Media Relations Contact:
Morgan Lyons
Mark A. Ball

March 5, 2009

TTA Chooses DART's Thomas as Outstanding General Manager

Gary Thomas, President and Executive Director of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), has received the Outstanding Public Transportation General Manager Award from the Texas Transit Association (TTA).

The award, which honors a public transportation manager who has made outstanding contributions to the industry, was presented to Thomas during the 2009 Texas Transit Conference in Austin.

Thomas was recognized for leading DART to secure a $700 million Full Funding Grant Agreement, one of the nation's largest, from the Federal Transit Administration; for beginning construction on the Green Line rail expansion that will lead to a doubling of the current DART rail system; and for overseeing one of the most aggressive light-rail expansion programs in North America.

Thomas, who has led DART since 2001, also oversaw record-breaking growth in ridership of more than 116.8 million trips during FY 2008.

The Texas Transit Awards are given annually by the TTA which was established in 1986 to promote public transportation in all its modes.

-- 30 --