[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 28 (Tuesday, February 13, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E143]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       RECOGNIZING MS. KAREN KING

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DAVID G. VALADAO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 13, 2024

  Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Karen King 
for her dedicated service to the California public transit industry and 
to congratulate her on her well-earned retirement from the Golden 
Empire Transit District. Ms. King's career in public transit began in 
1976 at the Utah Transit Authority. Ten years later, Ms. King joined 
Long Beach Transit as a Grants Administrator. She quickly moved up the 
leadership ranks, and in 1995 was named Executive Director of 
Transportation. In 1998, Ms. King worked for the North San Diego County 
Transit Development as the Director of Development and Communications 
Services and was selected as the agency's Executive Director in 2001. 
In 2008, Ms. King moved to Bakersfield where she became the Chief 
Executive Officer of the Golden Empire Transit District. During her 
tenure as CEO, Ms. King has been steadfast in her commitment to meeting 
the transportation needs of all Bakersfield residents. She helped 
develop and implement the On-Demand Microtransit service program, which 
was first piloted in southwest Bakersfield and has since expanded 
across the city. The program increases transportation access for all 
residents by offering low-cost transportation to residents traveling to 
popular destinations in the city. Ms. King has directed other 
initiatives including a partnership with Kern Health Systems to provide 
rides to appointments for the more than 300,000 members of Kern Family 
Health Care. Ms. King is also coordinating the Long Range Operational 
Service Analysis, which aims to improve local transportation and return 
ridership to pre-pandemic levels. Ms. King has been recognized at the 
local, state, and national levels for her leadership in the public 
transit industry. She is the Vice Chair of the California Transit 
Association (CTA) and in 2021, was selected for a two-year term as 
Chair.
  Ms. King has also served as Chair of the CTA's COVID-19 Relief Task 
Force, where she has helped California's public transit industry 
recover from the pandemic. In 2018, Ms. King received a Distinguished 
Service Award from the CTA, to celebrate her distinguished career and 
outstanding contributions. This year, Ms. King is receiving the CTA's 
award for Innovation and Resiliency, to celebrate her commitment to the 
innovation of the industry and well-being of all Bakersfield commuters. 
Ms. King's many accomplishments are a true testament to her character 
and leadership. I'm confident that her service to the Golden Empire 
Transit District and her passion for improving public transit for all 
residents of our community will have a lasting impact for generations 
to come.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to 
join me in thanking Ms. King for her more than 40 years of dedicated 
service to the public transit industry and wishing her a happy and 
well-deserved retirement.

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