Thomas Margro

{{notability|Biographies|date=August 2017}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Thomas E. Margro | office1 = General Manager of the [[Bay Area Rapid Transit]] system | term_start1 = September 30, 1996 | term_end1 = June 29, 2007 | predecessor1= [[Richard A. White]] (1994 – 1996) | successor1 = [[Dorothy Dugger]] (2007 – 2011) | office2 = CEO of [[Transportation Corridor Agencies]] | term_start2 = 2007 | term_end2 = 2012 | successor2 = Neil Peterson }}

'''Thomas E. "Tom" Margro''' is a mass transportation executive, and general manager for the San Francisco [[Bay Area Rapid Transit]] district from 1996 to 2007.<ref name=apta-margro-retires>{{cite web|url = http://www.apta.com/passengertransport/Documents/archive_3857.htm|title = Margro to Retire as BART General Manager|date = April 16, 2007|accessdate = August 20, 2017|publisher = American Public Transportation Association}}</ref><ref name=bart-margro-retires/><ref name=sfgate-margro-retires>{{cite news|url = http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/BAY-AREA-Head-of-BART-plans-to-resign-2603516.php|title = BAY AREA / Head of BART plans to resign|last = Gordon|first = Rachel|date = April 11, 2007|accessdate = August 21, 2017|newspaper = [[San Francisco Chronicle]]}}</ref> He was CEO of the [[Transportation Corridor Agencies]] from 2007 to 2012.<ref name=tca-margro-retires>{{cite web|url = http://www.thecapistranodispatch.com/tca-hires-search-firm-for-new-ceo/|title = TCA Hires Search Firm for New CEO|last = Swanson|first = Justin|date = November 20, 2012|accessdate = August 21, 2017|publisher = The Capistrano Dispatch}}</ref>

== Early life and education == Margo graduated from [[Syracuse University]] with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, and a master's degree from the [[University of Pennsylvania]] in systems engineering, with additional post graduate studies in systems engineering.<ref name=bart-margro-retires/>

== Career == After graduating college, Margro worked as a rocket scientist for a year, working as a defense contractor on the Minuteman missile guidance system.<ref name=ebt-sunset/>

In 1972, Margro joined [[SEPTA]] in [[Philadelphia]] as the only electrical engineer in a team tasked with maintaining an aging and ill-maintained transit system acquired from a private company.<ref name=ebt-sunset/> He worked at SEPTA for 18 years (till 1990); his roles there included manager of facilities engineering; senior program manager, electrical facilities; chief engineer; and ultimately assistant general manager of engineering and construction.<ref name=bart-margro-retires/><ref name=apta-margro-retires/>

Margro worked at BART from 1990 to 1995 as assistant general manager of transit system development. In that position, he was responsible for the BART Extensions Program, including the Pittsburg/Bay Point extension (the [[North Concord/Martinez station]] and [[Pittsburg/Bay Point station]]) and the Dublin/Pleasanton extensions (the [[Castro Valley station]] and [[Dublin/Pleasanton station]]).<ref name=ebt-margro-retires/><ref name=apta-margro-retires/> The stations would open between 1995 and 1997.<ref name=bart-40-years>{{cite web|url = https://www.bart.gov/sites/default/files/40thFactsheet_v1.pdf|title = Forty BART Achievements Over the Years|accessdate = June 14, 2017|publisher = Bay Area Rapid Transit}}</ref>

Margro worked for a year (between 1995 and 1996) at the [[New Jersey Turnpike Authority]] as Director of Maintenance and Engineering Services/Chief Engineer.<ref name=ebt-sunset/><ref name=bart-margro-retires/><ref name=apta-margro-retires/>

On June 1, 1996, it was announced that BART general manager [[Richard A. White]] was leaving BART to become general manager of the [[Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority]], with July 26 being his last day at BART.<ref name=sfgate-white-leaves-bart>{{cite news|url = http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/BART-Boss-Leaving-to-Run-D-C-Transit-Authority-2979604.php|title = BART Boss Leaving to Run D.C. Transit Authority|last = Fimrite|first = Peter|date = June 1, 1996|accessdate = August 21, 2017|newspaper = [[San Francisco Chronicle]]}}</ref> Potential successor candidates mentioned at the time of his departure were Deputy General Manager [[Dorothy Dugger]] (who would become general manager in 2007), Jim Gallagher (assistant general manager of operations), Larry Williams (assistant general manager of operations), and John Haley (former deputy general manager at BART, at the time deputy general manager of the port authority in New York).<ref name=sfgate-white-leaves-bart/>

On September 30, 1996, Margro became the general manager of BART,<ref name=apta-margro-retires/> succeeding White.<ref name=bart-dugger-becomes-gm>{{cite web|url = http://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2007/newsx20070823|title = BART Board makes history, picks first female to lead agency. Board promotes Dorothy Dugger to General Manager|date = August 23, 2007|accessdate = August 20, 2017|publisher = [[Bay Area Rapid Transit]]}}</ref> According to BART board member [[Tom Radulovich]] who joined the board at about the same time, there was a general feeling at the time that the BART SFO extension (extending BART to the [[San Francisco International Airport station]] and [[Millbrae Intermodal Terminal]]) was lagging behind, and part of the expectation from Margro was that he would complete the extension.<ref name=ebt-margro-retires>{{cite news|url = http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2007/04/10/bart-gm-to-retire/|title = BART general manager to retire|date = April 10, 2007|accessdate = August 21, 2017|newspaper = East Bay Times}}</ref> Under Margro, BART successfully opened the extension in 2003.<ref name=bart-40-years/><ref name=ebt-margro-retires/>

Margro was also at the helm when Measure AA, a proposal to fund BART's Earthquake Safety Program with $980 million from property taxes, was approved by voters in a referendum,<ref name=bart-40-years/><ref name=bart-eqs>{{cite web|url = http://www.bart.gov/about/projects/eqs|title = Earthquake Safety Program|publisher = Bay Area Rapid Transit|accessdate = June 18, 2017}}</ref><ref name=prop-aa>{{cite web|url = http://www.smartvoter.org/2004/11/02/ca/sf/meas/AA/|title = Proposition AA. BART Earthquake Safety Bond. San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District|date = November 2, 2004|accessdate = June 18, 2017}}</ref><ref name=measure-aa-podcast>{{cite web|url = https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2016/news20160929|title = Podcast: Bond money pays off with improved earthquake safety|date = September 29, 2016|accessdate = June 18, 2017}}</ref> and he oversaw the initial implementation of the program.<ref name=sfgate-margro-retires/>

On April 10, 2007, BART announced that Margro was retiring, with June 29, 2007 being his last day. Margro would be BART's longest-serving general manager.<ref name=bart-margro-retires>{{cite web|url = http://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2007/news20070411|title = BART General Manager announces resignation|date = April 10, 2007|accessdate = August 21, 2017|publisher = [[Bay Area Rapid Transit]]}}</ref> Board members Radulovich and Lynette Sweet praised his accomplishments, including getting the SFO extension completed, launching the Earthquake Safety Program, and working out a solution with unions representing BART employees to avert financial crisis.<ref name=ebt-margro-retires/><ref name=apta-margro-retires/> Also, it was during Margro's tenure that BART received the [[American Public Transportation Association]]'s Outstanding Public Transportation System honor in 2004.<ref name=apta-margro-retires/><ref name=bart-margro-retires/> The praise was echoed by Dan Richard, a former BART board member.<ref name=ebt-sunset>{{cite news|url = http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2007/07/02/after-11-years-bart-chief-rides-into-sunset/|title = After 11 years, BART chief rides into sunset|last = Cuff|first = Dennis|date = July 2, 2007|accessdate = August 21, 2017|newspaper = East Bay Times}}</ref>

On August 23, 2007, [[Dorothy Dugger]], the former deputy general manager, who had been filling the role of interim general manager, became Margro's successor as general manager.<ref name=sfgate-dugger-becomes-gm>{{cite news|url = http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Dorothy-Dugger-named-new-head-of-BART-vote-2508338.php|title = Dorothy Dugger named new head of BART - vote challenged as tainted|date = August 23, 2007|accessdate = August 20, 2017|newspaper = [[San Francisco Chronicle]]}}</ref><ref name=mercurynews-dugger-becomes-gm>{{cite news|url = http://www.mercurynews.com/2007/08/23/bart-appoints-first-female-general-manager/|title = Bart appoints first female general manager|newspaper = [[The Mercury News]]|date = August 23, 2007|accessdate = July 27, 2017}}</ref>

Margro was CEO of [[Transportation Corridor Agencies]] (TCA) from 2007 (starting a little after his retirement from BART) to 2012. TCA operates toll roads in [[Orange County, California]].<ref name=tca-margro-retires/> After a nationwide search for a replacement,<ref name=tca-margro-retires/> TCA hired Neil Peterson as the new CEO, with a start date of June 3, 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.thetollroads.com/sites/default/files/pdf/investor/FE_FY14_budget_narrative.pdf|title = Resolution No. F2013-06|accessdate = August 21, 2017|publisher = [[Transportation Corridor Agencies]]}}</ref>

== References == {{reflist|30em}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Margro, Thomas}} [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Bay Area Rapid Transit]] [[Category:New Jersey Turnpike Authority]] [[Category:American public transportation executives]]