Dorval R. Carter, Jr., a giant in the public transportation world, announced his retirement as President of the Chicago Transit Authority, effective Jan. 31. His retirement marks the end of a 40-year career in public transportation, including nearly 10 years leading CTA, the nation’s third-largest transit agency. But it marks a new chapter as he prepares for his new role as president and CEO of St. Anthony Hospital on Chicago’s West Side.
“The City of Chicago is grateful to President Dorval Carter for his decades of service with the Chicago Transit Authority,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “His leadership reimagined the movement of our city. His stewardship of the Red Line Extension project is just one of the notable achievements in his historic career.”
Carter’s journey at CTA began in 1984 when he joined the agency as a staff attorney. Over the years, he worked his way up, holding various leadership positions, including executive vice president and acting president. His experience spans nearly 15 years with the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration.
“Serving as president of this great agency has been an extraordinary privilege, and I am forever grateful for what has been the opportunity of a lifetime,” Carter said. “It has been an honor to work on behalf of CTA customers and to advance our mission in a city that I love so dearly.”
Under Carter’s leadership, CTA completed or began more than $11 billion in projects, including the $5.7 billion Red Line Extension, the largest capital construction project in the agency’s history. Other significant projects included the $2.1 billion first phase of the Red Purple Modernization Program and the $280 million renovation of the 95th/Dan Ryan Terminal.
According to the CTA, Carter also championed several equity-focused programs that garnered national attention:
- The All Stations Accessibility Program: This initiative has worked to make CTA’s rail stations fully accessible to people with mobility disabilities. The Federal Transit Administration modeled its own $1.75 billion accessibility program after CTA’s ASAP, which has secured over $740 million in funding over the past six years.
- CTA’s Second Chance Program: Created by Carter nearly two decades ago, this program offers opportunities to individuals with barriers to employment, especially those with justice-system involvement. Since 2011, more than 2,200 individuals have participated, with over 550 hired into full or part-time jobs at CTA.
- Diversity Programs Initiatives: Carter’s efforts have helped CTA become a leader in creating opportunities for small and disadvantaged business enterprises, making it one of the most productive agencies in the nation.
Carter’s leadership has also extended beyond CTA. In 2022, he was elected chair of the American Public Transportation Association, representing over 1,500 public and private sector organizations. He continues to serve as chair of APTA’s Bus Manufacturing Task Force and is a member of the Board of Directors for Mpact, a nonprofit focusing on transit, mobility, and land use.
Carter has received numerous accolades for his work, including the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award for Transportation Professional and Public Service from the Council of University Transportation Centers and the 2021 Outstanding Public Transportation Manager Award from APTA. CTA and Carter were recognized in 2021 with the highest honors in the North American public transportation industry.
As Carter transitions to a new role at Saint Anthony Hospital on Chicago’s West Side, he will continue a family legacy. Having served on the hospital’s board for over a decade, Carter will follow in the footsteps of his father, who worked there for 40 years.
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