SFRTA's Stephens to retire at year's end

South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) Executive Director Jack Stephens last week announced that he'll retire when his contract ends Dec. 31.

During Stephens' tenure, the agency opened its first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified Tri-Rail station. Last month, the agency achieved the highest on-time performance in its 29-year history.

"These past 15 years have been filled with many challenges and accomplishments and I have been proud to have been a part of them," Stephens said in a press release. "We are well on our way to taking Tri-Rail directly into downtown Miami, greatly enhancing our service to our passengers."

Stephens has served as the SFRTA's leader since February 2014 after working as deputy executive director for more than a decade. Before joining SFRTA, he was interim general manager and chief executive officer of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority.

SFRTA has hired KL2 Connect to conduct a national search for Stephens' successor.