Collie Greenwood named interim General Manager

Following the death of CEO and General Manager Jeffery Parker, MARTA’s board of directors held an emergency meeting Saturday afternoon to discuss the transit agency leadership.

After 45 minutes in executive session, the board voted unanimously that 56-year-old Collie Greenwood, the deputy general manager of operations and urban planning, would serve as the MARTA’s interim CEO and General Manager.

Greenwood, a 33-year transit executive, comes to the top role with operations and administrative experience ranging from front-line operations to executive leadership, according to MARTA’s website.

In a statement, MARTA said, “Jeff Parker has built an incredible team of professionals to lead MARTA into its expansion phase with a renewed commitment to improving the customer experience. As the head of operations, Mr. Greenwood has been central to that work and his appointment ensures continuity of our shared vision.”

Before coming to MARTA, Greenwood served as chief service officer for the Toronto Transit Commission, where he led a team of 9,500 men and women working for the transit agency overseeing subway, streetcar, accessible transit and station services, security and maintenance for all modes of transportation. Toronto’s transit system is the third-largest in North America.

In July 2019, Greenwood joined MARTA as the chief of Bus Operations and Urban Planning. Last year, Greenwood was appointed to serve as deputy general manager overseeing all transit operations and urban planning. He was accountable for all facets of bus, rail, facilities, and transit infrastructure for the City of Atlanta, Fulton County, DeKalb County, and Clayton County.  His responsibilities include daily operation and maintenance of the MARTA Bus network, Mobility service, Rail System and Atlanta Streetcar while ensuring stations, facilities, vehicles, systems and the right of way remain in a state of good repair.

Greenwood holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.