. Garrity has authored numerous national publications and continues to deliver training to state and national audiences.

Related Project Bibliography o Lead Reviewer & SME, FTA CORTAP (Triennial and State Management Reviews – Regions II, III, VII, IX) (Ongoing) o Project Manager, TCRP Report 144 Sharing the Costs of Human Services Transportation (National) o Author, National RTAP Fundamental Financial Management for Rural Transit Providers (National) o Lead Reviewer, Illinois, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee DOT Compliance Monitoring (Ongoing) o Project Manager, Ohio Statewide Mobility Project (Year) o Project Manager, City of Fayetteville/Cumberland County Coordinated Transportation

Development Plan (Year) o Project Manager, New York Metropolitan Transportation Council Coordinated Public Transit–

Human Services Transportation Plan (Year)

Years of Transportation Experience: 46 Education: Graduate work in Geography, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; B.A. in Geography, East Stroudsburg University

Russell Parish, RLS Associate

Mr. Parish has more than 30 years of experience in rural and small urban transit training, compliance, and program management. He manages multiple State RTAP programs and supports FTA Drug and Alcohol regulatory compliance reviews nationwide. A skilled trainer and speaker, he has developed and delivered hundreds of workshops and webinars on safety, ADA, customer service, drug and alcohol compliance, and emergency preparedness. He also serves as a Senior Instructor with the National Transit Institute, where he leads courses on mobility device securement, infectious disease prevention, and building diversity skills for transit employees and managers.

Related Project Bibliography o RTAP Program Manager – New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Wisconsin (2019– present) o Senior Instructor, National Transit Institute – Nationwide training on safety/security, mobility device securement, infectious disease, and diversity (2010–present) o Safety and Training Director, Arkansas Transit Association – Developed and led statewide safety and compliance training (1999–2019) Drug & Alcohol Compliance Reviewer – Conducted compliance reviews for Ohio, Oregon, Texas, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Utah, Arizona, and other states (2019–present)

ARIZONA DOT DISCIPLINE 5 9

Years of Transportation Experience: 31 Education: Master of Arts, Claremont Graduate University; Bachelor of Arts, Hendrix College

Tyler Bender, RLS Associate Mr. Bender is a core member of the RLS Compliance Division, serving as a Project Manager and Lead Reviewer for State and Federal oversight engagements. He has successfully conducted more than 20 FTA CORTAP Triennial and State Management Reviews and over two dozen state compliance reviews across multiple DOTs. His areas of expertise include Civil Rights, procurement, drug and alcohol program management, and program/award management. Prior to joining RLS, he served as Compliance Officer for the Ohio Department of Transportation Office of Transit, where he managed the State’s preparation and response to FTA’s State Management Review and supported Ohio’s 40 rural and 27 urban transit systems.

He also provides technical assistance for RLS’ Planning and State Program Initiatives Divisions.

Related Project Bibliography o Lead Reviewer, FTA CORTAP Triennial and State Management Reviews – Regions II, III, VII, IX (2021–present) o Compliance Reviewer, Section 5310/5311 Reviews – Massachusetts, Minnesota, Arizona, Illinois, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oregon (2021–present) o Compliance Officer, Ohio DOT Office of Transit – State Management Review, drug and alcohol compliance, and technical assistance (2017–2021) o Reviewer, State Management Plans – Illinois DOT Section 5310, 5311, and 5339 Programs (2022–2023) o Associate Reviewer, Triennial Reviews including Tier III systems (PAAC) (2019–present)

Years of Transportation Experience: 9 Education: Master of City and Regional Planning, The Ohio State University; Bachelor of Science, The Ohio State University