At an introductory news conference, DART Board Chair Randall Bryant said the board knew about Jacksonville Transit Authority’s challenges and discussed them with Ford before approving his appointment. The DART board voted 9-6 in July to hire him.

Florida’s attorney general is investigating spending at the Jacksonville agency, including tuition reimbursements and consulting contracts. The inquiry includes a contract with a firm that employs Ford’s wife and has also consulted for DART on its Silver Line project, which opened in 2025. The investigation is ongoing; the information available does not establish wrongdoing by Ford.

Ford has also been asked to appear before the Jacksonville City Council as part of a separate review into how the agency developed a $39 million deficit, followed by service reductions and layoffs. He described the shortfall as the result of converging pressures on both revenue and expenses. Ford said he expects the Florida review to show that agency officials made sound decisions for the community and employees.

The leadership change comes as DART works to maintain support among its member cities. Three cities recently held elections on whether to leave the transit agency. Highland Park voters approved leaving in May, reducing DART’s membership to 12 cities.

Ford said he wants to strengthen relationships with those cities and improve safety on buses and light rail. He also pledged to hear from riders when the agency falls short, saying public input should guide operational improvements.

DART’s decisions affect transit access across the region, making the agency’s financial oversight and relationships with participating cities consequential for riders and taxpayers. Ford’s tenure begins with scrutiny of both his record in Jacksonville and the Dallas-area system’s own governance challenges.