The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) governing board has officially confirmed Dave Kubicek as the next executive director of Tri-Rail, with Kubicek set to assume the role on August 31, 2026.

Who is Dave Kubicek and what does he bring to Tri-Rail?

Dave Kubicek arrives with more than 35 years of experience in the transit industry, most recently serving as executive vice president of capital construction engineering design at the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (CapMetro) in Austin, Texas. At CapMetro, Kubicek led Project Connect, an ambitious and wide-reaching expansion of Austin's public transit network that has reshaped how that city approaches regional mobility.

  • More than 35 years of transit industry experience across Kubicek's career.
  • Most recent role: executive vice president of capital construction engineering design at CapMetro, Austin, Texas.
  • Led Project Connect, CapMetro's transformative regional transit expansion program.

Why does Tri-Rail have a new executive director now?

Tri-Rail has been operating under interim leadership since March 2026, when former executive director Dave Dech departed to lead Indiana's South Shore Lines commuter rail system. Interim director Diane Hernandez Del Calvo has guided the agency through that leadership gap, and Kubicek's August 31, 2026 start date will mark the end of that transitional period.

  • Former director Dave Dech left in early 2026 to lead Indiana's South Shore Lines.
  • Diane Hernandez Del Calvo has served as interim director since March 2026.
  • The SFRTA board's confirmation of Kubicek closes a months-long leadership vacancy.

What does Kubicek's appointment mean for South Florida commuters?

Kubicek's background in large-scale capital construction and transit expansion positions him to advance Tri-Rail's ongoing efforts to grow its footprint across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. The agency has long pursued expanded service, including a push to bring Tri-Rail trains into downtown Miami's Brightline station, and a director with deep infrastructure delivery experience could accelerate those ambitions.

What happens between now and August 31, 2026?

Diane Hernandez Del Calvo will continue to lead the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority until Kubicek's start date of August 31, 2026, ensuring continuity of operations across the tri-county commuter rail system during the remainder of the transition period.

Original reporting on this appointment was first published by Mass Transit Magazine.