The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) earlier this month selected the head of MARTA as its 2015 Outstanding Public Transportation Manager.
Keith T. Parker, MARTA’s general manager and CEO, assumed the leadership position at MARTA in December 2012. He is credited with helping increase ridership and for returning the agency to financial stability.
“I’m deeply humbled to be recognized by APTA’s selection committee for this honor,” Parker said in a news release. “This is a high point in my career and I’m grateful for the opportunities to serve that the public transportation industry has provided me. I want to thank the MARTA Board of Directors, our staff and our customers for their wonderful support and guidance.”
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed nominated Parker for the honor. The award will be officially given at APTA’s Annual Conference in San Francisco in October.
“Hiring Keith Parker is one of the best decisions MARTA’s ever made,” Robert L. Ashe III, chairman of the MARTA Board of Directors, said in a news release. “His optimistic leadership, fiscal discipline, and relentless pursuit of excellence in matters both big and small have helped MARTA re-emerge as a transit system to be reckoned with.”
