Articles

Keynote Speaker - April 2020

Gary Thomas - Executive Director of Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART)

Topic:  DART Silver Line

Gary C. Thomas is president/executive director of Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). He is responsible for a 13-city transit system covering 700-square mile service area with bus, light rail, commuter rail, and paratransit services.

Under his leadership DART has doubled its light rail system - twice - to become the nation's longest at 93 miles. The agency has been recognized for innovation in developing a progressive clean fuels program for its bus fleet, advancing new models for local bus and paratransit service and customer-facing communication technology and service. DART is also a recognized leader in the global advancement of the Mobility as a Service (MaaS) movement with its use of targeted demand-response transit service matched with new customer tools for fare payment and trip planning.

Thomas administers the goals and policies of the DART Board of Directors and directs the agency's top managers and approximately 3,700 employees, emphasizing a strong customer focus. He works closely with service area city governments and the public in developing short- and long-term transportation and mobility goals.

Thomas joined DART in November 1998. He was a consulting engineer for 19 years prior to that. He has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a Bachelor of Architecture from Texas Tech University.

He serves on the Transportation Research Board Executive Committee and the Subcommittee on Planning and Policy Review for the TRB. He is a past chair of the American Public Transportation Association, RailVolution and the South West Transit Association.