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CLINTON B. FORBES

Position: Executive Director | Phone: (305) 343-6303 | Email: cforbes@pbcgov.org

For over 30 years, Clinton B. Forbes has solidified a reputation as a leader and innovator in public transportation. A Florida native, Forbes has been the Executive Director of Palm Tran since November 2015. Palm Tran, a mid-size transit agency, provides fixed-route and paratransit services to the geographically largest county east of the Mississippi River. The bus system, using over 400 vehicles, travels to every major destination in Palm Beach County providing more than nine million rides and nearly one million paratransit trips annually. Forbes is responsible for a $190 million budget which includes local, state and federal funding. Prior to Palm Tran, Forbes spent 25 years at the senior management and leadership levels at the Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and three transit properties; Miami-Dade Transit (MDT), the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) and the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA). At COTA, Forbes was Vice-President of Operations overseeing more than 900 employees. In November 2015, Forbes rejoined the South Florida community when he accepted the role of Palm Tran Executive Director.

Immediately upon arriving at Palm Tran, Forbes re-energized and transformed the Palm Beach County transit agency introducing a variety of bold and necessary enhancements.

Some of his accomplishments and priorities include:

  • Opened new Administrative Headquarters in Delray—$25 million, LEED certified expansion (Completed January 2021)
  • Implemented new Mobility On Demand (MOD) service known as Go Glades in the Glades region of Florida (Completed December 21, 2018)
  • Restructured the entire bus network—The Route Performance Maximization (RPM) project (Completed September 30, 2018)
  • Implemented new flex system known as Go Glades in the Glades region of Florida (Completed December 21, 2018)
  • Introduced robust Performance Management Program known as PT-Stat (November 2016)
  • Implemented new fare collection system, Paradise Pass smart card and mobile system (Completed – November 2021)

Upcoming priorities include:

  • Bus Shelter and Bus Stop Improvement Program (50+ shelters per year); Target: Begin March 2021
  • Electrification of the Fleet and Infrastructure; Target: 2024
  • Paratransit efficiency project, also known as Connection Efficiency Project (CEP) began in 2019

Acknowledgements and Awards

  • 2021 Urban Community Transportation Coordinator (CTC) of the Year (October 2021)
  • COMTO Corporate Executive of the Year (October 2021)
  • COMTO Agency of the Year Award (October 2021)
  • Business Executive Award, West Palm Beach Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority (June 2021)
  • APTA Bus Safety and Security Gold Award (July 2020)
  • NACo Achievement Award for Go Glades (June 2020)
  • Executive Champion, United Way (May 2019)
  • COMTO Gerald Anderson Service Award (August 2018)
  • NACo Achievement Award for PT-Stat (May 2018)
  • 50 Most Powerful and Influential Black Business Leaders of South Florida (April 2018)
  • FPTA Safety Excellence Award for Flashing Lights (November 2017)

Forbes is actively involved in the transportation industry through the following organizations:

  • Member, American Public Transit Association (APTA)
  • Executive Board Member, Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO), 2017-2019
  • Chair, Florida Public Transportation Association (FPTA)
  • Member, National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA)
  • Board Member, The Bus Coalition
  • Former Board Member of United Way of Palm Beach County, 2018-2021

Mr. Forbes holds a Bachelor’s Degree from St. Thomas University, Miami, FL in Political Science and Public Administration and has completed a myriad of transit/transportation industry and leadership trainings.