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Nadine S. Lee, Dallas Area Rapid Transit President and CEO, speaks to media during a press conference Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, in Dallas.<\/p>\n
Christine Vo\/Staff Photographer<\/p>\n
Wanted: A transit CEO<\/a> who can hold together a regional system under political strain.<\/p>\n Dallas Area Rapid Transit \u00a0is looking for a new CEO and president, a job managing a coalition of differing member cities, navigating pressure to shrink the system, carrying out high-stakes reforms and proving its value in a region divided<\/a> over its future.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The next leader won\u2019t just run buses and trains. They\u2019ll be expected to steady an agency tested by threats of withdrawal and competing visions for transit in North Texas.<\/p>\n \u201cDART is in a new chapter,\u201d said board member Enrique\u00a0MacGregor of Cockrell Hill and Dallas, shaped by months when several cities weighed leaving the system. That demanding stretch, he said, will help guide who is chosen.<\/p>\n Up next are May 2 elections in\u00a0Addison, Highland Park and University Park<\/a> on leaving DART; the\u00a0FIFA World Cup, with DART moving fans across the region; and the 2027 Legislature that will take up proposed transit changes, including DART\u2019s governance.<\/p>\n After CEO and President Nadine Lee announced last week she\u2019s stepping down, the next leader will inherit the deals that led Plano, Irving and Farmers Branch to call off withdrawal elections earlier this year, while confronting the three remaining May exit votes<\/a>.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Make Dallas News a preferred source so your search results prioritize writing by actual people, not AI.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Add Preferred Source<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWe’re definitely at an inflection point,\u201d said Patric Morgan, a transit advocate in Dallas. Either \u201cwe’re a region that supports and recognizes the importance of transit or we’re going to see DART \u2026 wither and die on the vine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018Political acumen\u2019<\/p>\n With DART\u2019s search already underway, managing the competing interests of member cities has risen to the top of the wish list among advocates, city leaders and board members.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cI would like to see someone who has political acumen, and frankly, someone that can bring disagreeing parties to the table together and hammer out compromises,\u201d MacGregor said.<\/p>\n DART\u2019s recent deals with member cities include plans to pursue legislative changes<\/a> to its governance and create a regional rail authority, efforts that will require coordination with lawmakers.<\/p>\n The agency also approved returning some of the<\/a> one-cent DART sales tax to cities for local transportation projects, a move that persuaded Plano to cancel its withdrawal election. The city had long argued its contributions outweighed the level of service it received.<\/p>\n Plano City Council member Steve Lavine said in doing so, his city extended \u201ca hand of partnership to DART.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n DART needs a \u201cdiplomat, not just an administrator,\u201d Lavine said, who sees cities as clients and partners, not a tax base.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe traded a divorce for a prenuptial agreement, something that now protects our interests,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a CEO who will honor that agreement.\u201d<\/p>\n Morgan, of the advocacy group Dallas Area Transit Alliance, said he wants \u201ca more politically adept\u201d leader who continues Lee\u2019s focus on reliability, safety and service but not one who gives more sales tax back to cities<\/a> at the expense of improvements.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Skilled communicator\u00a0<\/p>\n Irving Mayor Rick Stopfer said communication will be key for the new leader.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThat’s a tough thing to do,\u201d he said. \u201cYou’ve got 13 cities and 13 councils, 13 city managers and 15 board members. It’s a pretty big undertaking.\u201d<\/p>\n City leaders who had considered leaving the agency cited a disconnect between DART\u2019s service and local needs<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cThere’s got to be more interaction between the city leaders and DART on the routes and the equipment<\/a>,\u201d Stopfer said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Morgan said the next CEO will need to be more adept at navigating tensions between DART and the suburbs in its system.<\/p>\n \u201cRepairing that relationship is going to be very challenging over the next several years,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Next steps\u00a0<\/p>\n The timeline for the DART\u2019s board appointment is unclear.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n MacGregor said he hopes the new leader is installed soon.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAt the same time, it has to be the right person,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is not something that you want to rush through.\u201d<\/p>\n DART has not announced Lee\u2019s last day, but her contract expires Sept. 30. Lee said she \u201cread the tea leaves\u201d and determined it made sense for the agency to get a new leader as DART transitions from bargaining with cities to fulfilling its end of the resulting deals<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIf I’m going to make a move, now is the time,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n DART\u2019s board of directors are scheduled Friday to approve her separation agreement and discuss plans for an interim president. A committee discussed in a closed session on Tuesday the title\u2019s job description and qualifications.\u00a0<\/p>\n By signing up, you agree to our Terms Of Use<\/a> and acknowledge that your information will be used as described in our Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/p>\n In a draft job description, the board summarized its responsibilities to establish the policy, goals and mission of DART and direct the agency\u2019s operations<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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