Taulby Roach is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Bi-State Development. As the President and CEO, Roach oversees an organization that is a catalyst for economic growth and development in the St. Louis metropolitan region, with four diverse business enterprises, approximately 2,200 employees across the organization, and an operational budget of $369 million and a three-year capital budget of $726 million. Bi-State Development is able to achieve its mission of improving lives in the bi-state area by delivering innovative regional economic initiatives and public services through its enterprises: Metro Transit, Gateway Arch Riverfront, St. Louis Downtown Airport, and St. Louis Regional Freightway.
Roach is focused on providing reliable public transit services to the Missouri-Illinois bi-state area and building a regional foundation for economic development, equity and growth. His top priority is improving passenger safety and security on the Metro Transit system and strengthening public confidence in all of Bi-State Development’s services. With financial support from private partners in the St. Louis region along with public monies, he launched the Secure Platform Plan – a $52 million safety and security project to control access to the platforms at all 38 MetroLink stations in the City of St. Louis, St. Louis County and St. Clair County in Illinois. Security gates and fencing are being installed, with six stations completed as of January 2025. This important project for the region is scheduled to be completed in January 2026.
Since joining Bi-State Development in 2019, Roach has kept the average annual budget expense growth under 2% for the last six fiscal years. Holding the line on expenses is essential so that Bi-State Development and its enterprises can be financially viable in the future.
Under his leadership, Bi-State Development was awarded $196 million in federal funding for new MetroLink light rail cars. Fifty-five new MetroLink cars will be manufactured as part of a $390.4 million contract, with delivery of the new vehicles beginning in early 2027. Many MetroLink cars are more than 30 years old.
Roach earned his bachelor’s degree in history at Regis University and his master’s degree in public policy and administration from the University of Missouri. He also earned the Executives in State and Local Government Certificate Program from Harvard University.
Roach is a frequent public transit rider and an avid cyclist. He and his wife, Theresa, live in St. Louis.
