Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) announced that Nathaniel Ford will assume the role of chief executive on Monday, despite lingering objections from suburban board members and a pending subpoena in Florida. The decision matters to Addison residents because DART operates the region’s bus and rail services, including the Silver Line that serves the town’s commuters.
According to the Dallas Observer, the board voted 9-6 on July 14 to approve Ford, a vote that split along suburban‑urban lines. Representatives from Irving, Plano, Farmers Branch, Garland and Carrollton joined Dallas director Patrick Kennedy in opposing the selection. Farmers Branch and Plano board member Nathan Barbera warned, “Time is needed to do due diligence on the fact that every single agency that the candidate has left from has left under a cloud of spending controversies.”
Former Irving mayor and current board representative Rick Stopfer said he would respect the “up‑or‑down” vote but retained concerns, adding, “I’ll respect the will of the chair and the board… but because of that, I’ll be voting against it.” Carrollton’s Doug Hrbacek called Ford’s past “dotted with red flags” and expressed disappointment that the board moved forward without addressing contract language. Plano’s Anthony Ricciardelli noted that Ford’s compensation would exceed that of Dallas’s city manager, making it difficult for him to support the hire.
Ford’s compensation package includes an annual base salary of $515,000, an $80,000 relocation lump sum and a $1,000 monthly executive stipend. DART Board Chair Randall Bryant defended the terms, stating they “matched what other candidates received” and that the board had “multiple opportunities to interview and vet candidates over a months‑long process.” Garland, Glenn Heights and Rowlett director Mark Enoch echoed concerns about compensation but said the process was fair, noting, “Nobody has denied the opportunity to speak.”
The controversy is heightened by Ford’s ongoing investigation in Florida. The Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee subpoenaed him to answer questions about Jacksonville Transit Authority (JTA) performance, and JTA was reported on Sept. 28 to be under a spending probe that includes communications involving Ford and his wife, who worked for a consulting firm tied to DART’s Silver Line project.
Despite the scrutiny, Ford brings extensive transit leadership experience, having served in Atlanta, San Francisco and New York City, and most recently leading JTA. The Dallas Observer cited a release in which Bryant praised Ford, saying he brings “decades of executive leadership in public transportation, a proven record of organizational transformation, and a deep understanding that transit is about much more than buses and trains.” Ford also piloted an automated transit loop at JTA and received commendations from Jacksonville’s mayor.
What’s next: Ford will officially begin his tenure on Monday. The DART board has scheduled a follow‑up meeting next month to review contract language and address any lingering concerns from suburban directors. Addison residents should monitor DART communications for updates on service plans and any potential impacts on local transit routes.
Sources: dallasobserver.com
