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RTC taps longtime executive Angela Castro as next CEO amid $118M budget shortfall

The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada unanimously approved Angela Castro, an 18-year agency veteran, to succeed retiring CEO M.J. Maynard-Carey starting Jan. 15, 2027. Castro inherits a $118 million budget gap that could threaten bus routes and reliability.

RTC taps longtime executive Angela Castro as next CEO amid $118M budget shortfall

The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada will promote from within to lead one of the nation's largest public transit agencies, naming longtime executive Angela Castro as its next chief executive officer.

The RTC Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Thursday morning to approve Castro's appointment, the agency announced Friday. Castro, currently the agency's deputy CEO, will officially take the helm on Jan. 15, 2027, succeeding CEO M.J. Maynard-Carey, who retires the day before.

"Angela understands this agency, this community and the critical role transportation plays in Southern Nevada's future," Clark County Commissioner and RTC Board Chair Justin Jones said in a statement. "Throughout her career, she has demonstrated an ability to bring people together, navigate complex challenges, and deliver results for our region."

Castro brings 18 years of experience at the RTC, where she has held leadership roles in strategy, policy and marketing. Before joining the agency, she worked in marketing and media positions at the Las Vegas Monorail, MGM International and the Southern Nevada Water Authority. A native of Guam, Castro moved to Las Vegas in 1998 to earn a bachelor's degree in public relations from UNLV. She later obtained an MBA from Regis University and completed the Vegas Chamber's Leadership Las Vegas program.

RTC officials credited Castro with helping advance major mobility and infrastructure initiatives, including efforts to secure fuel revenue indexing that funds roadway projects across Southern Nevada and additional federal infrastructure investments. As deputy CEO, she also promoted contracting opportunities for small businesses through the agency's RiSE program and oversaw government affairs, media, marketing, procurement, safety and security, and transportation demand management.

Castro has served on community boards including the Asian Community Development Council and the Las Vegas Stadium Authority's Baseball Stadium Oversight Committee. In 2018, Vegas Inc. named her one of 40 people under 40 making a significant impact in the community.

She takes over at a critical moment. The RTC faces a projected $118 million budget shortfall in the coming years that agency officials say could threaten some bus routes and the system's overall reliability. Earlier this year, the RTC floated fare increases and route changes to close a sliver of that gap. It would have been the first fare hike in 15 years, but many transit riders pushed back, arguing the move would not improve the agency's budget, reliability or safety and would not encourage more people to use public transportation.

Maynard-Carey, who led the RTC since November 2019 after also serving as deputy CEO, steered the agency through the COVID-19 pandemic and has overseen gradual ridership increases since 2021. She recently touted safety improvements, including a nearly 29% drop in passenger-on-operator assaults this year.

Castro, joined by her family as she accepted the appointment on Nov. 12, thanked the board and her predecessor and committed to strengthening the transportation network and improving safety along routes.

"I am incredibly grateful to the RTC Board of Commissioners for their trust and confidence in me and to M.J. Maynard-Carey for her leadership and mentorship," Castro said. "As Southern Nevada continues to grow, the RTC will remain focused on strengthening our transportation network, supporting our region's economy, and connecting people to the places and opportunities that matter most."

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