CDTA CEO Carm Basile Announces Retirement

A national search firm to begin process to find successor

ALBANY, NY (June 26, 2024) Chief Executive Officer of the Capital District Transportation Authority, Carm Basile announced he will retire at the end of 2024. 

“It has been a privilege and an honor to be part of CDTA for the past 43 years and lead the organization for the last 15,” said Carm Basile, CDTA CEO. “The choice to retire was not an easy decision, but the time was right for a leadership transition. I want to thank our Board of Directors, the CDTA family of employees and retirees, and the community for their support to make CDTA a regional mobility company.”

Basile started his career at CDTA as a Transportation Planner in 1981. Over the next 43 years, he was promoted several times to positions of increased responsibility. In October 2009, Basile was named CEO of CDTA. He is only the sixth CEO in the company’s 54-year history. 

Over the last 15 years, Basile has focused on making the CDTA strong, respected, and recognizable. From buses to branding, Basile has raised the profile of the Authority, ensuring the organization matters just as much to those who will never ride with CDTA as those who ride every day.

“The Board of Directors is proud of the achievements and leadership Carm has provided over the last 15 years as CEO,” said Jayme Lahut, Board Chairman. “He set an aggressive agenda and made it his life’s work to provide better mobility options to the people of the Capital Region. We are looking forward to honoring and celebrating his achievements over the next several months. The Board is focused on finding the right candidate to lead CDTA into the next chapter of its existence.”

Leading the organization through a historic time of change and uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic proved to be one of the most transformational times in the organization’s 54-year history. With ridership hitting all-time lows after the pandemic hit, Basile worked over the last four years to add services and fine-tune the system to bring ridership back to 110% of pre-pandemic levels. CDTA closed fiscal year 2023 with 16.5 million rides, the highest ridership count in the last 10 years. All of this while growing the brand, partnering on economic development projects, and introducing more innovative mobility options to the Capital Region. 

Under Basile’s leadership, CDTA has introduced, three Bus Rapid Transit lines, the only system in upstate New York to operate Bus Rapid Transit. The CDTA network of BRT services is one of the most recognizable advancements for the Authority. At the same time, CDTA’s successful Universal Access program, which now totals more than 50 partners and accounts for 35% of ridership and 40% of revenue. This program is a foundational element of the CDTA system, and it anchors the CDTA customer revenue line. 

Basile also introduced a regional bike share program called CDPHP Cycle! and an electric car share program called DRIVE, and a micro transit service called FLEX. All these programs are unique to CDTA, and they have been instrumental in the transformation of CDTA from a bus company to a regional mobility manager. 

Born and raised in Springfield, Massachusetts, Basile graduated from Worcester State University with a bachelor’s degree in urban planning. Basile resides in Latham with his wife, Sheila. They have two adult sons and one grandchild.