Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Commissioner Cohen presents the University of South Florida (USF) Center for Urban Transportation Research's 2025 New Voice in Transportation Award to Leslye McNeil of Sunshine Line.
In just four years in the transportation industry, Leslye has proven herself to be a bold, effective, and visionary leader. Her impact on Sunshine Line has been incredible, making her not only a driving force behind the department’s recent successes, but also an inspiring example of the next generation of transportation leadership in Florida. Under her leadership as Sunshine Line’s Manager of Operations, Ms. McNeil spearheaded aggressive recruitment and retention strategies that brought her team to 95% driver-capacity. Additionally, Sunshine Line trips increased by 23% – totaling just over 530,000 door-to-door and bus trips in 2024 – and client enrollment rose by 24%. Further, on-time performance was maintained at a stellar 93.4%.
Ms. McNeil also demonstrated exceptional leadership through three hurricanes, two of which were major. As one of the lead coordinators for evacuation transportation in Hillsborough County, she ensured the safe, organized, and timely evacuation of vulnerable populations. Her calm command under pressure, strategic coordination with emergency management, and tireless commitment to public safety exemplify her strength as a crisis leader and her dedication to serving the community when it matters most.
But what truly makes Ms. McNeil an exceptional candidate is not just her results, it’s also her mindset. She leads with a passion for public service, and every decision she makes is rooted in improving lives, removing transportation barriers, and ensuring that residents reach their destinations with dignity, safety, and reliability. Her hard work and dedication are the embodiment of the University of South Florida Center for Urban Transportation Research’s New Voice in Transportation Award. This award recognizes a professional who is making a difference in transportation planning, policy, engineering, or technology in Florida, and who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, creativity, and innovation in their work.
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Commissioner Cohen presents the University of South Florida (USF) Center for Urban Transportation Research's 2025 New Voice in Transportation Award to Leslye McNeil of Sunshine Line.
In just four years in the transportation industry, Leslye has proven herself to be a bold, effective, and visionary leader. Her impact on Sunshine Line has been incredible, making her not only a driving force behind the department’s recent successes, but also an inspiring example of the next generation of transportation leadership in Florida. Under her leadership as Sunshine Line’s Manager of Operations, Ms. McNeil spearheaded aggressive recruitment and retention strategies that brought her team to 95% driver-capacity. Additionally, Sunshine Line trips increased by 23% – totaling just over 530,000 door-to-door and bus trips in 2024 – and client enrollment rose by 24%. Further, on-time performance was maintained at a stellar 93.4%.
Ms. McNeil also demonstrated exceptional leadership through three hurricanes, two of which were major. As one of the lead coordinators for evacuation transportation in Hillsborough County, she ensured the safe, organized, and timely evacuation of vulnerable populations. Her calm command under pressure, strategic coordination with emergency management, and tireless commitment to public safety exemplify her strength as a crisis leader and her dedication to serving the community when it matters most.
But what truly makes Ms. McNeil an exceptional candidate is not just her results, it’s also her mindset. She leads with a passion for public service, and every decision she makes is rooted in improving lives, removing transportation barriers, and ensuring that residents reach their destinations with dignity, safety, and reliability. Her hard work and dedication are the embodiment of the University of South Florida Center for Urban Transportation Research’s New Voice in Transportation Award. This award recognizes a professional who is making a difference in transportation planning, policy, engineering, or technology in Florida, and who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, creativity, and innovation in their work.
The Official Hillsborough County, Florida Government YouTube channel is powered by Hillsborough Television (HTV), find more of our programming at these outlets:
Hillsborough County, Florida cable TV subscribers can view us on:
Frontier - Ch. 22
Spectrum - Ch. 637
Also view us on:
LIVE: hillsboroughcounty.granicus.com/player/camera/2?
VOD: hillsboroughcounty.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=1
The Official Hillsborough County, Florida Government Website:
HCFL.gov
Become a fan of Hillsborough County, Florida on Facebook at...
facebook.com/hillsboroughFL
Follow Hillsborough County, Florida on Twitter at...
twitter.com/hillsboroughFL
By commenting in this forum, you give Hillsborough County (and the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System) the right to reproduce, distribute, publish, display, edit, modify, and create derivative works from, and otherwise use, your submission for any purpose in any form and on any media. Comments that include the following will be hidden/removed and may lead to a user being banned from participation in our social media outlets:
Advertisements or solicitations
Repeated instances of the same post (spam)
Malicious links
Material that infringes on the rights of any third party, including intellectual property, privacy or publicity rights
Personal attacks against others, including Commissioners or staff members
Sensitive materials including, but not limited to: illegal activities, gambling, sexually explicit materials, weapons, drugs, violence, inappropriate language, racial, discriminatory comments, defamatory statements, partisan political positions, and religious positions.
