1/15/2022- 3:30 p.m.
Jeffrey Parker, a longtime transit veteran who since 2018 has led MARTA during one of the most ambitious periods in the agency’s history, died Friday evening.
The agency said Parker died by suicide. An agency official confirmed he was struck by a train at East Lake station.
The DeKalb County Medical Examiner’s Office said it could release no details of Parker’s death until its investigation is complete.
“The MARTA Board of Directors grieves the shocking death of our GM/CEO Jeff Parker who has died by suicide,” Chairwoman Rita Scott said in a statement Saturday. “He was an outstanding leader and steward of MARTA whose passing leaves us all heartbroken.
Parker was an advocate of transit expansion, calling for a $100 billion transit “moonshot” for metro Atlanta in 2019.
On Wednesday, during an online “state of MARTA” address, Parker said a bipartisan infrastructure bill approved by Congress — which included $923 million for transit in the region — was a step toward that goal.
MARTA said it would share more information on a leadership transition plan in coming days. It also said it will “provide grief counseling for employees as we process this devastating news.”
