Maryland governor appoints Smith MTA administrator

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley has appointed Robert Smith as the new administrator of the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), effective today.

Smith succeeds Ralign Wells, who will become director of the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport on July 1.

Smith has more than 30 years of transit experience, including stints at Dallas Area Rapid Transit and the Chicago Transit Authority. Most recently, he served as vice president of operations at National Express Corp.

Previously, former Maryland Transportation Secretary John Porcari named Smith MTA administrator in July 2002. At that time, Smith was assigned the task of restructuring the agency and implementing safety procedures throughout the MTA. He remained in the post until November 2004.

As head of the MTA today, Smith is responsible for implementing new MARC service improvements, including weekend service on the Penn Line and modernization of MTA's core bus service.

"I am excited to be joining an administration that is fully committed to public transportation," Smith said in a press release issued by the governor's office.

Earlier this month, O'Malley also appointed James Smith Jr. secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation, effective today. He will oversee the Transportation Infrastructure Investment Act of 2013's $4.4 billion in new investments over the next six years, as well as manage a 10,000-employee department.