After months of turmoil and calls for her head, Island Transit’s executive director resigned Friday.

With Martha Rose finally handing over the keys, the process of recovering from the transportation agency’s financial mess and rebuilding the public’s trust can now begin.

The first step should be to remove the sign that says, “Rose Room” on the conference room door at the organization’s new facility south of Coupeville.

Ironically, that’s the room in which Island Transit’s board met in executive session to discuss Rose’s fate.

While it may only be a symbolic gesture, getting rid of that symbol of arrogance would be a welcome sign that change is afoot.

The next step should be to educate the public about the importance of maintaining public transportation on Whidbey Island.

For many, the bus system is the only means of getting around the island. Without paratransit service, many of our disabled citizens have no means of getting out of their homes to shop or get to appointments.

Island Transit’s board should also fully examine the pros and cons of charging fares. Granted, the transit system is funded by a sales tax. Nonetheless, modest fares would be a reasonable means of restoring routes that were recently eliminated.

Transit systems in other communities have weathered the national economic downturn, and there’s no reason Island Transit can’t recover from the economic storm of its own making.

Meanwhile, the transit system’s board of directors must get on the bus and be willing to work hard to get the agency back on the right course.

If current board members aren’t up to the task, then they should step down as well.

It’s often said that change is good. In the case of Island Transit, change is imperative.