Ben Franklin Transit will need a new top manager

The general manager of Ben Franklin Transit plans to retire at the end of January, she notified the agency’s board on Thursday.

Gloria Boyce was hired at the Tri-Cities based transit’s director of finance in 2012 and promoted to general manager in 2016.

The transit benefited from her financial expertise, said Benton City Councilwoman LIsa Strade, the vice chairwoman of the transit board.

“BFT’s timely pivots during the pandemic kept public and operator safety a top priority,” Strade said. “We’ve been able to keep people safe while connecting them to critical services throughout the pandemic.”

The transit board will begin discussions on the recruitment process to select a new general manager.

Ben Franklin Transit serves Kennewick, Pasco, Richland, West Richland, Benton City, Prosser and Finley, offering bus, van pool and Dial-a-Ride services for the disabled.