Today is the day that Metro’s new general manager will officially take the reins as he is sworn in by the full board of directors. John B. Catoe Jr. takes over one of the largest and busiest public transportation systems in the country but does so at a time of some upheaval within the system.

Metro recently has experienced the deaths of two employees who were struck by a train; the operator was found by an internal investigation to be at fault (a federal investigation is still under way). The local jurisdictions that fund Metro are struggling to come up with a dedicated funding source that would eliminate the annual budget debate over who pays what and how much it will cost. Metro still has troubles with its suppliers when it comes to getting refurbished and new train cars delivered on time and to specifications. The system seems to be reaching the outer limits in regards to its infrastructure, in that tunnels continue to leak and tracks and bridges are in constant need of repair.

Then there is the issue of staffing and budget. Catoe has called in a group that he has worked with in the past to help figure out where cuts might be made in staffing levels. It is the hope of this writer that a solution can be found to the overuse of overtime by the rank and file as well as by Transit Police officers that is putting more pressure on the board of directors to raise fares on the passengers. There are issues of unfilled positions and, in the opinion of some, the overuse of pricey consultants. Can these unfilled positions be eliminated, or are they symbols of power for the managers that oversee them even though the offices remain empty?

Does Mr. Catoe have any secrets that he can share with staff when it comes to customer service? Certainly he realizes that these staff persons are the face of Metro, be they station managers, bus and rail operators, or the voice on the other end of the phone when a passenger has a problem with a SmarTrip card or wants to know the best route from Point A to Point B. Too often the image of Metro is summed up in two words: rude and uncaring. Certainly Mr. Catoe realizes that this is a service industry and that some of these people have options — not good ones, but options nevertheless.

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Are there efficiencies that can be realized in the bus system? The new general manager has a history of working some magic with this form of transit, and that is one of the big reasons he was brought on board. Can he figure out a way to serve this region without eliminating routes because of their underperformance? Is this heavily subsidized form of transportation worth investing in further?

Good luck, General Manager Catoe. The region is hoping for the best.

Also at today’s board meeting, Jack Requa, Metro’s Bus Chief Operating Officer, will be honored with a resolution thanking him for taking over as Acting General Manager after Dan Tangherlini abruptly left Metro last November. This is a nice touch. Jack is probably as relieved as anyone to have John Catoe sitting in the front office.

Questions, comments, random musings? Write to Steve@SprawlandCrawl.com.