New Orleans RTA Finalizes CEO Candidates for Vote
The board’s selection will determine the agency’s 2027 budget and approach to resolving ongoing legal and service challenges.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in People
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The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority board has narrowed its search for a new CEO to three finalists: Justin Augustine III, Mark Major, and Reginald Mason. The selected leader will assume the role following the 2026 resignation of Lona Edwards Hankins.
Why it matters
The RTA is currently navigating a period of significant operational and personnel instability, marked by a ongoing hostile work environment lawsuit and a federal citation for violating disability-rights laws. The new executive will be tasked with reconciling these legal challenges with a severely reduced service capacity.
The RTA currently operates 80 buses at peak service, a significant decrease from the 315 buses active pre-Katrina. Meanwhile, 12 current and former employees are involved in a pending lawsuit alleging a hostile work environment and discrimination.
The players
Justin Augustine III
One of three candidates selected as a finalist for the RTA CEO position.
Mark Major
One of three candidates selected as a finalist for the RTA CEO position.
Reginald Mason
One of three candidates selected as a finalist for the RTA CEO position.
Lona Edwards Hankins
The former RTA CEO who resigned in 2026 amid legal and operational challenges.
Helena Moreno
The Mayor of New Orleans who recommended that the RTA board include local natives in the candidate list.
The details
The incoming CEO will face the immediate operational challenge of managing a 2027 budget while rebuilding regional partnerships, particularly after the 2024 resignation of three Jefferson Parish board representatives. The agency is currently attempting to recover from a federal citation regarding disability-rights compliance and a leadership void created by the resignation of Lona Edwards Hankins. Finalists for the position presented their operational plans to the public during a recent meeting held at First Grace United Methodist Church.
Timeline
2024: Three Jefferson Parish representatives resigned from the RTA board.
August 2026: Private semifinalist interviews occurred.
October 26, 2026: Candidates spoke to residents at a public meeting.
October 27, 2026: The RTA Board of Commissioners selects the new CEO.
2027: The new CEO plans to implement a right-sized agency budget.
Market Landscape
The agency's current service levels mark a departure from the historical operational capacity of the organization before Hurricane Katrina. This leadership search follows a period of heightened scrutiny over service reliability and regional governance.
Business owners in the city should track the board's selection on October 27, as the new CEO's approach to the 2027 budget will dictate transit reliability and labor stability. Operators should prepare for potential shifts in transit-adjacent procurement as the agency works to restore its regional partnerships.
The takeaway
The RTA's ability to stabilize its leadership and settle pending legal claims will determine the viability of future municipal transit projects. Operators should monitor the board's meeting on October 27 to identify the incoming CEO's priorities regarding service capacity and compliance.
What happens next
The RTA Board of Commissioners is scheduled to select the new CEO on October 27, 2026.
Further reading
For more on local leadership changes, visit People.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NOLA.
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