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After five years at the agency’s helm, Dallas Area Rapid Transit President and CEO Nadine Lee is stepping down.
According to a statement from the agency, Lee informed the DART Board of Directors that she would not seek an extension of her contract “after careful reflection on the agency’s progress and its path forward.” The recruitment process for a new leader will begin immediately, the agency said, and an interim CEO is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
In a statement, Lee described her time as the head of DART as the “honor of her career,” but acknowledged the pressures the agency is under. In May, voters in Addison, University Park and Highland Park will be asked to reconsider whether they want their city’s dollars to continue funding bus, paratransit and train services offered by the regional agency.
“Together, we navigated one of the most challenging periods in transit history and emerged stronger, more focused, and better positioned to serve our growing region,” Lee said.
Board Chair Randall Bryant added that Lee “helped guide DART through recovery while setting a clear strategic direction for the future.” In recent months, Irving, Plano and Farmers Branch have cancelled their proposed withdrawal elections after striking an agreement with DART.
In an interview with D Magazine, Lee stated that a five- to seven-year tenure has become the industry standard for transit leaders. DART has not announced when Lee’s last day will be.
Since coming to Dallas in July 2021, Lee’s DART has completed construction of the 26-mile-long Silver Line train, planned to handle an influx of passengers during the FIFA World Cup, and has brought forward initiatives that address cleanliness and safety across the agency’s service lines. There has also been a battle against the attempted exodus of a half-dozen member cities, roadbumps like proposed legislation that would have dismantled the system and service reductions.
“When I came to DART, we were starting to come out of the pandemic, and the board was looking for someone who had fresh ideas and a vision for the future, and wanted to really leverage DART and position us to expand and grow and provide better services,” Lee told D.
“As a CEO, it’s important for me to determine if I am the right leader for this time,” she added. “I think, in my mind, it’s important to recognize when somebody else should take the helm, and that’s kind of where I am.”
