Monorail agency fills key posts

Thursday, December 12, 2002

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER STAFF AND NEWS SERVICES

The agency charged with building the Seattle monorail line began filling its key positions yesterday.

The Seattle Monorail Project named Ven Knox, the city of Seattle's human services director, to oversee community involvement. Knox will get neighborhood input and smooth any controversies over deciding where exactly the West Seattle-to-Ballard line will run.

Knox starts the new job Jan. 13.

"I think it is going to be a good fit," she said. "I haven't worked in transportation, so some things I will clearly have to learn. What appeals to me is the notion of being part of getting the monorail up and running."

Knox, who has been the city's human services director since 1994, said she wasn't looking for a new job when the monorail team tapped her.

"In recent years, I have spent a lot of personal time on community organizing. I think that's what came to mind for them. It's about organizing skills, and knowing many people in local government."

Monorail project Executive Director Joel Horn named Daniel Malarkey director of finance. Malarkey worked closely with Horn on the Elevated Transportation Co. to come up with the project's $1.75 billion plan.

Michele Jacobson, a consultant with Lea+Elliott Inc., was named director of design and train systems. Ross Macfarlane, a partner at Preston, Gates & Ellis, will be director of legal affairs.

Lea+Elliott and Macfarlane were major contributors to the monorail campaign. ETC board Chairman Tom Weeks said the contributions were not a factor in the staff selections, calling all four "talented, knowledgeable and accountable professionals."

(Note: Weeks' comments were mischaracterized when this article was originally published.)

Jacobson helped planned Las Vegas' monorail line and was previously manager of extension planning with San Francisco's Bay Area Rapid Transit agency.

Macfarlane was an assistant regional counsel with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and a special assistant U.S. attorney.

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