The Utah Transit Authority’s Board of Trustees announced that President/CEO Michael Allegra has given notice of his intention to retire. Allegra will step down on August 28, 2015.  He will remain available as a senior advisor to the Chair of the Board of Trustees through March 2016 and the board will begin a national search for a new transit executive to lead the agency. During this time of transition VP of Operations Jerry Benson will serve as interim general manager.

For nearly four decades, Allegra worked on transportation issues along the Wasatch Front. He began his career as a transportation engineer with the Wasatch Front Regional Council, Utah’s largest metropolitan planning organization, before moving to UTA. Allegra has held many positions at UTA, from manager of planning & research to director of transit development. He was appointed in 2010 as General Manager.

“The board extends its deepest appreciation to Michael Allegra for his many years of exemplary service,” said Board Chair H. David Burton. “He has dedicated his career to the Wasatch Front community and we wish to thank him for his service to UTA and his devotion to public transit.”

Allegra played an integral role in developing UTA’s extensive rail system and oversaw the completion of the FrontLines 2015 project, which included construction four light rail lines and one commuter rail line. The program was completed two years ahead of schedule and $300 million under budget.

In 2014, UTA achieved record ridership and was named 2014 Outstanding Public Transportation System by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), the international organization representing the transit industry in the United States and Canada.