2 candidates named for MARTA general manager; Beverly Scott picked to head Boston's system

type='html'>The MARTA Board of Directors has named two qualified transit executives as finalists to replace Dr. Beverly Scott as MARTA’s next general manager and chief executive officer when Scott leaves the Atlanta position at the end of her contract in December. 

The two candidates are Stephen G. Bland, CEO of the Allegheny County Port Authority in Pittsburgh, Penn. and Keith T. Parker, president/CEO for VIA Metropolitan Transit in San Antonio, Texas.

 And now we know that Scott will continue to oversee the comings and goings of trains and buses as general manager of one of the top five transit systems in the country, not in Atlanta. She has been chosen as the new general manager of Boston’s MBTA. 

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation board voted unanimously to hire Scott following public interviews with Scott and her fellow finalist, Dwight Ferrell, MARTA’s COO. Ferrell had been a finalist to succeed Scott as MARTA’s general manager, but he did not make the cut to the final two candidates. 

Scott will begin her new job Dec. 15, almost the exact date of when her five-year contract with MARTA runs out. According to WBUR, Scott will earn $220,000 a year under a three-year contract.  Scott, who has been MARTA’s general manager/CEO since 2007, informed the board last year that she would not seek to renew her contract.

Dr. Beverly Scott speaking at a meeting
of the Buckhead Business Association.

Both Bland and Parker emerged as finalists for the MARTA position after a nationwide search conducted by the executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles. They were among the top candidates interviewed who possessed the requisite background, expertise and leadership skills to run MARTA, the nation’s 9th largest transit system.

Bland has held his present post since June 2006. He oversees all aspects of the Pittsburgh region’s primary transit system, which provides bus, light rail and paratransit service daily to nearly 230,000 riders. His career in public transportation spans more than 20 years and he previously worked as executive director of the Capital District Transportation Authority in Albany, N.Y.

Parker has served as VIA’s president/CEO since July 2009. He oversees all aspects of the San Antonio region’s primary transit system which provides bus, streetcar and paratransit service daily for nearly 150,000 riders. Prior to San Antonio, Parker served as CEO for the Charlotte Area Transit System. Parker joined CATS in 2000 as chief operating officer where he was responsible for bus and paratransit operations and helped develop light-rail plans for the transit system. Parker also served as the assistant city manager for the city of Charlotte from 2004 through 2007.

A MARTA board meeting will be scheduled to select the best qualified candidate in sufficient time to comply with the Georgia Open Records Act, which requires at least a 14-day public notice period.