John Catoe Jr. promised to focus on customer service while working closely with all employees and labor unions to ensure Metro’s position as “America’s best transit service” in his first public appearance in the D.C. area.

Catoe, 59, signed a $300,000-per-year, three-year contract Thursday to start as Metro’s eighth general manager on Jan. 29. Catoe also receives a $60,000 annual housing allowance.

“I’m bringing years of experience, but there are years of experience in this organization,” Catoe told reporters after Metro’s Board of Directors unanimously approved him for the job. “We will focus on one thing only, and that is service to the customers of the Washington region.”

He was still “getting up to speed” on Metro’s issues, but said when he arrives he will have “very specific steps and actions” for the system.

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The MetroAccess service for the disabled and elderly, rehabilitation of cars, adding new cars and improved bus service are all on the top of his list, he said. Catoe, who is leaving his post as deputy chief executive officer of the Los Angeles County Metro, said he is still trying to see if he can attend the upcoming regional bus conference on Nov. 30.

Catoe also promised to use his daily free rides to get to work and for other travel. He was surprised to get on the Blue Line at Largo Town Center this morning near his sister’s house to find it crowded, he said.

Catoe described himself as more of a listener, compared to the hands-on Dan Tangherlini, the agency’s former interim general manager.

John Catoe Jr.

» Age: 59

» Education: Graduate of Spingarn Senior High School in D.C. Bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Redlands in California.

» Career: Began at the Orange County Transit District as an employee training and development administrator in 1979. In 2001, joined the Los Angeles County Metro system as deputy chief executive officer, focusing on bus service.

cgoodman@dcexaminer.com