Valley Metro Rail, operator of METRO light rail in Phoenix, has named Stephen R. Banta as its next chief executive officer, effective Jan. 20, 2010. He succeeds Rick Simonetta, who stepped down Dec. 31, 2009, after six years of service.

Banta comes to Phoenix from Portland, OR, where he was executive director of operations for the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet). He began his 23-year public transit career repairing railcars, and also served agencies in San Diego; Washington, DC; Los Angeles; Dallas; and Pittsburgh.

For APTA, he serves on the Bus and Paratransit CEOs Committee; Commuter Rail CEOs Subcommittee; Rail Conference Planning Subcommittee; and Rail Transit CEOs Subcommittee.

“We are extremely pleased to move forward with Mr. Banta,” said METRO Board Chairman and Phoenix Vice Mayor Tom Simplot. “The METRO light rail organization will benefit from his years of experience managing an operation that is a model in the transit industry.”

METRO General Counsel Mike Ladino will serve as acting CEO until Banta’s arrival.

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