Calif.'s AVTA taps new executive director/CEO
Macy Neshati, whose tenure at AVTA will begin June 1, will be taking over for current CEO Len Engel, who is retiring.
Neshati
Calif.’s Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA) announced that Macy Neshati, currently sr. VP, heavy industries, for BYD Coach and Bus, will become the next executive director/CEO of the transit agency.
Neshati, whose tenure at AVTA will begin June 1, will be taking over for current CEO Len Engel, who is retiring after six years at AVTA and over 40 years in the mass transit industry.
Neshati has over 35 years of experience in the transit industry. As head of BYD America’s Heavy Industries division, Neshati oversaw the rapid growth of the company, and directly managed a factory with more than 700 employees.
Like AVTA, Neshati is personally committed to creating a clean, sustainable future. He recently joined the Board of the California Clean Air Coalition, becoming the only representative from the electric vehicle industry on the board.
“I am honored to be taking the helm of such a forward-thinking agency that is charting a new future for sustainable transportation,” said Neshati. “I look forward to serving the great people of the Antelope Valley.”
More Management
ABAF Study Reveals Growing Insurance Crisis for Motorcoach Operators
Preliminary findings show 98% of operators faced premium increases over the past five years, while shrinking insurer participation is putting added pressure on businesses and customers.
Read More →
PSTA Modernizes Workforce Management with Digital Bidding System
The award-winning Workforce Transit Modernization project replaced paper bidding with a transparent digital platform, cutting administrative effort while improving access for operators.
Read More →
Chicago to Host Public Transportation's Biggest Gathering at APTA TRANSform & EXPO 2026
North America’s largest public transportation gathering returns to Chicago, connecting transit decision-makers with the technologies, ideas, and partnerships driving the industry forward.
Read More →
New Tricks for Old Bureaucracies: Joshua Schank on Making Transit Innovation Stick
Former LA Metro Chief Innovation Officer Joshua Schank discusses why good ideas aren't enough, how transit agencies can overcome resistance to change, and why today's challenges demand more innovation.
Read More →
Washington's Community Transit Sets Six-Year Roadmap for Growth, Expansion
Approved TDP targets more bus service, new mobility options, Swift BRT expansion, and a potential Everett Transit annexation.
Read More →
OKC Streetcar Makes Zero-Fare Service Permanent
Ridership increased an average of 71% compared with the same period a year earlier during the fare-free pilot.
Read More →
DART Customer Satisfaction Reaches Six-Year High
Overall satisfaction rose to 74.9%, while the agency’s Net Promoter Score reached a record 33.7.
Read More →
House Surface Transportation Bill Advances as Transit Funding Debate Intensifies
A bipartisan transportation package moving through Congress could redefine how the U.S. funds highways, transit, and motorcoach travel, while igniting new fights over electrification, regulation, and federal priorities.
Read More →
How Data, Strategy, and Community Engagement Are Reshaping Transit
In this edition of METROspectives, strada360 CEO Steve Lassey discusses how transit agencies can better align planning with operations, leverage data to improve decision-making, and build public trust as they prepare for the future of mobility.
Read More →
Amtrak Board Advances Plan to Restructure Organization, Seeks Public Input
The proposal, developed by Amtrak management and approved by the board for further consideration, is intended to modernize the organization's structure while improving accountability, operational efficiency, and customer service.
Read More →