Port Authority of Allegheny County's Board on Friday extended Ellen M. McLean's employment agreement through June 1, 2017, after which she will step down as chief executive officer.

McLean, whose three-year contract expired Feb. 1, 2017, will remain at the Authority while it finalizes its FY2018 budget. She will receive one year of salary and a year of health benefits as part of her severance.

McLean was named CEO of the state's second-largest transit agency in February 2014. She previously served as the agency’s chief financial officer since 2010 and interim CEO since February 2013.

During her tenure as CEO, Port Authority secured dedicated transit funding under Act 89; completed several important and necessary capital projects; rolled out real-time tracking for buses; negotiated a new union labor agreement; published Transit-Oriented Development guidelines and a strategic plan; and, by the end of the year, will have completely revamped its fare policy, reducing fares for the first time in more than three decades.

"This transit agency has come so far from where we were just a few short years ago, which is why I believe now is the right time for me to pass the torch to someone else," McLean said. "I am extremely proud of my time and service here, and I know that those with whom I've had the privilege to work — including our great partners at ATU Local 85 — will continue to build upon those achievements."

Before joining Port Authority, McLean was Managing Director of Infrastructure Initiatives at the Urban Land Institute in Washington, D.C. She also served as Chief Financial Officer for the City of Pittsburgh under former Mayor Tom Murphy.