SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Transit Authority’s Board of Trustees Friday announced it has begun its search for a new president/CEO to lead the transit agency as it transitions from building large rail projects to an increased focus on operations, UtahPolicy.com reported.
The announcement follows the retirement last month of former President/CEO Michael Allegra, who had been leading the agency since 2010, according to the report.
Recently, UTA has been focused on integrating bus routes with its new array of TRAX light rail and FrontRunner commuter rail lines after completing construction of its FrontLines 2015 project two years ahead of schedule and $300 million under budget. The project included opening four new light rail lines and one commuter rail line. UTA also finished construction of the S-line streetcar, UtahPolicy.com reported.
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.