WTS-Boston would like to congratulate Katie Kalugin (she/they) for starting a new position at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) as the Deputy Director of Policy Development. Katie will be responsible for the creation and coordination of rider-focused policies and initiatives, including the policies needed to implement Fare Transformation (the MBTA’s transition to a new fare collection system), privacy, public engagement, in addition to supporting FTA obligations.

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Prior to this role, Katie spent three years as the Transit Equity Programs Specialist at the MBTA to increase access to the agency’s free/reduced fare programs for those with disabilities, seniors (65+), students, and young people with low-income. During this time, Katie was the subject matter expert on the design and launch of the T’s first online application for the Youth Pass – a reduced fare program for young people (18-25) with low-income, as well as expanded the Youth Pass to include 10+ participating municipalities. These efforts have increased program enrollment by over 120%. Katie partnered with internal and external stakeholders on the implementation of an online intake and administrative system for the agency’s free/reduced fare programs, resulting intechnology that is user-friendly, secure, and favorable to stakeholders. Katie will continue their transit equity work in their new role at the T.

Katie has been an active WTS member since being selected as one of the Emerging Professionals in 2020 and again in 2021. While an Emerging Professional, Katie joined the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee and helped shape the committee’s goals toward inclusion, including a gender-inclusivity statement. Katie joined the WTS-Boston Board as a Director-at-large in 2022, and was the Board Liaison for the Transportation YOU and Professional Development Committees. In their second term, Katie will be the Board Liaison for the Professional Development and DEI Committees.

Katie lives in Dorchester, MA and appreciate fitness activities, being outdoors, and home improvement projects.