Trey Walker leverages industry knowledge, technical expertise and a leadership style described as engaging to deliver Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART)’s capital improvement program,with the goal of expanding and improving transit and mobility options across the North Texas region. Walker currently serves as the interim executive vice president/chief development officer at DART. In his permanent role, Walker has led the agency’s capital programs division for the past three years, bringing together capital planning and capital design and construction into a single, integrated team. 

Walker began his transit career at WeGo Public Transit, where he progressed to the role of chief development officer. In that capacity, his responsibilities spanned capital and service planning, engineering and construction and facility maintenance. From there, Walker joined DART in 2023 to oversee construction and startup of the Silver Line Regional Rail Program. The $2.1 billion, 26-mile Silver Line corridor serves 10 stations across the northern portion of DART’s service area and opened for passenger service in October of 2025—six months ahead of schedule. The program required coordination with a broad range of stakeholders, including a design-build contractor, multiple consultant teams, agency staff, a vehicle manufacturer, a contract operator, seven municipal jurisdictions, two regulatory agencies—the Federal Railroad Administration and the Federal Transportation Administration—and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. As the executive responsible for comprehensive delivery, Walker built relationships, resolved challenges and maintained progress on schedule and within budget.   

Walker’s commitment is recognized as one that extends beyond individual project assignments. His team oversees a portfolio of work that includes civil infrastructure projects, state-of-good-repair initiatives, mobility improvements for DART’s bus network and major facility construction projects. Since joining the agency, his responsibilities have continued to expand to include systems engineering, capital planning and grant pursuits. In his interim executive role, he also provides departmental leadership for real estate and project controls.  

Walker is also the executive responsible for DART Transform, the agency’s $2 billion system modernization program. This effort replaces legacy fleet vehicles, unifies signaling systems across all light-rail alignments and delivers critical modifications to stations and operating facilities, working to ensure the long-term reliability and safety of the system. Further, while simultaneously leading Silver Line startup activities, Walker mobilized consultant and contractor partners to augment agency staff, developed a coordinated action plan, established field and office teams, implemented a structured reporting process and delivered an analysis that fully satisfied oversight requirements when Texas State Safety Oversight required anevaluation of DART’s traction power system within 30 days after a service interruption. Further, since joining DART, he has introduced new contracting methods for state-of-good-repair projects that have improved procurement efficiency and optimized staff capacity.  

Walker works to continually understand the broader transit industry while also contributing to its advancement. He is a 2023 graduate of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Leadership APTA and Eno’s 2026 Transportation Senior Executive Program. He actively serves on APTA’s Capital Projects Subcommittee and participated as a panelist at the 2025 APTA Rail Conference, highlighting collaborative delivery methods.

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

My first transit construction project was the renovation of Nashville's downtown bus terminal. Coming from commercial construction, I planned the work around shutting down operations in the construction area. When I presented the plan to the CEO, he laughed and said, "Well, that's not going to work for us." That moment taught me that transit projects aren't just construction projects—they're operating systems that have to keep serving customers every day. Ever since, balancing construction with operations has become one of the most rewarding parts of my job. 

What do you enjoy most about your job? 

Bringing a project to life. We spend years planning, budgeting, designing and coordinating projects so seeing them completed and watching people use them is incredibly rewarding. Knowing that something your team built improves someone's daily commute makes the long hours worthwhile. 

What's the most challenging part of your job? 

Slowing down. Major capital projects move at a fast pace, and it's easy to feel pressure to make quick decisions. I've learned that the best solutions often come from taking the time to fully understand the issue before acting. Developing that balance between urgency and thoughtful decision-making is something I continue to work on. 

What accomplishment are you most proud of, and why? 

Delivering the DART Silver Line into revenue service in October 2025. The project represented more than two decades of planning and partnership across the region. Shortly after I joined DART in 2023, the project underwent a budget and schedule reset. Thanks to an exceptional team of staff, consultants and contractors, we delivered the project within the revised budget and schedule. It's a project I'll always consider one of the defining achievements of my career. 

What accomplishment would you like to work toward in your career? 

I aspire to lead a transit agency as CEO and help a community realize the full potential of public transportation. I've been fortunate to learn from outstanding leaders throughout my career, and I'd be honored to have the opportunity to serve a region by improving mobility and creating lasting public value. 

What is the best advice you can share from your area of expertise? 

Be a problem solver, no matter how small the problem. People remember the individuals who consistently find solutions rather than point out obstacles. If you earn a reputation for solving problems, opportunities and responsibilities will naturally follow.