The longtime CEO of The Rapid has announced he will be leaving the organization when his contract is over in 18 months.
Peter Varga, 67, put in his notice to the Board of Directors this week that he will depart at the end of his contract Sept. 30, 2018.
After 20 years in the role, Varga is looking to spend more time with his family.
Varga was named executive director of the Grand Rapids Area Transportation Authority October 1997, and his title changed to CEO when GRATA became The Rapid in 2000.
He has overseen significant growth in The Rapid's footprint: in the past two decades, The Rapid has grown from 17 routes to 23, and ridership has more than tripled to 11.9 million annual trips.
Varga also led the 2014 launch of the $40 million Silver Line, the first bus rapid transit line in the state.