Today, Mike Wiley, General Manager/CEO, announced his intention to retire from the Sacramento Regional Transit District (RT) after a 38-year career. The process will allow Wiley to transition from the chief executive position at RT to a supporting role that will ensure the continued success of the agency.

In the next 60 days, RT will begin a national recruitment search, which is expected to take approximately six months. The recruitment search committee will consist of four members of the 11-member RT board of directors supported by Wiley.  Wiley will continue to serve as GM/CEO through the successful recruitment and start date of his replacement.

Upon the hiring of the new GM/CEO, Wiley will transition to the position of Special Assistant to the Board of Directors and GM/CEO with a focus on key projects and initiatives through 2016. Upon his official retirement on January 1, 2017, Wiley is expected to remain under contract on an on-call basis through November 2017.

Wiley began his career at RT as a service planner in 1978 and has served as a member of RT’s executive management team for the past 32 years. In his various leadership roles at the division level, Wiley had direct oversight of nearly every department in the agency, including engineering, finance, human resources, marketing, planning and procurement. He held the position of deputy GM for two years prior to his appointment as GM/CEO in 2007.

“My decision to retire was not made lightly,” Wiley stated. “RT is now at a critical juncture with the significant work on the RT systemwide improvement initiative and the implementation of the light rail service plan for the new Golden 1 Center in October 2016. I remain fully committed to RT to ensure a smooth change of leadership. At the same time, I am looking forward to starting a new chapter in my life.”

“RT and the Sacramento region have been most fortunate to have Mike Wiley at the helm,” stated Jay Schenirer, Sacramento City Councilmember and RT Board Chair. “His numerous accomplishments and vast knowledge of all aspects of transit and RT have been invaluable. Although his retirement will create a significant void, the RT board of directors fully supports his decision.”