RATP Dev North America has announced the appointment of Robert Smith, former chief transit officer (CTO) of the Chicago Transit Authority, as the senior vice president of operations for the West Region of RATP Dev bus division. As part of his new position, Smith will be leading RATP Dev’s operations and business development in the western continental United States. Based in Fort Worth, Texas, Smith will be working closely with RATP Dev’s key clients in Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, and California.
“As the CTO and CEO of two of the nation’s major transit authorities, Robert brings years of executive management experience that will prove invaluable as RATP Dev continues to expand our presence across the country,” said Blaine Rigler, vice president of bus services for RATP Dev North America. “He has a proven track record as a successful leader with a strong background in operations management and are thrilled to have him as a part of the team.”
Smith comes to RATP Dev from the Chicago Transit Authority, where he served as the chief transit officer and directed operations for nation’s second largest transit agency. Prior to his work in Chicago, he was the CEO of the Maryland Transit Authority in Baltimore, and served as the vice president of operations (East Area) at National Express Corporation. Throughout his career, Smith has successfully managed a wide variety of transportation services, including bus, subway, light rail, commuter rail, and paratransit services.
“I am excited to be joining RATP Dev to help build on to this world-renowned organization here in North America,” said Smith. “I have spent much of my career managing transit agencies in the public sector, and believe I can lend my expertise to further help RATP Dev address the needs of larger public transit agencies. I feel our industry is at a point where we need to align ourselves with public sector partners and use innovation and new technologies to better our services and make us more effective. From what I have seen at RATP Dev, I believe that our visions are completely aligned, and I look forward to the future.”
Smith will be overseeing all of RATP Dev’s current operations in the western region, and will be thoroughly involved in new business development to help expand into other states in not only bus operations, but metro and light rail as well. Additionally, Smith will be collaborating with his colleagues in the East and Central regions to assist with ongoing national projects that assist in further building RATP Dev’s presence throughout all of North America.
