MTA administrator resigns; former delegate to fill role

Gov. Wes Moore‘s administration confirmed Tuesday that Holly Arnold, the administrator of the Maryland Transit Administration, will resign effective Sept. 1.

“Serving as MTA Administrator has been the highlight of my career and I am grateful for the opportunity to lead this agency over the last five years,” Arnold said in a statement. “While I will miss the amazing MTA team, I am excited for what the future holds and look forward to spending more time with my family.”

Arnold has been with the MTA for over 13 years, beginning as a capital program manager overseeing projects and management of local bus, freight rail, light rail, the Maryland Area Regional Commuter rail, Maryland’s metro system and the mobility paratransit service. She cycled through a series of positions within the agency until she was appointed as the head of the MTA by former Gov. Larry Hogan in June 2021.

Moore announced Wednesday that Tony Bridges, one of his deputy legislative officers, will assume Arnold’s position when her resignation goes into effect.

“I’ve always been a dedicated advocate for public transit and the Maryland Transit Administration, and leading the agency now allows me to put the very policies I’ve championed alongside this administration into practice,” Bridges said in a statement.

Bridges is a former member of the Maryland House of Delegates and previously served as an assistant secretary at the Maryland Department of Transportation, where he also worked as a senior adviser to the secretary and chief of staff for the MTA.

“Tony Bridges brings a rare combination of hands-on transit experience, legislative insight, and an unwavering commitment to Maryland,” Moore stated. “He understands that transit is the ultimate connector to opportunity, and I am confident that under his leadership, the Maryland Transit Administration will build a safer, more reliable, and more equitable transportation network for our entire state.”

In a statement to The Daily Record, Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Katie Thompson called Arnold “a tireless champion for transit” who modernized Baltimore‘s light rail and upgraded Maryland’s metro system.

During her five years as the agency administrator, Arnold oversaw large-scale transit projects like the long-delayed Purple Line rail in the Washington, D.C., suburbs, as well as the developing stages of Baltimore’s Red Line.

Moore, a Democrat, announced the revival of the Red Line, a 14-mile east-west transit project in Baltimore, in June 2023. In May, the MTA held open houses to determine how the project should be phased in and whether it should remain a light rail project or transition to a rapid bus line to lessen the cost, which is projected to be between $4.7 billion to $9 billion.

“During her time at the helm of the MTA, Administrator Arnold faced challenges head-on and worked tirelessly to improve service for all riders,” Moore said. “Our residents, employers and families have seen the impact of her efforts first-hand, and we are grateful to Administrator Arnold for her diligent service to our state.”

Moore administration’s has seen a few changes lately. Last week, he named Will Tilburg, former head of the Maryland Cannabis Administration, his chief legislative officer. Tilburg succeeds Jeremy Baker, who is changing roles to acting director of the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency.

This story has been updated with the Bridges announcement.

Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly reported from which agency Arnold is departing. We regret the error.