Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Secretary Lynn Peterson announced Wednesday she has picked Pierce Transit CEO Lynne Griffith to lead the Washington State Ferries Division.

“I am very pleased Lynne is joining the WSDOT team and I want to thank Captain George Capacci for serving in the interim role,” said Peterson. “Our ferry system is an iconic symbol of the state of Washington and a vital link in our statewide transportation system. It will be in good hands with Assistant Secretary Griffith.”

In July, Griffith announced she would retire from Pierce Transit at the end of this year. She began her leadership role at Pierce Transit in April of 2006, and was elected president of the Washington State Transit Association in 2007. Her career in the transportation industry spans 35 years and includes leadership roles at C-TRAN in Clark County, Wash., and Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) in Atlanta, Ga.

Griffith officially begins her leadership role at the Washington State Ferries Division next month.

“I am excited to work with the 1,700 men and women who are responsible for providing such an important transportation connection to Washingtonians,” said Griffith. “It is no small task to operate service reliably and safely on such a large scale, and I am looking forward to this opportunity.”

Washington State Ferries operates 163,000 scheduled sailings annually.

“Coming from an island community that relies heavily on Washington State Ferries services, I personally understand and appreciate how this leadership role is important to keeping the economic engine of Washington running,” said Wash. Governor Jay Inslee. “I am pleased someone as capable and experienced as Lynne Griffith is joining our team to make this system even better.”