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.
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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.”
The region’s fixed-route system finished out the year with a total of 373.5 million rides. Adding 12.3 million rides over 2024 represents an increase that is equal to the annual transit ridership of Kansas City.
The service is a flexible, reservation-based transit service designed to close the first- and last-mile gaps and connect riders to employment for just $5 per day.
The upgraded system, which went live earlier this month, supports METRO’s METRONow vision to enhance the customer experience, improve service reliability, and strengthen long-term regional mobility.
The agreement provides competitive wages and reflects strong labor-management collaboration, positive working relationships, and a shared commitment to building a world-class transit system for the community, said RTA CEO Lona Edwards Hankins.
The priorities are outlined in the 2026 Board and CEO Initiatives and Action Plan, which serves as a roadmap to guide the agency’s work throughout the year and ensure continued progress and accountability on voter-approved transportation investments and essential mobility services.