SFRTA installs Kubicek as executive director

The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority's (SFRTA) governing board named Dave Kubicek its next executive director at a special meeting on July 24.

Kubicek will begin serving in the role on Aug. 31, replacing Deputy Executive Director Diane Hernandez Del Calvo, who has served as interim executive director since March 2026. Former SFRTA Executive Director David Dech resigned in January 2026 to become president and general manager of the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District.

Kubicek has more than 35 years of leadership experience in the passenger-rail and public transportation industries. Most recently, he was executive vice president of capital construction engineering design at CapMetro in Austin, Texas, leading the agency's capital construction, engineering, design, rolling stock, sustainability and real estate initiatives.

Kubicek's career also includes prior senior leadership roles with the Austin Transit Partnership, MTA Metro-North Railroad, MTA Long Island Rail Road, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Dallas Area Rapid Transit and Parsons.

"Dave Kubicek brings decades of executive leadership, technical expertise, and a proven ability to deliver complex transit initiatives," said SFRTA Chair Raquel Regalado in a press release. “As we work to strengthen the agency's financial foundation and plan for the next decade of commuter rail service, [his] extensive experience leading major transit systems and capital programs will help position Tri-Rail for continued success and growth."