Who we are

Qualities of the positions:

• Two-year terms
• Six appointed by Mayor
• Five appointed by City Council
• One Get Engaged member
• Appointments confirmed by City Council

Boardmember Bios

Xander Barbar

Bio to be updated. 

Ashwin Bhumbla

Ashwin is a recent college graduate, receiving a bachelors in both English and Computer Science, and is passionate about transit systems and creating safe, sustainable urban areas. He believes that creating a city that is walkable and bikeable with frequent reliable bus and rail service is not only desirable, but necessary. He is committed to improving transit access and experience. In his spare time, Ashwin can be found backpacking or playing Spikeball in Cal Anderson Park.

Josh Hirschland 

Bio to be updated. 

Art Kuniyuki

From riding Seattle Transit buses as a child, to joining a Metro Transit Community Advisory Group for the Long-Range Plan that resulted in METRO CONNECTS, watching over ORCA Business Passport Cards and transit issues for his employer, and now living in West Seattle, and seeing the transportation issues that will result with the bridge closing, Art enjoys all aspects of transit planning, and hopes to help his city and neighborhood as a member of the Seattle Transit Advisory Board.

Christiano Martinez

Bio to be updated. 

Chris Miller

Chris Miller is a former transit driver and an active advocate for improvements in public transportation policy. Chris is currently pursuing his Master's of Urban Planning at the University of Washington, specializing in transportation. His prior experience includes serving as the Communications Coordinator for then California Secretary of State Alex Padilla in Sacramento, CA. He graduated from the University of California, Davis, where he received a degree in Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning. During his undergraduate tenure, Chris worked as a transit driver, trainer, and route supervisor for Unitrans, a student driven and operated public transportation agency serving UC Davis and the city of Davis. When not talking about transit, Chris enjoys skiing, kayaking, and reading X-Men comics.

Sandro Pani

Sandro has dedicated his career to transit design. He was born and raised in Mexico, lived on both east and west coasts, and recently settled in Seattle. He received his MSc in Railway Systems Engineering and Integration from the University of Birmingham, UK. As a civil engineer he has delivered design, planning, and program management for over a dozen separate public agencies across the country. Sandro is passionate about rail and improving public access to multi-modal transit systems.

Erin Tighe

Erin is a recent college graduate, interested in politics and government. She has become active in transportation and transit issues, both within her neighborhood and as part of Metro’s Link Connections Sounding Board.

Michelle Zeidman

Michelle is a transit commuter who is passionate about making it easier for all people to get around the Puget Sound without a car. Michelle has spent more than a decade studying and working on public transportation and urban planning policy. This work has involved increasing access to light rail, expanding bus transit service, analyzing public ferry service, and advocating for public transportation funding for transit-dependent populations. She has a Master of Public Administration and a Master of Urban Planning from the University of Washington. In her spare time, Michelle is an artist and avid traveler.

Former Board Members