Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) officially introduced Nathaniel Ford as its new President and Chief Executive Officer on Monday, marking the start of his tenure overseeing the region’s transit system. Ford, who previously led the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) in Florida, will earn an annual salary of $515,000, a figure that exceeds the compensation of other major Dallas city officials.
Background and investigation
In early October, the Florida Attorney General’s Office opened a criminal investigation into JTA, focusing on spending that occurred while Ford was in charge. The probe examines a tuition reimbursement policy for possible Internal Revenue Service code violations, as well as expenses for massages, murals, hotel stays and a nearly $10,000 trip to Spain.
Subpoenas issued by the state request Ford’s Florida employment contract, contracts involving his wife, a list of JTA staff members earning more than $150,000 annually, and detailed travel records. Investigators also seek text messages and emails exchanged between Ford, his wife, a consultant and other executives from October 2023 through March 2025, as well as communications related to the dismissal of JTA accounting personnel. The subpoenas name both Ford and Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan.
DART’s response
During a Dallas City Council Transportation Committee meeting, DART interim CEO David Leninger and Board Chair Randall Bryant addressed questions about the hiring. Bryant affirmed the board’s confidence in the selection, stating, “We have made our decision based upon what we knew at the time and what we know now,” and emphasized that the board does not intend to engage in a dispute with the Florida attorney general.
Ford is not currently facing criminal charges and has agreed to provide voluntary testimony before the Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee.
Financial details from the JTA probe
Records obtained by former JTA board member Megan Hayward reveal the following executive travel expenses:
- $4,264.51 for a hotel stay in London for the CEO
- $1,606.50 for a hotel stay in Madrid for the CEO
- $9,000 for a hotel stay in Valencia for two executives
- Approximately $171,000 total spent on hotel accommodations over roughly 18 months
These figures were previously reported by FOX 4 and are part of the broader investigation into JTA’s spending practices.
Next steps for DART and JTA
DART will formally welcome Ford at a press conference scheduled for 10 a.m. on Monday. In Florida, JTA has until October 30 to comply with the attorney general’s document requests.
Ford will continue to hold his JTA position until his scheduled final day on January 8, 2027, allowing a transition period while he assumes his new responsibilities at DART.
Implications for Dallas transit
The appointment comes as DART confronts a nearly $40 million budget shortfall that has already forced route reductions and staffing cuts. City leaders hope Ford’s experience managing a large transit agency will help steer DART through these fiscal challenges and restore confidence among riders and taxpayers.
Original reporting: Dallas – Ft. Worth Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
