Business View Magazine - Nov 2023

253 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 10, ISSUE 11 ANAHEIM TRANSPORTAT ION NETWORK impact the tourism and hospitality sectors exert on the area. “That’s in billions of dollars,” she says, referring to figures from Visit Anaheim and the Chamber of Commerce. However, her emphasis remains clear: “We are a mobility provider. Our job is to serve those jurisdictions that provide economic impact to the county.” But as cities evolve, so do the challenges and opportunities facing transit agencies. The past few years’ events, notably the pandemic, have brought about transformative changes in how public transit functions. Reflecting on this shift, Kotler notes, “The pandemic pushed the transportation industry to rethink how we serve our community.” This unexpected hiatus from regular operations wasn’t just a setback; it offered a pivotal moment of introspection and planning. The result? A renewed vision for the future of public transit. “What the industry was pre-2020 is very different from what the industry is today,” she states. Kotler pinpoints two primary areas of evolution. The first revolves around a “customer-centric operation” to expand the scope of their services to cover “all demographics for different purposes.” This approach envisions an inclusive transit system that serves the traditionally transit- dependent population and a broader audience. To this end, she highlights the progressive shift in payment methods, making boarding as hassle-free as possible, emphasizing that “getting on transit should be as easy as buying a cup of coffee.” On the environmental front, the outlook is promising. Kotler emphasizes that public transit, especially in California, has consistently been at the forefront of eco-friendly initiatives. She mentions Governor Newsom’s administration’s clarity on the subject, affirming that the push for sustainable means, like “electric buses and fuel cell buses,” ensures that the industry remains progressive. With ATN at the helm in