Athens-Clarke County Unified Government (ACCGov) has found its new Transit Department Director close to home, promoting internal candidate Victor "Vic" Pope, who has been with the department for over a decade and a half. In a move effective immediately, ACCGov Manager Blaine Williams named the seasoned transit veteran to the top spot, citing his profound understanding of the community and dedication to the transit services.

"Vic's extensive experience with Transit at all levels of the department makes him an excellent choice as our next director," Williams announced, Pope, who has been acting as the Interim Director since last fall, tapped to take over the reins permanently because of his deep-rooted passion for enhancing transportation services throughout his hometown. "He is passionate about providing high-quality and effective transit services and knows his hometown community very well. I look forward to working with him as he leads this department to serve Athens-Clarke County residents' transportation needs," in a statement obtained by ACCGov's official website.

Pope, an Athens-Clarke County native and Cedar Shoals High School graduate, later went on to Kennesaw State University and subsequently joined the department in 2007. Over the years, Pope has climbed the ranks, initially beginning as a bus driver and moving on to roles such as Route Supervisor, Transit Planner, Assistant Transit Director, and Interim Transit Director.

"I am extremely appreciative of this opportunity to lead the Transit Department and our dedicated team of employees in providing vital services for Athens-Clarke County residents," Pope affirmed his commitment to the community, the service and safety standards expected of the department are values he plans to uphold with plans to implement services that keep pace with the evolving dynamics of the local population; this sentiment echoed in remarks accessed through ACCGov's announcement. The ACCGov Transit Department is known for its extensive fixed-route services and the provision of curb-to-curb paratransit services, operating out of the Multimodal Transportation Center, which is a transportation hub in downtown Athens and annually helps nearly three quarters of a million people get where they need to go.