Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) President and CEO Nadine Lee announced she plans to step down and will not seek an extension of her contract, according to an official agency news release. Lee has led the agency since July 2021. She said her tenure has focused on improving DART’s reliability, s afety, and cleanliness. Her departure comes at a pivotal moment for the transit system, as it faces ongoing tensions with several member cities over funding, governance, and service levels. Nearly half of DART’s 13-member cities — including Plano, Irving, Farmers Branch, Addison, Highland Park, and University Park — have taken steps toward possible withdrawal, with some scheduling votes on whether to leave the agency. Those discussions have centered on concerns from suburban cities that they contribute more in sales tax revenue than they receive in transit services and calls for changes in how the agency is governed. In response, Dallas leaders recently approved a plan to reduce the city’s control of the DART board — an effort aimed at keeping member cities from leaving and stabilizing the regional system. The transit agency has said that if cities withdraw, it could lead to service cuts and broader impacts across the transit network. In a statement, Lee said, “Together, we navigated one of the most challenging periods in transit history and emerged stronger, more focused, and better positioned to serve our growing region.” Officials did not announce an exact timeline for Lee’s departure but said she will remain in the role during a transition period. The statement said DART will begin the recruitment process immediately and announce an interim CEO and transition plan soon. ...read more read less