Quick Take

Corey Aldridge comes from Mountain Line transit in Missoula, Montana, and brings more than a decade of experience to Santa Cruz Metro. He is tentatively expected to start his tenure as CEO on April 29.

Santa Cruz Metro announced Friday that Corey Aldridge will take over as CEO after Michael Tree’s departure on Feb. 16.

Aldridge has worked as a general manager in public transit for more than 10 years. According to a Metro news release, he most recently served as CEO of Mountain Line transit in Missoula, Montana. While there, he oversaw a ballot initiative process that got the agency new zero-emission vehicles and implemented a number of infrastructure projects. Those include a free fare program, ridership growth initiatives, transit-oriented developments and more. He increased service by 30%, according to Metro’s release. 

“As the new CEO of Santa Cruz Metro, I am committed to fostering a work environment where every employee feels valued, supported, and empowered to excel,” Aldridge said in the release. “Our collective success hinges on our ability to work as a unified team dedicated to serving our community’s mobility needs, ensuring we not only meet but exceed the expectations placed upon us.”

“Corey’s experience aligns perfectly with our ongoing initiatives like Reimagine,” said Metro Board Chair Kristen Brown, referencing the transit agency’s ongoing transformation. “His track record in overseeing ballot initiatives, implementing green projects, and fostering ridership growth will be invaluable.”

Aldridge’s tentative start date is April 29.

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Max Chun is the general-assignment correspondent at Lookout Santa Cruz. Max’s position has pulled him in many different directions, seeing him cover development, COVID, the opioid crisis, labor, courts...