Shammout named as Chief Strategic Planning and Innovation Officer of Cincinnati Metro

Dec. 3, 2021
He spearheaded this year’s launch of the agency’s long-range service improvement plan, Reinventing Metro, and developed the transit authority’s five-year, comprehensive strategic plan.

Cincinnati Metro has promoted Khaled Shammout to Chief Strategic Planning and Innovation Officer, effective immediately.

Shammout joined Cincinnati Metro in 2018 as director of transit development before moving up to oversee the planning department as vice president. In addition to spearheading this year’s launch of the agency’s long-range service improvement plan, Reinventing Metro, he also developed the transit authority’s five-year, comprehensive strategic plan.

“I am honored and humbled by the faith our leadership have placed in me to oversee such a transformational period in Metro’s history,” said Shammout. “I am eager to continue the work we have started to reinvent public transit in our region.”

“Khaled’s vision and experience have been and will continue to be critical as we roll out Reinventing Metro and grow our service throughout Hamilton County,” said CEO and General Manager Darryl Haley. “I’m thrilled to see where he and his team take Metro in the years to come.”

Shammout has a lengthy resume in the transit, technology and planning sectors. Prior to joining Metro, he served as director of transit planning for Palm Beach County, Fla., where he managed all planning-related activities for Palm Tran, including scheduling, grants and DBE monitoring. He also has held leadership roles with Makkah Mass Rail Transit in Saudi Arabia and the Jacksonville (Fla.) Transportation Authority, in addition to serving as a planner for the Central Ohio Transit Authority in Columbus.

He holds Master of Science degrees in civil engineering and city and regional planning, as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in architecture, from The Ohio State University. Shammout is also the author of the book, The Implosion of Public Transit and the Case for an Infinite Game.