DURHAM, NC (May 12, 2025) – GoTriangle, the Research Triangle region’s transit system serving Durham, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and surrounding communities, has announced that Dr. Brian Smith has been named the agency’s newest President and Chief Executive Officer, effective June 1, 2025. A formal introductory event with Smith will be held next month.
Smith comes to GoTriangle after more than 16 years at Hampton Roads Transit (HRT), Virginia’s largest multi-modal agency outside of the Washington, D.C. Metro area. At HRT he served 13 years in C-Suite roles, rising from an entry-level position to Deputy CEO, collaborating with senior managers across all functional areas for day-to-day administration and operations.
"Brian impressed all of us with his experience and his emphasis on collaborative leadership. He is the right person at the right time to lead GoTriangle," said Board Chair Mary-Ann Baldwin. "With his focus on strategic planning and partnerships, he will do a great job leading our organization as we reinvent ourselves and move forward with big ideas that will better serve our region."
Smith joins GoTriangle at an exciting time in the agency’s history. It recently finalized a Strategic Plan that positions GoTriangle to best serve a region experiencing tremendous population growth and transit planning challenges. The Raleigh Union Bus Facility – commonly referred to as RUS Bus – is one of the ways that GoTriangle is proactively facing the demand for enhanced transportation options. The RUS Bus station will open in Downtown Raleigh later this summer and will support increased transit service downtown and allow convenient access to Raleigh Union Station rail service.
GoTriangle also recently selected the master developer for the new Triangle Mobility Hub, a transformative 19-acre, mixed-use community located within Research Triangle Park (RTP). Anchored by a state-of-the-art, multi-modal GoTriangle transit center, the project will redefine how residents and visitors connect, live, work and play across the region.
In addition, the agency routinely reviews its service route offerings and adjusts for time and efficiency. As part of the service change process, GoTriangle will soon offer its first ever 15-minute service along the 400 Route between Chapel Hill and Durham.
“This region is so dynamic, it’s essential to have a mix of reliable transportation options,” said Smith. “Thousands of people rely on GoTriangle every day to provide vital connections and get them where they need to go. That need is only going to grow in the years to come.”
Smith, who began his public transportation career in 2008, is well suited for the role in leading an organization like GoTriangle. He is a U.S. Army veteran, having served as a Stinger Missile Team Chief with the First Infantry Division. He's led several strategic initiatives with public, private and non-profit stakeholders, including garnering more than $32 million annually in new investments to expand regional high-frequency bus service and improve customer amenities, technology, safety and security, and bus fleet reliability.
Smith has completed executive training through MIT Sloan and holds a doctorate in organizational leadership, in addition to a seminary degree, from Regent University. As an adjunct professor, he’s taught graduate courses in leadership and administrative ethics. In 1999, he was a Delta International Scholar and studied abroad in Belgium. His dissertation focused on leadership in collaborative regional networks. He also has a master’s degree in public policy (Regent) and an advanced certificate in public administration from Old Dominion University with an emphasis on public budgeting and finance.
“We need strong regional collaboration to be successful and that’s something I’m deeply committed to. GoTriangle is right there at the heart of it, and it will be a great honor to work with the Board, community stakeholders and GoTriangle’s dedicated staff to achieve the agency’s vision going forward.”
“I have no doubt in my mind that Brian is the absolute best person to lead GoTriangle into the next era of growth and innovation,” said Byron Smith, Acting President/CEO. “His experience as a leader and his dedication to public transportation are second to none.”