Catoe Gets New Metro Deal

GM won't be the fall guy

Metro General Manager John Catoe's three-year contract, which was to expire in January, was renewed Thursday for three more years.

But after the deadliest crash in the transportation system's history, four workers killed on the job, questions about passenger safety, numerous delays that frustrate riders, and a looming fare increase and more budget cuts, is Catoe worthy of a new deal?

Most signs say yes. The Metro board planned to renew Catoe's $375,000 contract three days after the deadly June 22 Red Line crash, according to the Washington Post, but Catoe insisted on keeping his focus on the crash, so they delayed talks until the fall.

Those talks turned into action Thursday.  Catoe's new three-year extension will begin when his old one was to expire on Jan. 30, 2010.  He will make the same base salary as he does now ($315,000) with an additional $27,000 annuity for retirement and $6,000 for medical expenses beyond regular health.

But does Catoe deserve another chance? Despite all of the problems, there are still many who give him their full support. And when it comes right down to it, who else would want it?

Metro had a difficult time finding a qualified candidate like Catoe to begin with. And with a lack of funds and an aging infrastructure, it seems quite hard to get anything accomplished. Catoe is willing to do what he can with the resources available. He understands the problems. He knows the system (hopefully) and the politics of the position inside and out.

Despite all of the problems with the system, it didn't make sense to toss him aside and start all over again. He was already the fourth Metro GM in two years when he was hired. Would things get better with yet another GM entering the fray, learning the ropes and finding out the limitations on what he or she can do with inadequate funding? Probably not.

Perhaps it's time for the public to look to the Metro board members and insist change. Yes, those same board members who admit they don't ride the transit system very often.

Jack Corbett of MetroRiders.org told the Post that the board, not Catoe, is the "weak link." On the MetroRiders Web site, a callout is made to the public to insist on a riders' representative to be added to the Metro Board.

Whether it be Catoe or the Board, someone will probably have to go. On the surface, it seemed Catoe would be the easy choice. But as he has found out during his tenure, there are no easy choices involving Metro. This one is no different.

Contact Us