When MARTA’s board of directors approved the amicable separation agreement, the opposing attempts to keep Greenwood or force him out were rendered moot. Only weeks after a dozen transit agency employees were given layoff letters due to a limited budget, they agreed to pay out his contract to January 2027. Greenwood’s base pay is $446,250 per year.
The immigration issue is being viewed as a neat solution by people who are skeptical of his management. For an organization that has gathered multiple this year, Greenwood’s unexplained absence over the previous month is also being viewed as another red flag.
City Council President Doug Shipman, who has been one of the most vocal critics of MARTA’s performance for years, stated, “Given the federal chaos that is occurring in that system, I am certainly sympathetic to issues of immigration status and visas and such.” It is troubling, though, because we apparently did not know for about a month that the MARTA leader was unable to do the duties.
Thanks to TNS
Thanks to TNS
Almost none wanted to mention their talks to retain or expel Greenwood in public. However, all of the people the AJC spoke with, including those who claimed to back the chief, acknowledged that MARTA’s dependability and service had been becoming worse.
Only this year:
- A MARTA bus driver was fatally shot over a fare dispute, prompting union leaders to demand safety protections;
- A renovation at Five Points station was delayed amid a back-and-forth between MARTA and the city over permits;
- The chair of MARTA s board said she lost confidence in Greenwood over his handling of an audit into capital spending, before later walking back her statement;
- MARTA announced the Summerhill rapid bus line won t be complete on time or on budget;
- A man shot and injured two people on a train;
- There were lengthy train delays after pop star Shakira s concert and at the AJC Peachtree Road Race;
- At least 11 people were injured in an escalator malfunction after a Beyonc concert this month.
In the meantime, MARTA has been having trouble attracting new riders. In 2024, it experienced one of the biggest declines in train traffic of any transit agency in the nation; however, MARTA officials have stated that this decline is not genuine due to recognized problems with its fare gates’ inability to record ridership.
The attempts to get to Greenwood failed.
Resolving MARTA’s problems is thought to be essential to the city’s prosperity.
According to entrepreneur Jon Birdsong, who is in charge of South Downtown revitalization initiatives, MARTA is a key leading indicator of Atlanta’s future success. MARTA is the essential component for our responsible growth, accessibility, and inclusivity.
Matt Westmoreland, a member of the city council, expressed the same opinions as many others who talked to the AJC over Greenwood’s departure.
According to him, Atlanta citizens’ trust in the system’s ability to function and deliver has been eroded by a series of events, including recent concerts and the road race. I am thrilled about the upcoming chapter and am grateful for Collie’s contribution.
Miguel Martinez/AJC is credited.
Miguel Martinez/AJC is credited.
Greenwood is a transportation veteran who has received recognition from individuals in the field. He joined MARTA in 2019 and was appointed general manager and CEO in 2022. He worked for the Toronto transit system for the majority of his career. Under his direction, MARTA received a AAA bond rating and was acknowledged nationwide as one of North America’s best public transit systems.
A source with firsthand knowledge claimed that Greenwood’s visa problems were the primary reason for his resignation and that considerable attempts were made to find a solution until that day, despite the fact that several people who spoke to the AJC saw them as a convenient pretext.
In a statement released on Friday, MARTA spokesperson Stephany Fisher stated that the transportation agency, acting as his sponsor, had twice asked for an expedited review of Greenwood’s work visa paperwork.
About six months before to its expiration, in January, Greenwood filed his request for renewal. The approval process for a renewal usually takes half that time. However, prior to the expiration on June 18, it was still not acceptable.
According to Fisher, it was anticipated that it would be granted within ten days of Greenwood ceasing operations. He may have gone back to work that way. However, that did not occur.
Although he has now been notified in writing that his application for permanent residence was granted, Fisher stated that as of Thursday, he has not yet gotten his green card.
According to a person with firsthand information, MARTA requested assistance from Georgia’s congressional delegation as well as from immigration lawyers. Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock would to comment on the CEO’s issue and would not confirm or deny if their assistance had been requested, citing privacy laws. Members of Congress are frequently asked to step in on behalf of constituents.
Greenwood directly informed the executive leadership team and every member of the MARTA board prior to his departure in June. What discussions, if any, the board had over whether or not to officially acknowledge his absence is unknown.
When asked if any county or city officials under MARTA’s control were informed prior to the departure being made public, Fisher did not respond. Andre Dickens, the mayor of Atlanta, declined to comment. Lorraine Cochran-Johnson, the CEO of DeKalb County, said she was not informed.
During a hectic month for the agency, Greenwood took a back seat.
Miguel Martinez-Jimenez is credited.
Miguel Martinez-Jimenez is credited.
The Club World Cup games began on June 19 and ran through July, serving as a practice run for the FIFA World Cup the following year. During this time, there were four Beyonc concerts and the AJC Peachtree Road Race.
Although MARTA board members choose not to react, there isn’t much evidence that they no longer back Greenwood. In recent months, few have publicly attacked him. In December, they unanimously gave him a bonus of $22,312. When his leaving became public on Thursday, many commended his leadership.
According to board member Katie Powers, “if you’ve ever been outside of MARTA, you understand how well-respected he is in this industry and what a great job he has done… serving through difficult, unforeseen times.”
Outside of MARTA, the most important critique has been voiced.
One member of the Atlanta City Council charged in May that Greenwood was contemptuous and did not give the city’s concerns on the usage of funds from the More MARTA sales tax any weight.
Council member Amir Farokhi, who has since resigned his seat to pursue a career shift, stated, “It still feels like you’re not taking the city’s position and taxpayers’ concern seriously.”
The AJC was informed by a number of prominent Atlanta businesspeople and officials that they no longer trusted Greenwood.
Greenwood and the MARTA board were commended by Colin Connolly, president and CEO of Cousins Properties, Atlanta’s largest office landlord, for taking this choice to change leadership. He and many other Atlanta stakeholders believe that 2026 is a pivotal year for the city since it will host multiple World Cup games, catapulting Atlanta into a global scale.
Connolly stated in a written statement that Atlanta’s public transit system must be safe, hygienic, and well-functioning for this significant event. Now is the perfect moment for political, civic, and corporate leaders to assist MARTA in finding a new CEO who can not only expand and change MARTA but also run it effectively and efficiently on a daily basis.
The CEO of the area’s transit agency is a crucial leadership job that affects the entire metro, according to Scott Taylor, president and CEO of Atlanta developer Carter. The back office of its agency must be dependable, just like public transportation.
He also expressed his displeasure with MARTA’s bus rapid transit line, which is planned to link a number of downtown Atlanta neighborhoods, including Summerhill, which is located in the shadow of the former Turner Field and underwent significant reconstruction under Carter.
According to Taylor, the Summerhill BRT project delays have been quite annoying. The ability for MARTA to deliver capital projects on budget and on schedule is paramount to the sustained growth and prosperity of our city and region.
[email protected] is credited.
[email protected] is credited.
Greenwood himself showed no indication that he was considering leaving.
Greenwood was promoting his future plans for MARTA in an interview with the AJC’s editorial board as recently as June 13, a few days before he was scheduled to leave the role. Recently, the transit organization implemented a new North Star focus on dependability, safety, and cleanliness.
Greenwood praised the role that transportation plays in shaping a city’s culture.
We claim to be a part of this city but if you re just getting up, getting in your car, driving to your garage at work and going to your office, you didn t travel in the city today, he said. If you get on the bus or you get on the train, you see things, you experience things. You actually share the geography, the landscape with fellow citizens. I think you re more of a citizen when you participate in the public realm.
The very successful cities, everybody s out and everybody s riding transit and everybody s walking. There s a different je ne sais quoi, a different feel, about that kind of an existence than the one where you re cocooned in your car.
Staff writers Riley Bunch, Zach Hansen, Tia Mitchell, Amy Wenk and Reed Williams contributed reporting.
