Floun'say Caver Named Interim RTA CEO Replacing Joe Calabrese

The public transit agency for Cuyahoga County has named Chief Operating Officer Floun'say Caver interim CEO and general manager to take over for Joe Calabrese when he steps down Sept. 1. 

Caver has been with the Greater Cleveland Regional Transportation Authority for 15 years.  His time there has included stints in the budget and traffic control offices and running the bus system’s East Cleveland district.

“It is a strong organization providing a vital service to the Greater Cleveland community,” Caver said to the RTA board of trustees Tuesday. “I welcome the opportunity to assist this board during this transition. And I’m confident in this board’s leadership and our resiliency.”

Caver takes over at a time of potentially dramatic change at the agency.

RTA is currently studying new revenue sources. They’ve also commissioned an audit by the Greater Cleveland Partnership and an economic impact study by Cleveland State University.

Caver hinted that the next step could be a tax increase on next year’s ballot.

“Those studies will be the pillars of providing the community with objective facts as it decides upon the future of RTA,” said Caver. 

Calabrese will stay on full time until March as a senior adviser and then for another year as a part time adviser.

The RTA board is in the process of hiring a permanent CEO.