Catoe stepping down as D.C. Metro chief
John Catoe, the embattled head of Washington's Metro system, has announced his retirement, according to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.
Catoe has been under fire for his leadership of Metro after a long string of safety problems affecting both the Washington subway and Metrobus operations -- most notably the collision of two subway trains that killed nine last July.
Here's how WMATA explained the move in a brief press release:
Metro General Manager John Catoe has decided to retire and leave the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority after three years as its top manager. Catoe informed Metro’s Board of Directors today of his decision to leave the transit agency. His last day will be Friday, April 2.
“I have decided that it is time for me to channel my future in new directions and provide this organization an opportunity to move beyond the current distractions,” Catoe said. “Good leaders know how to impact change. Great leaders know when it’s time for leadership change. I hope I fall into the latter category.”
“The Board of Directors has just been informed of General Manager Catoe’s decision to retire,” said Board Chairman Jim Graham. “We appreciate his stewardship during this difficult time and we will miss his leadership. While we regret his decision, he continues to have the full confidence of the Board of Directors.
“We will shortly begin the deliberative process on transition and succession,” Graham said.
Comments
Wow. I'm really torn. I think he could pull Metro through, but he just did too many things that rub riders the wrong way. Especially when it came to him hiring his own people and when they didn't work out, rather than firing them, he "reassigned" them, meaning we're still paying their salary yet they aren't doing anything. And you wonder why they're facing a $40mil funding shortage. WMATA better realize soon that if they don't ship up, riders are going to stop riding. Dealing with daily delays on the Red Line and always having to deal with a packed train in the evening, people are getting tired of it and not changes seem to be forthcoming, except fair increases...
Posted by: Dave | January 14, 2010 2:59 PM