DART Advances Leadership Continuity, Appointing Luis Montoya to Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer

Erin Hockman, CEO of the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART), today announced an expanded leadership role for Luis Montoya, who will serve as Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer. Montoya, who previously served as Chief Operating and Planning Officer, joined DART in 2018 from the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and brings nearly two decades of community transit experience.

Hockman said Montoya’s leadership and expertise will be critical as DART moves from implementing a new bus network into its next phase while ensuring strong leadership continuity. “This expanded role requires delivering on today’s priorities while helping define the future—and Luis brings the experience and perspective to do both,” she said. “He’s a trusted colleague who has earned the respect of our employees, union partners, and the communities we serve. I’m grateful to have him in this key leadership position.” 

Montoya has held several leadership roles at DART, including Planning and Development Manager, Chief Planning Officer, and most recently Chief Operating and Planning Officer, where he has overseen transportation, facilities, fleet, and planning, as well as the new Operations & Maintenance Facility project. Known for pairing strategic leadership with a roll-up-the-sleeves approach, he has helped guide the organization through a period of significant change and progress. He has led innovative service pilots and partnerships, helped navigate the pandemic, and played a key role in shaping a new network redesign set to launch in June as a result of Reimagine DART.

“This is an exciting and important time for DART, and I’m grateful for Erin’s confidence in me,” said Montoya. “We care deeply about the people we serve, and we believe in our employees—they’re some of the most caring and dedicated people I know. As our service continues to evolve, our focus remains on listening and being responsive to our communities so people can get where they need to go and connect to the opportunities that matter in their lives.”

Montoya holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from University of California, Santa Barbara, and a master’s degree in city planning from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Luis and his wife, Niki, have two children and live in Des Moines.