PROVIDENCE — The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority’s board approved a five-year contract for newly appointed CEO Chris Durand at its Feb. 27 meeting.

The contract will give Durand an annual salary of $178,000, plus benefits. The board will also have the option to increase Durand’s salary and extend his contract before its completion.

“I would like to again thank the board of directors for entrusting me to lead RIPTA,” Durand said in a statement. “I am excited about the work ahead to attract new riders, partner with businesses to provide transportation options, create a new bus hub and improve the experience for our riders.”

Last spring, Durand took the helm at RIPTA as interim CEO following the resignation of his predecessor Scott Avedesian — at the time Avedesian was making $181,785 annually on a two year contract. In November, the board voted to place Durand in the CEO role permanently after an official search process was completed.

Durand has spent most of his career at RIPTA. A University of Rhode Island graduate, Durand initially landed at the authority in 2014, working his way up to chief financial officer before taking on the role of CEO. Durand told ecoRI News on a recent episode of the Blab Lab that he was still getting used to stepping away from his spreadsheets.

“I think you’ve got to have a feel for what’s going on,” he said in the interview, “so, it’s important to be out, go for a bus ride, and go to the garages.”

Durand avoided an $18 million deficit last year and turned around a driver shortage that threatened to cut service, but there are still plenty of challenges ahead. Gov. Dan McKee’s fiscal 2026 budget includes an even larger shortfall for RIPTA of more than $32 million.

Durand has said he has worked with the General Assembly and McKee administration through the budget challenges.

Additionally, as a part of the stipulation of additional RIPTA funding provided in the last budget, RIPTA will have to undergo an efficiency study, in part to look for cost-saving measures. Durand said staff will present vendor options for that study at RIPTA’s board meeting next month.