Today, CEO for the Regional Transit Authority for Southeast Michigan John Hertel announced he is relinquishing his position and plans to remain as the GM at Detroit's Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART).

Hertel's statement:
“I have taken a look at our efforts at SMART over the past 3 ½ years and I am very proud of what’s been accomplished. I am proud of how SMART managed to get through a very difficult financial period when we experienced a significant loss of income from various sources. I am proud of how SMART operated service last week during the winter storm, running all of our buses so that people who needed to get to work could still get there. And, most notably, I am very aware of the millage renewal this summer and its importance in continuing SMART’s mission of getting people to work, school, medical appointments and other destinations throughout the region.”

“Because the millage is less than seven months away in all three counties and all the other duties I have at SMART, I will remain as the general manager.”

“I am pleased to have been involved for the last seven years moving the Regional Transit Authority process along to this point. I also appreciate everything the RTA Board members have done and are doing to make major transit improvements in southeast Michigan. I look forward to continuing my work at SMART and cooperatively supporting the efforts for improved regional transit in southeast Michigan.”

For additional reporting, click here for The Detroit News story.