MARTA restructures leadership team

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) has restructured its executive team to better manage ridership growth and service expansion.

The agency on Monday announced it appointed Frank Rucker chief of capital programs, expansion and innovation; Luz Borrero, chief administrative officer; and David Springstead, chief of rail operations.

A professional engineer, Rucker worked on the multibillion-dollar capital improvement program at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and has almost 40 years of experience in infrastructure enhancements. Borrero was deputy chief operating officer for DeKalb County and the city of Atlanta.

Springstead  — who's served MARTA for more than 20 years — now will transition from the head of capital programs to overseeing the daily operation and maintenance of MARTA's heavy- and light-rail systems.

"My goal has always been to be purposeful about building a leadership team with the right experience to improve operations and expand [our] footprint," said MARTA General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Parker in a press release. "Ultimately, everyone in our organization must be fully committed to improving the overall customer experience and we now have the right people in place working with me to accomplish that."

Meanwhile, the Atlanta Business Chronicle recently named Parker — who’s led MARTA since March 2018 — one of the top 19 local leaders to watch in 2019. He also was named a 2019 Notable Georgian by Georgia Trend Magazine, which annually lists the state's most influential civic, community and business leaders.

"As we continue to move our state forward, I look forward to working collectively and collaboratively with the community and our state's leaders to continue to enhance mobility across the region and spur economic development opportunities across Georgia," said Parker.