MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood retiring because of immigration issues, board says

ATLANTA - MARTA’s General Manager and CEO Collie Greenwood has stepped down, citing immigration and personal matters, the transit agency’s board of directors announced during Thursday's board meeting.

MARTA GM stepping down

What we know:

Greenwood, a native of Canada, joined MARTA in July 2019 as Chief of Bus Operations and Urban Planning. He was promoted to Deputy General Manager in 2020 and appointed CEO in 2022, according to his biography on the agency’s website.

In 2024, Greenwood was included in Atlanta Magazine's "Atlanta 500" list and Georga Trend's "100 Most Influential Georgians."

Greenwood's immigration status

What they're saying:

His departure was described as an early retirement related to "immigration and personal matters," though officials provided no further details. Assistant Secretary Tyrene Huff told board members that Greenwood was unable to attend the meeting "because of his immigration status."

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

"My wife and I have decided this is a good opportunity to take an early retirement and spend more time with our family and friends," Greenwood said in a statement. "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."

Watch meeting below (announcement is towards the end of meeting)

In the interim, MARTA Chief Customer Experience Officer Rhonda Allen has been appointed to serve as acting CEO.

Who is Collie Greenwood?

Dig deeper:

Greenwood, a Canadian citizen, joined MARTA in 2019 as Chief of Bus Operations and Urban Planning. He was promoted to Deputy General Manager of Operations in 2021 and named GM/CEO in January 2022.

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

"My wife and I have decided this is a good opportunity to take an early retirement and spend more time with our family and friends," Greenwood said in a statement. "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."

Greenwood’s tenure included securing a top-tier AAA bond rating, launching the region’s first bus rapid transit line, advancing a systemwide rail station rehab program, and replacing the entire fleet of railcars. MARTA also earned the 2024 Outstanding Public Transportation System award from the American Public Transportation Association during his leadership.

"Collie came to MARTA with a tremendous knowledge of transit and an innovative mind and has led the Authority through some challenges and great successes," said MARTA Board Chair Jennifer Ide. "My fellow board members and I are thankful for his leadership and wish him and his family the best."

Reaction to MARTA CEO retiring

The other side:

Greenwood’s resignation drew concern from transit advocates, who said his departure highlights deeper problems in MARTA leadership and delivery.

In a statement issued Thursday, Beltline Rail Now, a local advocacy group, praised Greenwood’s efforts but criticized systemic failures that they said hindered his ability to execute the voter-approved More MARTA referendum.

"We regret that former CEO Greenwood was not granted the autonomy needed to execute the mandate approved by Atlanta voters," the group said. "While we hoped for more progress toward delivery of programs during his tenure, Beltline Rail Now believes that Greenwood and key staff members genuinely wanted to fulfill programs like the Streetcar East Extension."

Beltline Rail Now called on MARTA’s board and next CEO to protect capital expansion funds from being diverted into operations, accelerate the Summerhill BRT project, and move forward with the Streetcar East Extension to Ponce City Market.

"Atlanta remains the only peer city that has not put a single BRT or rail project into revenue service," the group noted. "Meanwhile, gridlock continues to choke our roadways, foul our air, and impede economic growth—even as more than $650 million has been collected from taxpayers."

The group urged MARTA’s future leadership to bring a "can-do" spirit back to the agency and to finally fulfill the promise of delivering the "largest transit expansion in MARTA history."

"Atlanta deserves a transit system that keeps pace with its ambitions," the group said. "Only by holding MARTA accountable for both vision and stewardship can we finally build the transit network our region needs."

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