Metro News Release
For immediate release: March 1, 2007
Metro Announces an Initial Restructuring And the Arrival of a New Chief Information Officer and Deputy General Manager
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) today announced the first step in a series of steps to improve the overall efficiency of the organization: a restructuring within one department, a new Chief Information Officer, and a new Deputy General Manager.
The major restructuring was unveiled today within Metro’s Chief Engineers/Project Management (CEPM) Department. Under the restructuring, the Office of Construction (CONS) will be phased out upon the completion of its current projects, and the Office of Infrastructure Renewal Programs (IRPG) will be more involved in improving bus facilities and in looking at ways to reschedule rail capital improvements so Metro can fund other needs.
Under the terms of the phase out, there will be a significant reduction in the workforce in the Office of Construction.
“While there will be a significant reduction in positions within the Office of Construction, these reductions will not impact our customers, the day-to-day maintenance, operations, and safety of the Metrorail and Metrobus systems,” said John B. Catoe, Jr., Metro’s General Manager. “These changes are part of our continuing efforts to streamline Metro and to make it as lean and efficient as possible.
“Metro is moving into a new era,” said Mr. Catoe. “Over the last 30 years, the transit authority has been focused on building and operating an impressive transit system. Now, to go from impressive, to being truly great, we have to narrow our focus. That focus will be maintaining and operating the Nation’s best transit system.”
With the phase-out of the Office of Construction, local jurisdictions will take the lead on construction as it pertains to any service expansion. Metro will provide support and oversight of any future projects to ensure they meet Metro standards and upon completion and acceptance of any expansion, Metro will operate and maintain the system.
Before raising fares to help close the anticipated $116 million fiscal year 2008 shortfall, Mr. Catoe said he would make Metro as lean as possible, including a reorganization that would eliminate jobs.
In addition to the restructuring, Mr. Catoe announced the hiring of Ms. Suzanne Peck to be Metro’s new Chief Information Officer. Ms. Peck was formerly the Chief Technology Officer for the District of Columbia. She has more than 25 years of experience working for Fortune 500 companies. She will replace Rod Burfield, who is retiring this month.
Mr. Catoe also announced today that he is close to hiring a new Deputy General Manager, who would oversee the day-to-day operations of Metrorail, Metrobus and MetroAccess. The candidate is Gerald Francis, the current General Manager of Rail Operations for the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Mr. Francis has been with the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area Transit Authority since January 2002, and has 27 years of experience in rail, freight and mass transit.
“Metro has some of the finest professionals in the transit industry and we are fortunate to have these people working for us,” said Mr. Catoe. “With Ms. Peck and Mr. Francis, we are bringing in two very highly qualified people that will ultimately strengthen our technology and operations departments to make them the finest within the transportation industry.”
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News release issued at 12:00 am, March 1, 2007.