DART Board of Directors Names Gary Thomas President/Executive Director

DART Sr. Vice President of Project Management Gary Thomas - a professional engineer with more than 20 years of experience, including oversight of DART's light rail project -- has been appointed president/executive director of the transit agency.

Thomas begins his new position on August 17, succeeding outgoing president/executive director Roger Snoble who announced his resignation in June to become CEO of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA).

Thomas, 45, began his DART career as a consulting engineer with the firm of Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. Since 1987, his major responsibility has been the on-time, on-budget completion of the agency's $860 million, 20-mile light rail starter system, as well as the current $1 billion, 24-mile expansion to Garland, Richardson and Plano.

"Our customers, member cities and employees have high expectations. I look forward to working with them to build on our success," Thomas said. "This is a great opportunity for me personally and professionally, and I'm grateful to the Board for its support."

DART Board Chairman Jesse Oliver said Thomas was the right choice at this point in the agency's development. "Roger helped move DART from the drawing board to the train tracks and the neighborhoods. Gary has the skills we need to keep building and serving even more folks. We're excited about his selection."

Snoble echoed the Board's choice saying, "I'm proud the Board had three great internal candidates to chose from. Going back to his first DART project in 1987, Gary has shown the dedication and ability that matches our commitment to excellence and the regional vision of DART. I'm leaving a project and a place I truly love in great hands."

As senior vice president, Thomas directed the overall activities of DART's Project Management Department and reported directly to Snoble. He also was the management liaison for the DART Board's Project Management Committee. The Project Management Department is responsible for all of DART's major capital projects design and construction efforts, including light rail, bus facilities and rail vehicles.

A resident of Richardson, Thomas is a 1980 engineering and architecture graduate of Texas Tech University and is a Registered Professional Engineer. He and his wife, Kay, have two children.

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