By Warren Cornwall
Herald Writer
A top Sound Transit executive announced his resignation Thursday.
And at the same, a citizen’s oversight panel issued a strong warning to the commuter rail division.
Paul Price, director of the agency’s commuter rail division since 1997, sent a letter Wednesday to executive director Joni Earl announcing his resignation effective Sept. 4.
"I was hired to guide the development and implementation of Sounder and to develop and mentor staff for the future. I can unequivocally say, ‘Mission accomplished,’" he wrote in the letter.
The agency has begun limited service between Seattle and Tacoma. Plans for service from Everett to Seattle have been delayed, with an initial opening year of 2001 pushed back at least until 2003.
Price didn’t explain why he was leaving. He could not be reached for comment Thursday.
Sound Transit board members applauded Price at a Thursday board meeting after his resignation was announced, said Sound Transit spokeswoman Mauri Moore.
However, a citizen’s oversight panel issued a strong warning about continued delays and cost overruns in the commuter rail division.
In a report issued Thursday, it said the agency could fall $75 million to $100 million short in its bid to open the segment between Everett and Seattle. And it criticized the agency for an opening date that has creeped later and later, now falling at the end of 2003 at best.
"Sounder appears increasingly to be in financial difficulty," the report warned.
Price said he had been considering resigning months before the report was issued, said agency spokesman Ric Ilgenfritz.
"That had absolutely nothing to do with his resignation," he said.
You can call Herald Writer Warren Cornwall at 425-339-3463 or send e-mail to cornwall@heraldnet.com.
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