DART CEO Nadine Lee Steps Down, Will Not Seek Contract Extension

Nadine S. Lee informed the DART Board of Directors that she will not seek an extension of her current contract, concluding what the agency called a "tenure marked by operational transformation." Lee has served as president and CEO since July 2021. The announcement came late Tuesday during a DART board meeting after directors met in executive session.

In an interview, Lee said, "I have informed the board that I will not be seeking an extension to my contract. I will be leaving at a time to be determined." Board Chair Randall Bryant described the decision not to renew Lee's employment agreement, which is set to expire on September 30, as "mutually agreed" upon by both Lee and the DART Board of Directors.

"It has been the honor of my career to lead this extraordinary organization and to work alongside more than 3,800 dedicated employees who move North Texas forward every day," 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." Board Chair Randall Bryant thanked Lee for her leadership and commitment to the agency. "Nadine stepped into this role at a very challenging moment for the transit industry and helped guide DART through recovery while setting a clear strategic direction for the future," Bryant said. "Her leadership strengthened operations, improved safety and reliability, and positioned DART to remain a critical mobility partner for the region."

Bryant noted that he had been authorized to negotiate a structured separation agreement with Lee and that he had already started working on it. DART officials said a national recruitment process for the agency's next CEO will begin immediately, with details about interim leadership expected in the coming weeks.

During her tenure, the agency saw major changes, including a bus network redesign and the opening of the Silver Line regional rail service between Plano and DFW Airport in October 2025. DART under Lee also pushed to focus more heavily on operations, reliability, and customer service as the agency emerged from the pandemic era.

The departure lands at one of the most fraught moments in DART's recent history. Lee and DART leadership spent much of the last 18 months fighting threats to the agency's structure and funding. The agency narrowly avoided state legislation that Lee said would have "killed" the system, then faced a revolt from nearly half of its 13-member cities over the 1-cent sales tax revenue that makes up the backbone of DART's funding. At one point, six cities scheduled May withdrawal elections that could have reshaped the future of the regional transit system.

Those discussions centered on concerns from suburban cities that they contribute more in sales tax revenue than they receive in transit services. 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 funding imbalance hit close to home for Collin County commuters: in 2023, Plano taxpayers contributed $109 million to DART while approximately $44 million was spent within the city, according to an independent analysis by EY Associates. City officials said the imbalance intensified concerns about the value residents receive from the regional transit system, and Plano's director of policy and government relations, Andrew Fortune, told council members that annual payments to DART now exceed $120 million, more than the city spends on both its police department and economic development combined.

In May, voters in Addison, University Park and Highland Park will be asked to reconsider whether they want their city's dollars to continue funding DART services. Irving, Plano and Farmers Branch have cancelled their proposed withdrawal elections after striking an agreement with DART. The newly approved agreement introduces a phased financial adjustment intended to address those concerns while keeping Plano within the regional transit network, and under its terms, DART will return 10% of Plano's sales tax contributions to the city.

Lee's exit also comes with the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the horizon, an event expected to place added pressure on regional transit planning and operations across North Texas. "As a CEO, it's important for me to determine if I am the right leader for this time," Lee said. "I think, in my mind, it's important to recognize when somebody else should take the helm, and that's kind of where I am.