Sound Transit CEO Peter Rogoff addresses the elephant in the room

Sound Transit CEO Peter Rogoff admits he made mistakes when he took over as head of the transit agency.

Sound Transit CEO pleads with Congress

Early in March, The Daily Herald reported Rogoff got a “wake-up call.” That included criticism of his “brusque and forceful” behavior. He was denied a performance bonus of more than $30,000 because of it.

Allegations also included demeaning employees and using inappropriate language.

Rogoff says he may have been out of line. He wrote a statement dated March 1, in which he addresses the past two years.

“I did not have the right operating style in dealing with staff,” he said prior to his meeting with members of Congress on March 19. “I did not prioritize my staff relations. I didn’t give them time to get to know me. I didn’t take the time to get to know them. And I engaged in some behaviors that weren’t appropriate, including profanity in the office and having very direct conversations with folks to try and get better performance.

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Rogoff says he was dropped into the fryer as Sound Transit was creating Sound Transit 3, and he was under pressure to get results. That, he says, caused him to make mistakes in his management style.

But he says that’s behind the agency now.

“I’ve improved my management style and have gotten a lot of support from staff members throughout the agency. We’re moving forward to get these projects in the ground.”

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