New Advance Transit leader aims to strengthen local access

Advance Transit announced it has appointed Teri Palmer as its new executive director, a leadership change that could shape how Sullivan County residents reach jobs, health care, and essential services. Palmer will begin her role on January 19, 2026, while outgoing Executive Director Adams Carroll will remain through the end of February to support a planned leadership transition.

The nonprofit fare-free transit provider serves communities across the Upper Valley in Vermont and New Hampshire. Board leaders said they sought a director with strong experience in mobility management and community-centered service. Rebecca Owens, president of Advance Transit’s board of directors, said, “We are thrilled to welcome Teri to Advance Transit. Her adaptability, record of successful collaborations, and experience in transportation and mobility management, combined with her passion for community-centered service, makes her exceptionally suited to lead Advance Transit. She joins an all-star team, and the Board is excited for this next chapter.”

Palmer comes to Advance Transit from her role as New Hampshire’s Statewide Mobility Manager, where she worked closely with the New Hampshire Department of Transportation and the State Coordinating Council to improve access to transportation across the state. Her resume includes decades of operational and training roles, beginning in the 1990s with the U.S. Army as a Heavy Wheel Vehicle Mechanic. That early work gave her hands-on experience in vehicle inventory, preventative maintenance, driver tracking, and training, skills she later applied in civilian transportation management.

More recently, Palmer led a rural public transportation agency in New Hampshire, managing fixed-route and on-demand services as well as a volunteer driver program. In that role she helped develop a new public transit route connecting Lebanon with Claremont, a direct gain for Sullivan County riders who rely on public transit for appointments, work shifts, grocery trips, and other daily needs. Palmer said, “I’m honored to join Advance Transit at such an exciting moment. AT plays a crucial role in keeping our communities connected, and I’m eager to build on that strong foundation by strengthening partnerships, expanding access, and ensuring our services continue to meet the evolving needs of riders, especially for ‘last mile’ connectivity. My goal is to support a system that is welcoming, efficient, and responsive.”

Public health and equity advocates note that reliable, fare-free transit is more than a convenience. It reduces barriers to health care access, supports preventive care and chronic disease management, and connects people to employment and social services. Palmer’s background in statewide coordination and rural route development signals a continued focus on closing those gaps, particularly in towns where transportation options are limited.

For Sullivan County riders, the immediate takeaway is continuity: services remain fare-free and leadership will transition gradually. In the months ahead, the agency’s priorities and potential route or service adjustments under Palmer’s leadership will be important to watch for anyone who depends on public transit for health care, work, or daily life.