In his seven years as general manager, Neil McFarlane has played a major role in improving greater Portland’s transportation system. He helped lead the transit agency through the Great Recession, limiting cuts to service and re-assessing priorities as revenue increased and the economy improved. His leadership has been crucial to the development of the Southwest Corridor Plan, an effort that Metro is continuing through our Southwest Corridor Equitable Development Strategy, which is looking at ways of preserving access to housing once that rail line is built. All of us at Metro are grateful for his service.
Neil leaves a lasting legacy of guiding transit projects that move more than 100,000 of our region’s residents daily - from his time as TriMet’s capital projects manager to his leadership of Orange Line and Tilikum Crossing construction as GM. And his work with Councilor Sam Chase to offer a more equitable fare structure for low-income riders has helped increase access and lower costs for greater Portland residents who are most in need.