2025 40 Under 40: Stephen Kuban

Stephen Kuban, founder and CEO of Kuban Transit Solutions, began his career a decade ago as an operations manager in microtransit. He started in 2015 at RideCo On Demand Transit, where in six years he grew his leadership qualities as director of solutions consulting, supporting transit agencies across North America, including Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County and Calgary Transit. 

Kuban is a big proponent of artificial intelligence (AI) and believes that over the next decade, AI will be used as a cohesive, sustainable long-term strategy for the public transit industry. Over three years as head of growth at The Routing Company (TRC), he developed into a recognized industry expert while leading growth of TRC’s revenue by more than five times. While at TRC, he played a part in TCRP G-19, a project that aims to bridge critical gaps in paratransit and on-demand service planning. His One Transit whitepaper, which, according to the TRC, “integrates high-frequency intermodal transit, including paratransit, microtransit and fixed routes into a seamless, equitable system powered by advanced technology” was introduced in 2024 and was downloaded 52 times and drew 154 registrants on a webinar in the same year.   

Kuban says One Transit is a model that solves two most urgent paratransit challenges: scaling cost-effectively as populations age and Delivering true freedom to individuals with disabilities. 

Recently, he authored and submitted a compelling whitepaper to the American Public Transportation Association Access Committee, exploring the first principles of transportation, creating a roadmap for public and private entities alike on how to future-proof how transit is delivered. He is a member of the Transportation Research Board’s AP055 Committee (Rural, Intercity Bus and Specialized Transportation). 

Kuban founded Kuban Transit Solutions in July 2025 to drive a strategic shift toward same-day intermodal paratransit across North America. 

Is there a specific experience that led you to where you are today? 

I stumbled into transit by accident. I needed a three-month summer job before starting a master’s degree in Belgium, and when one offer fell through, I was connected to a new startup that needed someone to drive a car and test their app. That startup was RideCo, one month from launching North America’s first microtransit pilot.  

During the 10 years that followed, I grew from app tester to operations manager, data scientist, solutions consultant and now an executive leader in transit technology. I never imagined that one fateful hourly gig would spark a career in public transit, and I never did end up getting that master’s degree. 

What do you enjoy most about your job? 

Two things stand out. First, I love helping people. My mission is to enable others to reach their potential, and in transit, that starts with access. An integrated, accessible network is the foundation for people to do what they’re capable of—and that drives everything I do. 

Second, I love solving complex problems. The more dimensions, the better. One Transit is the result of 10 years spent connecting the dots across the industry: paratransit, policy, operations and technology. It’s about bringing fragmented systems into one cohesive whole. That kind of systems thinking is what excites me most. 

What’s the most challenging part of your job? 

The hardest part is the pace of change. Public transit rightly operates with safeguards—checks, balances and public accountability—but that also means slow adoption even when the value is clear. I often see agencies stuck waiting for solutions that we both know could help them today. Navigating the tension between urgency and process is the hardest part of the job and the most important to get right. 

What is the accomplishment you’re most proud of and why? 

It might be cheesy, but I’m proudest of helping reframe how the industry sees paratransit—not as a side service but as central to a unified transit network. That vision shaped my work at TRC, where we built not just technology, but a perspective: that accessibility, efficiency and innovation aren’t mutually exclusive. It’s now the bedrock of our ethos at Kuban Transit Solutions. 

What’s most rewarding is seeing that idea take on a life of its own—clients repeating the language, agencies rethinking service design, partners aligning around the model. It’s slow, but the shift is real. Seeing the field evolve toward One Transit thinking is the most satisfying part of my work. 

What is an accomplishment you would like to work towards in your career? 

My top goal is to drive a strategic shift toward same-day intermodal paratransit across North America. The current model isn’t sustainable, neither economically nor socially. True freedom of movement for people with disabilities means leveraging the scale of fixed route and integrating services into a seamless network.  

That’s the core of the One Transit strategy, which is also being called Family of Services. It’s a paradigm shift in how paratransit is delivered, and we need that shift to reach the Federal Transit Administration level to unlock real change. Seeing this vision embedded in federal strategy—and realized on the ground in agencies nationwide—would be the most meaningful outcome of my career.  

What is your best advice/tip/best practice you can share from your area of expertise? 

Be intentional with your words. State what you do want. For example, say, “I want to lead projects that challenge me,” not, “I don’t want to stay stuck in this role.” Or say, “We want a streamlined solution that gets to the outcome fast,” instead of “we don’t want to overcomplicate this.”  

Framing shapes outcomes. Then when speaking, use silence. Pauses, especially when they feel a little uncomfortable, give your words weight. Clarity and confidence often come less from what you say and more from how deliberately you say it.