Nathaniel Ford will become DART president and CEO on October 26, placing the longtime transit executive in charge of the North Texas agency after an interim leadership period.

Aerial view of a yellow-and-white DART light-rail train at EBJ Union Station in Dallas.
A DART light-rail train at EBJ Union Station in Dallas. Illustrative image; it does not depict Nathaniel Ford’s appointment. Photo: IcedCowboyCoffee / Wikimedia Commons / CC0 1.0.

Ford brings experience from major U.S. transit agencies

The DART board selected Ford to succeed the agency’s interim leadership⁠. He has led the Jacksonville Transportation Authority since 2012 and previously served as chief executive of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority.

Ford began his public-transportation career at New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority, where his work included serving as a train conductor. His industry experience⁠ also includes chairing the Transportation Research Board and the American Public Transportation Association and serving as the U.S. national ambassador on the UITP Policy Board.

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Appointment ends an interim leadership period

Former DART Chief Financial Officer David Leininger has served as interim president and CEO since May 4. He took the post after DART terminated former President and CEO Nadine Lee on April 4 following unsuccessful discussions on a separation agreement.

Ford’s October 26 start will return the office to permanent leadership. DART reports that its multimodal network⁠ moves more than 171,000 passengers daily across a 700-square-mile region. The agency operates light rail, regional rail, buses, on-demand services and paratransit; its light-rail network spans 93 miles, while the bus fleet includes nearly 700 vehicles.

The appointment announcement did not identify service changes or new policy priorities connected with Ford’s arrival.

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