Bi-State Development (BSD) President and CEO Taulby Roach announced the appointment of Charles Stewart as executive director of St. Louis’ Metro Transit. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day transit operations of the 46-mile MetroLink light rail system; a 400-vehicle MetroBus fleet including battery-electric and low-emission diesel buses; and the Metro Call-A-Ride paratransit system.

“It is an honor to be able to lead this incredible team of professionals we have at Metro Transit,” Stewart said. “Every day, they serve our region with tireless dedication as we continue to focus on our top priority – to provide safe, reliable and convenient transit services in the bi-state region.”

Stewart also retains his duties as BSD Executive VP, Organizational Effectiveness, the position he held when he was appointed interim executive director. In this capacity, he is responsible for the recruitment, hiring, development, and retention of a diverse workforce of more than 2,000 team members. In his 10 years with Bi-State Development, Stewart was also the VP of Pension and Insurance, where he led the restructure of the organization’s retirement system and benefits plans, moving pension plans toward 100% fully-funded status, and creating a strong system for fiscal reporting and oversight.

Prior to joining Bi-State Development, Stewart served in a variety of positions with the City of St. Louis, including director of Internal Audit and chief of staff for the License Collector, as well as audit positions with General Dynamics Corp. and Arthur Young & Co.