Clinton B. Forbes, executive director of Fla.’s Palm Tran died late last week at the age of 55, according to a statement from the agency.

A Miami native, Forbes solidified a reputation as a leader and innovator in public transportation for more than 30 years — eight of which were spent as executive director at Palm Tran.

Prior to Palm Tran, Forbes spent 25 years at the senior management and leadership levels at the Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization and three transit properties: Miami-Dade Transit, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority, and the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA).

At COTA, Forbes was VP, operations, overseeing more than 900 employees. In November 2015, he returned to Florida to lead Palm Tran.

Forbes’ Impact on Palm Tran

During his tenure at Palm Tran, he made several significant accomplishments, including:

• Opening a new Administrative Headquarters in Delray, Fla.

• Implementing a new Mobility On Demand (MOD) service, known as Go Glades.

• Restructuring the entire bus network through the Route Performance Maximization (RPM) project.

• Introducing a robust Performance Management Program known as PT-Stat.

• Implementing a new fare collection system — the Paradise Pass smart card and mobile system.

Upcoming priorities Forbes was working on include:

• A Bus Shelter and Bus Stop Improvement Program (50-plus shelters per year), which began in March 2021.

• The electrification of the fleet and infrastructure, which is targeted to launch in 2024.

• A paratransit efficiency project, also known as Connection Efficiency Project (CEP), which began in 2019.

Industry, Community Impact

In addition to his accomplishments at the agency, Forbes also received a host of individual acknowledgements and awards, including being named COMTO Corporate Executive of the Year, as well as receiving the NACo Achievement Award for Go Glades and the Executive Champion award by the United Way, to name just a few.  

He was also an active member of several groups and associations, including the American Public Transit Association, the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials, the Florida Public Transportation Association, and The Bus Coalition.

“This news comes as a shock to the entire community. Clinton was a vibrant leader in Palm Beach County and tirelessly advocated for the betterment of our transit system,” said County Administrator Verdenia C. Baker in a statement. ”We are deeply saddened by Clinton’s passing. His memory will serve as an inspiration to all who knew him.”