February 27, 2019 — New Orleans
Transdev Promotes Justin Augustine to New National Role; RTA Board Approves New GM of Its Contract with Transdev
Transdev has promoted longtime senior executive Justin T. Augustine III to a new corporate position and recommended a new general manager of its contract with the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA). Today the RTA Board of Commissioners approved Transdev’s proposal that Darryll Simpson become the new general manager of Transdev’s contract with the RTA.
This change will go into effect on March 18. Mr. Augustine and Mr. Simpson will overlap for a period of time to ensure a seamless transition and continuity of business operations.
Justin Augustine has served as general manager for the New Orleans contract since 2009. His new role within the company, senior vice president of infrastructure and supply chain, will help Transdev deepen its relationships with transit agencies across the country, including helping secure funding from federal and state governments, and helping manage capital projects from initial concept through implementation. He will also be tasked with helping to create a “pipeline” process to recruit and develop young, diverse talent for future assignments in the transit industry, as well as to build an incubation program to bring new DBE businesses into the transit marketplace.
“We extend our sincere gratitude to Justin for his years of dedicated service in our contract with the RTA,” said Mike Setzer, president of the transit division. “We are proud of the many achievements that Justin, the Transdev team and the RTA Board accomplished in rebuilding the RTA system after Hurricane Katrina, bringing in new transit investments, adding new bus service and executing an extensive, community-driven strategic mobility planning process.”
Over the past 30 years, Darryll Simpson has held successively senior roles in the transit, paratransit and rail industry. He spent nearly 14 years at Metro North rail service in New York City in various management roles in operations and oversight of capital projects. He also served as superintendent of bus operations in Charlotte, N.C., a large transit system where he oversaw 350 buses on 50 routes. He then joined Transdev’s team in Nassau County, N.Y., on Long Island, as the director of paratransit operations where he re-built the service from the ground up. He and his team significantly improved service quality, reduced complaints, improved employee morale and strengthened relationships with caregivers. The service is now a model in the industry.
For the past several years, Mr. Simpson has gained extensive management experience in streetcar operations, first at the Atlanta streetcar, helping Transdev on a short term contract focused on bringing the city’s new streetcar to full compliance with GDOT and FTA regulations. Following that, he transitioned to Milwaukee as general manager leading the team that launched a new streetcar service under contract to the City. He worked closely with city leaders and other stakeholders, carefully leading the team and guiding the service to its official successful launch in November 2018.
“We are very pleased that the RTA Board has approved Darryll Simpson as the new general manager of our contract with the RTA because of his demonstrated leadership, technical expertise, and team-oriented management style,” said Mr. Setzer. “Daryll is a unique talent in that he has deep, hands-on experience with multiple modes operated by the RTA. He is dedicated to achieving excellence through continuous improvement. He’ll work to connect with passengers and advocacy groups and build trust. He will be a great addition to our team as the RTA prepares for its next chapter in improving public transit in New Orleans.”
