Former Maryland Delegate Tony Bridges has been appointed as the next administrator of the Maryland Transit Administration.
Effective Sept. 1, Bridges will succeed the MTA’s current administrator, Holly Arnold, who announced Tuesday that she is retiring after more than five years of leading the state agency.
“Tony Bridges brings a rare combination of hands-on transit experience, legislative insight, and an unwavering commitment to Maryland,” Gov. Wes Moore said in a statement. “From his time in the House of Delegates to his leadership at MDOT and within my administration, Tony has proven that he knows how to deliver real results for Marylanders.”
Bridges represented Maryland’s 41st District, including Baltimore City, in the House of Delegates from January 2019 to May 2023. During that time, he served as a member of the House Appropriations Committee.
After leaving the state legislature, Bridges went on to work as an Assistant Secretary in the Maryland Department of Transportation, Senior Advisor to the Secretary, and Chief of Staff for the MTA. He currently serves as Moore’s Deputy Legislative Officer.
“He understands that transit is the ultimate connector to opportunity, and I am confident that under his leadership, the Maryland Transit Administration will build a safer, more reliable, and more equitable transportation network for our entire state,” Moore said.
Bridges expressed excitement to lead the agency and continue his support of Maryland’s public transit options.
“I’ve always been a dedicated advocate for public transit and the Maryland Transit Administration, and leading the agency now allows me to put the very policies I’ve championed alongside this administration into practice,” he said in a statement. “I am eager to continue the work and advance Governor Moore’s transit agenda of providing safe, efficient, and reliable transit across Maryland with world-class customer service.”
Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Katie Thomson thanked outgoing administrator Arnold for her more than 13 years of service with MTA, including over five years as the agency’s chief.
“During her more than 13 years of service with MTA, Administrator Arnold has been a tireless champion for transit, advancing initiatives such as modernizing the light rail, implementing transformative upgrades to the metro subway system, building the Purple Line and infusing a can-do spirit in her work and support of our phenomenal transit employees,” Thomson said in a statement. “We wish her the best in her next chapter. We look forward to Tony Bridges rejoining the Maryland Department of Transportation team and using his deep transportation experience and enthusiasm for the Baltimore-region to help us deliver world-class transit services.”
