Atlanta transit chief retires early 'because of immigration and personal matters'

ATLANTA — Collie Greenwood, who has led Atlanta's public transportation system through expansion, modernization and troubled times, is out as the agency’s chief.

Greenwood is leaving “because of immigration and personal matters” and has elected early retirement, MARTA board attorney Jonathan Hunt said Thursday.

Greenwood is Canadian, having come to MARTA, or Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, after a career working in Toronto. His work permit expired June 18, MARTA officials said Thursday afternoon. At that time, he ceased working and delegated authority to another MARTA executive.

His visa is valid and Greenwood remains in the country legally awaiting the “imminent” delivery of his Green Card, which would grant him permanent residency, MARTA said in a news release.

“The immigration process is extensive and has had an impact on Mr. Greenwood’s personal and professional progress,” the agency said in a statement. “These challenges have been resolved with Mr. Greenwood’s decision, and the MARTA family supports him.”

Greenwood said in a statement he and his wife decided it was a good opportunity to spend more time with family and friends.

“I do want to thank the board, the executive leadership team and everyone at MARTA for their support and their continued work to improve and grow transit service in this region,” he said.

Per the separation agreement with the board, MARTA will pay out the balance of Greenwood’s contract, which runs through January 2027. Greenwood has a base salary of $446,250 annually.

At a meeting where the mutal separation was approved, board members praised Greenwood’s leadership, with Chair Jennifer Ide saying he served MARTA well and is leaving the agency in good shape.

“It’s unfortunate that immigration is a very complicated issue in the United States today, but Mr. Greenwood needed to make the decision that was best for him and his family, and his MARTA family will miss him tremendously,” Ide said.

Greenwood started his career 35 years ago as a bus driver. He came to MARTA in 2019 as chief of bus operations and urban planning, then was appointed deputy general manager of operations and urban planning in 2020. In October 2022, the MARTA board of directors named him general manager and CEO.

Under his leadership, MARTA was honored with the Outstanding Public Transportation System Award by the American Public Transportation Association.

Closer to home, his tenure as the region’s top transit chief during a tumultuous time for public transportation nationally has faced criticism. MARTA has been slower to recover ridership after the pandemic than almost any other transit agency in the country and has faced complaints from riders and elected officials about service and reliability.

Greenwood has clashed with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and members of the Atlanta City Council and has at times come under criticism by board members, including Ide, who earlier this year said she had lost confidence in Greenwood’s leadership. She walked back the statement later, saying she was frustrated in the moment.

Ide and other board members all declined to comment after the meeting. During the meeting, several thanked Greenwood and praised his leadership.

“If you’ve ever been outside the walls of MARTA, you understand how well respected he is in this industry and what a great job he has done,” board member Katie Powers said.

Robb Pitts, chair of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, said Greenwood will be missed.

“I thought he did an excellent job — came into a difficult situation but did an excellent job and was a great friend of Fulton County’s,” Pitts said in a phone interview.

“I’d heard rumblings that there were some issues,” he said. “I was not privy to what the issues are or were. But nevertheless, I think it’s a loss, particularly at this point in time.”

AJ Robinson, president of Central Atlanta Progress and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District, said in a statement that he hopes MARTA’s board sets a high bar for its next leader.

“With any organizational change at a top position, it is a chance to rethink and improve the all round performance of a company’s operation,” Robinson said. “I hope the Board casts a wide net, perhaps even looking beyond the transit industry for a talented leader. It is a great opportunity for the right person.”

The board formed an ad hoc committee to conduct a national search to replace Greenwood. In the interim, Chief Customer Experience Officer Rhonda Allen has been named acting CEO.

Allen started at MARTA 25 years ago as an engineering intern and is a Georgia native. She’s responsible for creating the agency’s Riders’ Advisory Council and for establishing the MARTA HOPE team, which helps connect unhoused people with support.

Dickens thanked Greenwood in a statement and said he looked forward to finding a new leader who would “propel MARTA into the future.”

“This is a pivotal opportunity to accelerate the system improvements and expansions our residents have long called for,” Dickens said.

City Council President Doug Shipman, another frequent Greenwood critic, said the chief’s departure is an opportunity “for a needed hard reset in operations and project delivery.”

“MARTA is underperforming in so many ways,” he said.

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(Staff writer Reed Williams contributed to this story.)

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