People on the move: GoTriangle, Sound Transit, Denver RTD, CDTA, St. Louis Metro

GoTriangle, Sound Transit, the Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD), the Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) and the Bi-State Development Agency of the Missouri-Illinois Metropolitan District (St. Louis Metro) have made new appointments to their respective leadership teams. 

GoTriangle names new president and CEO 

GoTriangle has named Brian Smith, Ph.D., its next president and CEO, effective June 1, 2025.   

Smith comes to GoTriangle after more than 16 years at Hampton Roads Transit (HRT), where he served 13 years in C-suite roles, rising from an entry-level position to deputy CEO, collaborating with senior managers across all functional areas for day-to-day administration and operations. 

"Brian impressed all of us with his experience and his emphasis on collaborative leadership. He is the right person at the right time to lead GoTriangle," said GoTriangle Board Chair Mary-Ann Baldwin. "With his focus on strategic planning and partnerships, he will do a great job leading our organization as we reinvent ourselves and move forward with big ideas that will better serve our region." 

Smith, who began his public transportation career in 2008, is a U.S. Army veteran, having served as a stinger missile team chief with the First Infantry Division. He's led several strategic initiatives with public, private and non-profit stakeholders, including garnering more than $32 million annually in new investments to expand regional high-frequency bus service and improve customer amenities, technology, safety and security and bus fleet reliability.    

He has completed executive training through MIT Sloan and holds a doctorate in organizational leadership, in addition to a seminary degree, from Regent University. As an adjunct professor, he’s taught graduate courses in leadership and administrative ethics.  

In 1999, he was a Delta International Scholar and studied abroad in Belgium. His dissertation focused on leadership in collaborative regional networks. He also has a master’s degree in public policy (Regent) and an advanced certificate in public administration from Old Dominion University, with an emphasis on public budgeting and finance. 

“We need strong regional collaboration to be successful and that’s something I’m deeply committed to. GoTriangle is right there at the heart of it, and it will be a great honor to work with the board, community stakeholders and GoTriangle’s dedicated staff to achieve the agency’s vision going forward,” Smith said. 

GoTriangle Acting President and CEO Byron Smith added, “I have no doubt in my mind that Brian is the absolute best person to lead GoTriangle into the next era of growth and innovation. His experience as a leader and his dedication to public transportation are second to none.” 

Sound Transit names chief economic development and civil rights officer 

Daphne Cross will assume the role of Sound Transit’s chief economic development and civil rights officer. In this position, she will continue to lead the Civil Rights, Equity and Inclusion Department, where she had been acting chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer during the past year. 

Cross has more than two decades of experience at Sound Transit and brings a wealth of institutional and practical knowledge to the role. During her tenure with the agency, she’s held positions in board administration, the CEO’s office, small business and labor compliance and civil rights, equity and inclusion. Most recently, before taking the acting role leading civil rights, equity and inclusion, Cross served as the agency’s director of inclusive culture. 

Under the direct guidance of Sound Transit’s CEO, Cross will develop strategies, design programs and work with various external organizations and community partners to ensure that diversity, equity and inclusion principles are embedded throughout the agency. She will serve as a member of the CEO cabinet, which uniquely positions her to partner and support the CEO and the executive leadership team. As the agency’s equal employment opportunity, Title VI, disadvantaged business enterprise officer, she is also responsible for ensuring compliance with all relevant laws and regulations, safeguarding the agency’s commitment to fairness and inclusion. 

“Ensuring equal and ample opportunity is a critical facet of how Sound Transit does business,” said Sound Transit CEO Dow Constantine. “Daphne’s demonstrated commitment to Sound Transit’s values, the people on our team and the issues in her portfolio make her an outstanding choice to join the agency’s leadership.” 

“As a native Seattleite, with longstanding ties to communities throughout the region, I am both humbled and ready to officially get to work,” Cross said. “We’re working on the nation’s largest capital expansion project, focusing on delivering an excellent experience for our passengers, and we remain committed to removing barriers, building capacity and creating opportunities, so I’m thrilled to continue the work during what is a very exciting time for the region.”  

Denver RTD welcomes next chief of police and emergency management 

Denver RTD held a swearing-in and pinning ceremony for Steve Martingano, the agency’s next chief of police and emergency management. Denver RTD notes Martingano will lead a growing police department that is responsible for the personal safety and security of more than 3,000 employees and customers across a service area in eight counties and 40 municipalities. 

“Chief Martingano is a principled public servant who cares deeply about his community,” said Denver RTD General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson. “He sees police work as the calling that it is, starting his law enforcement career more than 30 years ago, and he is known and respected by the people of this region.”  

Martingano joined the agency in 2015 as a commander and was promoted to deputy chief in 2017. During his time at the agency, he has worked to modernize Denver RTD’s police deployment and response model by introducing sector policing. Martingano also pioneered the first mental health co-responder unit in transit policing, a program that was later expanded to include outreach coordinators focused on the unhoused population. 

“As police chief, my top priority is reducing crime across our transit system. This means taking a proactive, preventive approach—being present, being visible and being ready,” Martingano said. “This position is not just a title; it is a calling. It’s a commitment to serve, to protect and to help restore confidence in the safety and integrity of our public transit system.”  

CDTA welcomes new CEO 

CDTA welcomed new CEO Frank Annicaro on May 12. CDTA’s Board of Directors voted to appoint Annicaro as CEO at their March meeting.  

Annicaro will take over for interim CEO Michael P. Collins. Collins was named interim CEO when former CEO Carm Basile retired after 43 years with the authority on Dec. 31, 2024. 

“I’m honored to step into this role and lead an organization that connects people and strengthens communities across the Capital Region,” Annicaro said. “I plan to continue to strengthen mobility options for customers with the help of our 750 hard-working employees. As we look ahead, we’ll focus on addressing securing long-term transit funding, recruiting and retaining a strong workforce and meeting sustainability goals. I want to thank the board of directors for their trust and confidence in me.”  

Annicaro most recently served as senior vice president of the New York City Transit (NYCT) Department of Buses for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). His division provided 55,000 daily passenger trips for more than two million passengers and his team oversaw more than 18,000 employees.  

Before becoming senior vice president of the NYCT Department of Buses for MTA, Annicaro served as the acting vice president and chief maintenance officer at MTA. He was responsible for the maintenance of 5,800 buses daily. Before that, he served as chief officer, central maintenance facility and held several central maintenance facility operating positions at MTA. 

Annicaro earned an auto and diesel technology degree from Lincoln Technical Institute. He also holds certificates in leadership from both Cornell University and New York University’s Stern School of Business. 

St. Louis Metro selects next executive vice president and COO 

St. Louis Metro has selected Ronald Forrest as the next executive vice president and COO. Forrest joins the agency on June 2 and brings an extensive background in transportation management and operational excellence. The leadership transition comes as current Executive Vice President and COO Charles Stewart prepares to retire at the end of June. 

“Chuck has been a pivotal figure in Metro Transit’s growth and success over the last several years and his dedication to public service has left a lasting impact on our organization as well as the communities we serve,” said St. Louis Metro President and CEO Taulby Roach. “We are deeply grateful for his contributions and wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement.” 

Forrest, who was selected from a pool of interested candidates from around the U.S., brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in public transit to his new role. He successfully led numerous initiatives at other transit agencies to enhance transportation systems and improve customer experiences. His expertise in project management and community engagement has consistently delivered results that prioritize accessibility and sustainability.  

Most recently, Forrest served as deputy COO at Metro Transit in Minneapolis, Minn., where he and his team were responsible for delivering approximately 60 million customer trips annually in the Twin Cities region. His experience, strategic vision and commitment to innovation aligns with St. Louis Metro’s commitment to enhancing efficiency, promoting inclusion and safety and elevating customer service across MetroBus, MetroLink, Metro Call‑A‑Ride and Transit Assets operations. 

“We are excited to welcome Ronald to our transit team,” Roach said. “His extensive expertise in operations management and his dedication to innovation and customer-centric solutions will be invaluable to our mission of delivering world-class transit services.” 

“We look forward to Ronald joining the team next month,” said Bi-State Development Board of Commissioners Chair Sam Gladney. “His forward-thinking leadership and proven track record of operational success will be critical as we shape the future of public transit and remain dedicated to exceeding the expectations of the communities we serve.”