Greater Cleveland RTA Names Top Choice For New CEO

CLEVELAND — The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority has started negotiations with India Birdsong to become RTA's new Chief Executive Officer and general manager.

"We interviewed nine excellent candidates for this job over the course of many months,” said RTA Board member Georgine Welo. “India stood apart. She’s personable, innovative and she understands public transit at every level, from the bus garage to the executive offices. Cleveland transit riders are about to get a champion and a passionate advocate.”

The news of negotiations with Birdsong was met with optimism by the Clevelanders for Public Transit (CPT) group, who said they hoped her leadership would bring positive changes to the Greater Cleveland RTA.

"Because of reduced revenues as a result of population sprawl, reduced state funding and the loss of Medicaid Managed Care sales tax revenue, RTA has reduced service and increased fares. As the value proposition of transit has worsened, many riders have found other options and RTA has experienced record low ridership," CPT said in a statement. The organization added that it hoped Birdsong would end the downward cycle by seeking creative funding solutions and improving the rider-oriented culture of RTA.

Birdsong would succeed Joseph Calabrese, who stepped down in September. Calabrese spent 18 years as RTA's CEO. The search process for his replacement was not without controversy. CPT argued that the Greater Cleveland RTA should have more quickly initiated its search process for a new leader and should have better engaged the community on the process.

However, CPT thanked the Greater Cleveland RTA for including them in the search process and for including rider input into the final job description for the CEO.

Floun'say R. Caver has been serving as Interim CEO in Calabrese's absence. If Birdsong is hired, Caver would return to his role as Chief Operating Officer.

Birdsong is currently the Chief Operating Officer for WeGo Public Transit, Nashville's public transportation authority. She oversees 550 employees, including union and administrative staffers, two garages and maintenance shops, a commuter rail line and a downtown transfer central hub.