Metro Executive Director Greg Jordan Departing Agency (2.14.24)
Metro Executive Director Greg Jordan Departing Agency (2.14.24)
February 14, 2024
Metro News
[Portland, Maine] – Greater Portland Metro’s Executive Director, Greg Jordan will depart the agency in March to join the City of Portland as one of its Assistant City Managers. Mr. Jordan has led GP Metro, Maine’s largest public transit agency, since 2013. Prior to that role he served the City of Tempe, Arizona from 1999 to 2013 as Deputy Public Works Director and Transit Manager, in addition to other roles.
On February 14, GP Metro’s Board of Directors accepted Mr. Jordan’s resignation and appointed GP Metro’s Chief Transportation Officer, Glenn Fenton, as Interim Executive Director. The agency plans to conduct a national search for a permanent replacement.
“The Board of Directors is grateful for Mr. Jordan’s 10 years of dedicated service to Metro and appreciates his leadership in the region and the progress we have made building a better public transportation system,” said Michael Foley, President of the Board of Directors and former Westbrook Mayor. “While we are disappointed to see him go, we appreciate how well positioned GP Metro is for continued success, and we look forward to working with him in his new role.”
Mr. Jordan led the growth and transformation of public transportation in the Greater Portland region leading to the highest ridership level in 35 years, peaking at over 2.1 million passenger trips in 2019. While the COVID-19 pandemic caused ridership to drop and strained staffing and resources, GP Metro provided stable transit service throughout the pandemic. The agency anticipates passenger trips will fully rebound this year in connection with a range of upcoming service improvements.
“Leading GP Metro has been the great joy of my career in public service. I am grateful for the leadership and support provided by the Board of Directors, as well as the outstanding work by GP Metro’s staff, as we have sought to build a better public transportation system for Greater Portland,” said Greg Jordan. “It’s healthy to challenge ourselves and pursue new endeavors, so I am excited to join the City of Portland and look forward to working with the City Manager and her team, as well as the City Council and community.”
Since 2013, GP Metro implemented several major transit service expansions including the 2015 establishment of the Route 9 loop in Portland, followed by the 2016-17 introduction of the Breez express bus service connecting Brunswick, Freeport, Yarmouth and Portland. In 2018, GP Metro launched the Husky Line connecting Gorham, Westbrook and Portland and Route 3 connecting Portland, Westbrook and South Portland. Later this year, GP Metro will implement a range of system enhancements including route improvements that will add destinations and reduce passenger wait times, technology that will give buses green-lights at intersections, and a microtransit pilot project. The agency is working with the Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG), Maine Department of Transportation, and municipal partners to develop a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project for the Route 25 corridor connecting Gorham, Westbrook, and Portland.
During the last 10 years, GP Metro aggressively pursued “unlimited access transit pass programs” which placed free transit passes in the hands of students and employees with organizations around the region. Also, in that time, the agency modernized its bus fleet, introduced Battery Electric Buses, rolled out real-time bus arrival information, improved bus stops, and added dozens of bus shelters including nine artist designed shelters in partnership with Creative Portland and GPCOG. In 2020, GP Metro led a regional partnership that introduced the DiriGo Pass fare payment system which modernized how riders pay fares and improved transit fare equity and affordability.
“Greg has been a transformative leader who leaves Metro in a much stronger and healthier condition compared to when he arrived,” said Ed Suslovic, current Portland representative to the Board of Directors, and past President. “He has also been a positive force for change in the region and statewide as well. I am confident both in Metro’s future and that Greg will be an asset to Portland.”
Greater Portland Metro operates fixed-route public transit service in Brunswick, Falmouth, Freeport, Gorham, Portland, South Portland, Westbrook, and Yarmouth.