Michael Ford
Chief Executive Officer
Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan
Detroit, Michigan, USA
Michael Ford is Chief Executive Officer of the Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan. Michael
is responsible for carrying out the Authority’s mission; for the planning, coordination, development and
operations of all RTA efficient local and regional services; as well as passing a referendum in 2016.
Michael consults and collaborates with leadership from government entities, stakeholder and
community partners. Michael has more than 30 years experience with leadership roles in both public
and private transportation. Michael holds a BA in Sociology and Philosophy from Pacific University in
Forest Grove, Oregon, and an MBA from City University in Seattle, Washington. Prior to coming to the
RTA, Michael was the CEO at the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority.
In the past year Michael led a governance change which resulted in the Ann Arbor Area Transportation
Authority expanding from one jurisdiction (City of Ann Arbor) to three (adding the City of Ypsilanti and
Ypsilanti Township). Under his leadership at the AAATA fixed-route bus service was expanded yielding
record ridership and national recognition, a successful van pool program was launched, an airport
shuttle program was created through a public-private partnership, and he oversaw the completion of
the new LEED gold certified Blake Transit Center. In early May 2014, voters in the three jurisdictions
approved a millage to expand transportation in the greater Ann Arbor area by a 3-1 vote.
Michael was raised in Seattle, Washington and now lives in the city of Detroit, Michigan. Michael has
previously served on many boards in Portland, Oregon where he was the Director of Transportation
Operations for TriMet, the Portland area transportation service. He has also authored books to help the
refugee and immigrant populations, many of which are in a variety of languages to help provide access
to vital services. Michael has served in leadership roles on several boards of international, national and
local organizations. He is currently serving on the Board of Directors for the Washtenaw Housing
Alliance, the Business Development Committee for Ann Arbor SPARK, and three national panels for the
Transportation Cooperative Research Program; serving in a leadership role on at least one of the panels.
Michael’s passions are cycling, working out, world travel, and jazz music.