Gov. Baker appoints MBTA board members

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker has appointed the seven members of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's (MBTA) board and designated Betsy Taylor as chair. 

In July, Baker signed legislation that established a new, permanent board of directors for the MBTA, which includes the state's secretary of transportation and a member with municipal government experience. The governor appoints the remaining five members, including a rider and resident of an environmental justice population, and a person recommended by the president of the AFL-CIO.

The appointees include:  

• Betsy Taylor, chair, who has served as the treasurer and chair of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation's Finance & Audit Committee since 2015;
• Robert Butler, president of the northeast regional council of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers;
• Thomas Darling, an independent consultant on safety, security, environmental and change management performance;
• Travis McCready, executive director of US Life Sciences Market;
• Mary Beth Mello, a principal at Mello Transportation Consulting; and
• Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch, who is the MBTA advisory board's designee.