Sound Transit wants you - for the Community Oversight Panel

If you’re passionate about transit and want to help shape the future of public transportation in the Puget Sound region, Sound Transit wants your help on our recently revamped and renamed independent Community Oversight Panel (COP), formerly known as the Citizen Oversight Panel.

We have eight openings on the 15-member panel and are seeking volunteers from every area we serve in King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties. 

The COP was founded in 1997 with a mission to ensure that Sound Transit succeeds in meeting its commitments to the public.

It fulfills the mission by independently monitoring the agency’s performance.

The members are tasked with being knowledgeable about the agency’s actions and plans, reviewing programs, asking hard questions and reporting findings back to the Sound Transit Board of Directors.

Agency staff regularly brief the panel on all aspects of Sound Transit's planning, construction and operational activities. 

The COP members serve three-year terms and come from a variety of backgrounds throughout the areas where we provide express bus, commuter rail and light rail services.

While the panel members were previously required to attend two meetings per month during business hours at Union Station in Seattle, meetings will now be held once a month in the evenings with an option to join virtually. 

If you have skill, experience or insights into any of the following areas and care about the direction of the biggest transit investment program in the nation, please consider applying:

• Community engagement activities
• Project planning
• Budgeting and financial planning
• Project schedule management
• Performance audits
• Social justice and equity efforts
• Rider experience

Members must live or work in the Sound Transit District and commit to attending one meeting a month either in person or virtually from 5:30 p.m. - 8:15 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month. 

COP members represent a variety of backgrounds, interests, professional expertise and experience.

Learn more about the Citizen’s Oversight Panel and apply here.

Sound Transit actively seeks to include persons from diverse backgrounds and professional areas of expertise to support agency oversight, planning and operations. Persons of color and women are encouraged to apply.

The Sound Transit Board will review and confirm the appointments.

Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled – don’t miss this opportunity to represent your community and bring your unique capabilities to this important oversight body.