NCTD Executive Director Tucker retires

North County Transit District (NCTD) officials yesterday announced the retirement of Executive Director Matthew Tucker.

Tucker led the San Diego-area district for nearly 15 years after joining the agency in 2008. His retirement from NCTD — which is effective Sept. 1 — caps a more than 30-year career of serving public transit agencies, NCTD officials said in a news release.

"Matt has been a strong and steady hand at NCTD, a remarkable steward of our region’s transportation assets, and a national leader in the transit industry,” said NCTD Chair Jewel Edson. “He has served the San Diego region as a reliable champion for public transit and for the customers who rely on NCTD’s services every day.”   

When Tucker joined NCTD, the agency faced a projected five-year structural deficit of $80 million. He successfully implemented a comprehensive financial, business and personnel plan that eliminated the deficit, established financial reserves, and created a path toward eliminating all current long-term debts, including its pension obligations, within the next 15 years, agency officials said.

The NCTD operates the Coaster commuter-rail service.