With Nadine Lee stepping down as CEO of Dallas Area Rapid Transit, the board of directors will have to find a new leader who can guide the agency into the...
Under Lee’s leadership, DART saw improvements in reliability, safety and cleanliness, even as the agency has had to scramble to keep member cities from leaving. There are still many challenges on the horizon, though, and DART needs to find the right leader to navigate them.
First, DART should look for a leader who is prepared to focus on transit as an economic development play. That’s how transit — and particularly rail — was sold to the region. Agency leadership should redouble its focus on proactively pushing for housing and retail around our vast rail network. Second, DART should focus on efficiency. Fixed-route bus service remains underused in many areas. The reality is that people today are increasingly accustomed to highly convenient, often curb-to-curb service. In an era when ride-sharing and automation are changing how people travel, the agency has to be dynamic.The next CEO needs to do more than move people from point A to point B; the person will have to continuously find ways to deliver service that member cities view as commensurate with the sales tax dollars they provide to the agency.This person also must have the political acumen to balance the conflicting interests of Dallas and its suburbs. What works in downtown Dallas isn’t necessarily going to work in Plano’s Legacy area or Las Colinas in Irving. The next CEO doesn’t necessarily have to be a transit professional. This is an executive position suited to those accustomed to leading large organizations, realizing development opportunities, maximizing efficiency and embracing new technologies. It’s a tall order to find a candidate who can juggle so many things at once. We encourage the DART board to take its time. It’s too important to rush a decision.Dallas Morning News editorials are written by the paper's Editorial Board and serve as the voice and view of the paper. The board considers a broad range of topics and is overseen by the Editorial Page Editor.
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