[Colorado-talk] RTD's general manager, Phillip Washington, moving on

[Nehemiah Hall]

Thought some would find of interest. 

Nehemiah 


RTD's general manager, Phillip Washington, moving on


RTD General Manager and CEO Phillip Washington, left, and RTD Board Chair Chuck Sisk, invite people to board a train car at Denver's Union Station in this December 2014 file photo. (Kathryn Scott Osler, Denver Post file)

Phillip Washington (Denver Post file)

After leading one of the most expansive mass-transit projects in the country as general manager, Phil Washington is leaving the Regional Transportation District for Los Angeles.

Washington will become the CEO of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which operates the third-largest public transportation system in the United States.

Washington — who spent 16 years with RTD — leaves a $350,000 annual package of salary and benefits as RTD's general manager. He also will say goodbye to those who say his leadership helped RTD into the era of FasTracks.

"He is a magnificent, magical person," said RTD board member Claudia Folska. "Phil Washington is a rock star."

Washington, who declined to comment Wednesday, informed the RTD board of his decision in a letter.

"The greatest impact that one can have on any enterprise is to continue to see the results of their involvement long after they have left," Washington wrote in his letter of resignation to the RTD board. "I will always be proud to speak to my years here at the RTD and the success and experiences that we have shared."

Washington was promoted to RTD's general manager and CEO in 2009. He was previously the transit district's assistant GM of administration for nearly 10 years.

Retired from the Army, as a command sergeant major, Washington is credited with bringing business and government leaders together with RTD to discover alternative financial mechanisms during difficult times in the recession.

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Washington oversaw the FasTracks plan, a $4.7 billion voter-approved mass transit project that calls for 122 miles of light rail and commuter rail to connect the metro area.

Officials praised Washington for his efforts to bring in private companies to help complete projects and to expand RTD's minority hiring program.

Critics, however, say Washington oversaw a FasTracks system that is overbudget — its cost is now $5.3 billion — while residents and officials along the U.S 36 corridor are angry that they won't get a rail system anytime soon.

"I'm hopeful the board of directors can find someone to take this position who will cost far less than the one-third of a million dollars in salary, bonus and benefits that taxpayers are paying each year," said board member Natalie Menten.

"It's a fact that the West Corridor cost at least $200 million over the original budget and the entire FasTracks system is going to cost billions more than voters were told."

The Los Angeles Metro system covers 1,433 miles of bus service and 87 miles of rail service, which has four light rail lines and two subways. It served about 37 million boardings each month, according to its December 2014 ridership numbers.

Washington's last day with RTD hasn't been determined.

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