Robert (Bob) Babbitt, president of McDonald Transit, announced his retirement, effective Oct. 31, 2016. Babbitt will continue to stay involved in McDonald Transit, working as a consultant and helping ensure a smooth transition to new leadership.
Babbitt started with McDonald Transit in 1977 in the position of management intern, working his way up the organization in both operating and administrative positions. Babbitt served roles such as GM of Abilene Transit System, manager, administration for Fort Worth Transportation Authority, and for a decade as executive director of Nashville MTA. He was appointed chief financial officer of McDonald Transit in 1981 and, in 2002, was named president.
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Under Babbitt's leadership, the McDonald Transit team has expanded operations to 17 states. The company serves a total of 32 fixed-route, paratransit and shuttle clients, generating over $100 million in annual revenues. McDonald Transit's largest operation is in Austin, Texas, for Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which carries over 21 million customers each year.
In 2009, McDonald Transit entered into agreement with RATP Dev America, subsidiary of RATP Group, a global transportation company. Babbitt led the recapitalization of McDonald Transit and the modernization of the company's technology. With RATP Dev America, he formed a streetcar operating subdivision known as RDMT. The subdivision operates streetcars in Washington, D.C., and Tucson, Ariz., a new market for McDonald Transit.
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.
