Jenny Barket will join the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) as the new chief of staff, effective May 15.
The selection follows a nationwide search.
Serving as a senior advisor to DART President and CEO Nadine Lee, Barket will lead a variety of strategic, tactical and operational initiatives in her new role, focusing on issues that have an agency-wide impact.
"We are thrilled that Jenny will join DART as the chief of staff," said Lee. "Her impressive leadership style, comprehensive experience, knowledge of the public transportation industry and strategic understanding of operations will bring DART to a whole new level of service for the DFW region."
As a director at WSP USA, Barket served as a strategic advisor to projects across the country, including the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority's BART - Silicon Valley Phase II Extension, the Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission SunRail Transition Study and the New Jersey Transit Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Extension. Barket also served as legal counsel to the United States Department of Transportation's Build America Bureau, the Federal Transit Administration and the Regional Transportation District in Denver, Colorado.
"It is an honor and a privilege to join the executive leadership team at DART," said Barket. "This is such an exciting time at the agency. With the launch of DART's New Bus Network in January, as well as a new laser focus on the entire customer journey, I'm looking forward to applying my experience and passion for public transportation to serving the people of Dallas and surrounding DART communities by providing my full support to the DART Board of Directors, Ms. Lee, her leadership team, and the entire DART staff in fulfilling their mission of improving the future for our riders here at DART."
Barket holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Florida, and Juris Doctor and Master of Laws degrees from Duke University Law School.
