Meet the Team: Beth Kranda

Driving SolTrans Forward with Innovation, Collaboration & Heart

If you’ve noticed big things happening at SolTrans lately, from cleaner, greener buses to new regional connections, there’s a good chance Executive Director Beth Kranda has had a hand in it. Beth joined the SolTrans team in August 2017, bringing with her valuable experience from Santa Rosa CityBus and a deep commitment to public service. Since then, she has been steering SolTrans through an exciting period of growth and transformation, where innovation meets teamwork and community impact is always the destination.

For Beth, collaboration isn’t just a buzzword. It’s how SolTrans gets things done. Under her leadership, the agency has strengthened partnerships with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Caltrans, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), and local city and county partners throughout Solano and Napa counties. SolTrans also works closely with the Vallejo and Benicia Chambers of Commerce, helping to support local businesses and drive economic development.

Creative collaboration has played a role, as well. Partnerships with Caltrans and local artists are adding color and comfort to spaces like the Sereno Transit Center and Vallejo Transit Center, transforming them into vibrant community gathering places. These hubs now better connect riders to regional services such as Napa Vine, Amtrak, FlixBus, and Greyhound.

SolTrans is charging ahead, literally. The agency recently completed electrification of its 1850 Broadway facility, becoming the first transit agency in Solano County with full electric charging infrastructure. At the same time, technology upgrades like enhanced trip planning tools and the Bay Loading project are helping riders travel smarter and faster.

One of Beth’s proudest achievements is the Youth Ride FREE pilot program, launched in 2024. In just its first year, the program more than doubled youth ridership and even contributed to reduced school absenteeism in Vallejo and Benicia. This is proof that thoughtful transit policy can make a real difference.

Behind every great agency is a great team, and Beth couldn’t be prouder of the people she works alongside. As she often says, “My entire management team is incredible, and we’re all committed to running SolTrans with professionalism and a strong focus on community impact.”

That commitment is reflected in results. Under Beth’s leadership, SolTrans earned a clean Federal Transit Administration Triennial Audit, underscoring the agency’s strong fiscal accountability and sound management practices. With both five-year and ten-year financial outlooks in place, SolTrans is well positioned for a sustainable and resilient future.

SolTrans continues to plan with optimism and purpose. From supporting new housing developments near major transit hubs to advancing a Comprehensive Operations Analysis that will modernize routes and services, the agency remains focused on meeting the evolving needs of the communities it serves.

With collaboration, innovation, and community at its core, Beth and her team are not just connecting Solano County. They are driving public transit toward a brighter and more sustainable future.

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