DCTA board names new president

As reported late last week, Texas’ Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) Board of Directors accepted the resignation of DCTA President James C. Cline Jr. After meeting to discuss immediate next steps for the agency, the board made a motion naming Raymond Suarez as the new agency president, effective Sept. 14, 2018, pending contract negotiations.

Suarez has served as DCTA’s COO since July 2014. He is a proven transit operations and technology leader with more than 30 years of experience in the public and private sector.

“We greatly appreciate the leadership provided by Mr. Cline over the last eight years,” said Nicole Recker, DCTA VP, marketing and communications. “The Board of Directors and agency staff are confident that Mr. Suarez will continue to foster DCTA’s growth and ability to provide mobility solutions throughout North Texas.”

Suarez previously served as DCTA’s COO and worked with the leadership team, board of directors, community leaders, employees, and service providers to grow the greater North Texas regional mobility system with a focus on setting new standards for transit operations, innovation, and service excellence.

Prior to DCTA, Suarez served as chief administrative officer for the Trinity Railway Express (TRE), in which he oversaw aspects of TRE contracts, safety, operations, maintenance, and capital programs. During his tenure, Suarez developed the agency’s annual budget, managed the TRE’s long range capital investment program and state of good repair model, and worked with the regional transit agencies to ensure adherence to annual authorizations.

Prior to the TRE, Suarez served in multiple leadership roles within the transit and technology industries, including Dallas Area Rapid Transit, Reactrix Systems, General Dynamics, Superconducting Supercollider, Trans Industries, and Vultron Inc.