Tri-Rail Enters a New Era as Dave Kubicek Takes the Helm Amid Record Ridership and a New Funding Strategy
On August 31, Dave J. Kubicek started his new role as the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) Executive Director. Kubicek brings over 35 years of executive leadership in the passenger rail and public transportation industry. The national search for the new executive director was led by Interim Deputy Executive Director Diane Hernandez Del Calvo.
Kubicek joins SFRTA as the agency emerges from a major funding crisis and begins pursuing a longer-term strategy designed to reduce Tri-Rail's reliance on state operating support while generating new revenue from its assets and surrounding development.
“As we work to strengthen the agency's financial foundation and plan for the next decade of commuter rail service, Dave Kubicek's extensive experience leading major transit systems and capital programs will help position Tri-Rail for continued success and growth," said SFRTA Governing Board Chair Commissioner Raquel A. Regalado.
A Transit Veteran Takes the Helm at Tri-Rail
With over three decades of executive leadership experience in the passenger rail and public transportation industry, Kubicek joins SFRTA after serving as Executive Vice President of Capital Construction Engineering Design at CapMetro in Austin, Texas.
While at CapMetro, Kubicek’s role focused on strengthening federal and state partnerships, which will be particularly helpful as Tri-Rail explores the potential creation of a Transportation Improvement District (TID) along the Tri-Rail corridor.
Kubicek worked with the Austin Transit Partnership and the City of Austin on Project Connect, a voter-approved referendum to expand and improve the public transportation network in Central Texas. He served at CapMetro overseeing major capital construction, engineering, design, rolling stock, sustainability and real-estate initiatives, and previously held a senior role with Austin Transit Partnership.
Ensuring readiness for major transit projects could directly correlate with the new strategy Tri-Rail is undertaking over the next decade as SFRTA finds ways to reduce its reliance on state funding. His experience with programs like Project Connect could also help with last-mile projects similar to the West Palm Move project in Downtown West Palm Beach, which connects with Tri-Rail.
Growing Ridership Strengthens Tri-Rail’s Regional Role
Kubicek takes over SFRTA following record-breaking ridership numbers for Tri-Rail during the World Cup match days. During the World Cup, Tri-Rail averaged approximately 14,000 weekday rides in June, while World Cup match days pushed ridership above 15,000 on June 15 and to nearly 17,000 on June 24.
In order to meet the demand, Tri-Rail added express trains and the ability to transfer at the Golden Glades station with a shuttle service. In addition to record numbers centered around World Cup ridership, Tri-Rail achieved record numbers of ridership in 2025.
Kubicek is inheriting a Tri-Rail system that has seen major wins and innovative strategizing over the past two years. Together with his experience at CapMetro, Tri-Rail has the ability to transform that regional impact for transit and improve transportation overall.
Leading Tri-Rail Into Its Next Decade
As South Florida continues to attract more companies, venture capital firms, and residents, increased transportation systems and innovative transit projects will be critical to meet the demand. Under Kubicek’s leadership, his experience has the potential to bring Tri-Rail to new heights.
As South Florida continues attracting companies, investors and talent, transportation increasingly becomes an economic-development issue rather than simply a mobility issue. Tri-Rail's 73.5-mile corridor connects employment and business centers across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, giving the system the potential to help South Florida's individual innovation hubs function as a more interconnected regional economy.
For Tri-Rail, the opportunity extends beyond increasing ridership. Transit-oriented development and last-mile connections could allow the Tri-Rail system to play a greater role in South Florida's economic growth.
Kubicek's experience overseeing capital planning, infrastructure and transit expansion comes as SFRTA is considering how its existing assets can support a more financially sustainable, and interconnected transportation system.
Tri-Rail enters a new era under Executive Director Dave Kubicek as growing ridership, new funding strategies, and regional development opportunities reshape the future of South Florida transit.