Q&A: Meet John Catoe, Metro's New Chief

JOHN CATOE's first full week on the job as Metro's new general manager was eventful, with a series of delays on the Red Line, a bus fire and a security incident involving a suspicious object at the Braddock Road station. With a reform agenda in mind, Catoe has a full plate.

Express' Michael Grass kicks off a semi-regular dialogue with Los Angeles' former No. 2 transit chief about issues facing Metro and the region.

» EXPRESS: Metro is a vast bureaucracy, one that commuters don't understand. What are your top three goals while steering the ship?
» CATOE: Accountability begins with ensuring a safe and reliable system. My first action was to announce the start of a new safety initiative. We are a safe system, but we must become an even safer one. We also need to do what we can to improve our service.

Part of that is making sure that our infrastructure is well maintained and operated. To do that, we need every employee focused on operations. I am looking at ensuring that we have a lean organization. As I see it, that means we have three groups of employees: There are "A" employees who are focused on operations and security (drivers, mechanics, police officers, maintenance workers and others). There are "B" employees who provide support to the "A" employees to operate the system — like myself, our human resources staff, finance staff, marketing staff, and others. And there are the "C" employees whose functions have to do more with what we used to do when our agency was doing things other than provide service, such as build. We may not be able to afford to do those sorts of things any more. Or perhaps they will need to shift their jobs into the "A" or "B" categories.

I plan to look at making us a leaner organization before the budget process is complete. Before we consider any kind of fare increase.

» EXPRESS: You have said the nation's capital will have a first-class bus system. Can you point to a non-rail transit project in Southern California that you think could be adapted for use here?
» CATOE: In L.A., we had a network of rapid buses that stopped at a limited number of high-volume ridership stops. We had transponders on the buses that would extend a green light when a bus was approaching. It did not turn a red light to green, but it did stay green enough to allow the bus to go through without having to stop at a red. These initiatives were popular for our customers. They sped up bus trips by 25 to 30 percent. I think they would be well received here.

» EXPRESS: Part of Metro's funding issues is tied to the complicated relationship between the transit agency and the jurisdictions Metro must turn to for money. Are you hopeful that the region can come together to build a stronger system?
» CATOE: There is proposed federal legislation that has the federal government offering us $150 million per year over 10 years if we get that matched from the jurisdictions that we serve. So far, the District of Columbia has already taken action to do that. I believe that Maryland and Virginia will follow suit and provide us with dedicated, stable funding. That still won't cover all of our operating costs, but it will make a huge difference.

» EXPRESS: In transit circles, it's been said that leading the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is any transportation chief's dream job. Do you agree? What is it about Washington's transit system that sets it apart from any other in the country?
» CATOE: It's a highly visible and good system and that's a dream for any transit manager — to run a system with that level of service, visibility and use. What sets it apart is that there are so many different people who use the Metro system here in Washington. It's "America's System" and it also serves an international community as well.

As a result, it's got a generally positive reputation around the country and around the world. We have visitors from just about every country use it.

» EXPRESS: What have you learned from the tragic bombings in London and Madrid and what can you do as Metro's chief to maintain security and deter threats while alleviating commuter fears?
» CATOE: We have an outstanding police department and an outstanding police chief. They are focused on your safety and security all the time. I see us as maximizing the security technology that is available.

However, in addition, every employee is a safety agent and every customer's eyes are equally important. If you see something unusual, please notify us so we can follow up. I've seen what has happened in London and Madrid. We are as prepared as we can be and we are ready to respond in a rapid manner if something happens.

» EXPRESS: Can you tell us about your homecoming to Washington? You went to Spingarn High School on Benning Road in Northeast. While Metro isn't leading the project, the District government plans to build a streetcar line through that area and the H Street NE corridor, which is slowly revitalizing. What is your impression of the city's growth in the past decade or so?
» CATOE: This city has undergone a transformation since I last lived here. I'm amazed at the Gallery Place neighborhood, the New York Avenue area and the H Street area. It seems to have transformed from an older city to a more cosmopolitan environment. I see people using public transportation in the evenings — going to dinner, going to see art, to go out for entertainment. And so I think it's a much livelier place than it was 30 years ago.

» EXPRESS: You walk into a Metrorail car with plenty of available seats. But you're only traveling three stations. Would you sit down or remain standing?
» CATOE: If it's a short ride, I generally stand if my standing will not inhibit others from passing through the rail car. If I am sitting, however, I tend to get up and let someone else sit down if it's crowded because I see everyone as a customer and the seats belong to the customers. I want them to be comfortable and come back and ride us again, so at that point, I'll stand up.

» EXPRESS: Washington commuters can be pretty particular bunch, especially about the habits of their fellow subway and bus riders. What is your top commuter pet peeve?
» CATOE: Dirty buses and dirty trains are my pet peeve. I'm a stickler for clean vehicles — inside and out.

» EXPRESS: What is one non-touristy place in the area that you would like to visit?
» CATOE: The rolling hills of Virginia.

» EXPRESS: If you could say one thing to Washington's commuter population, what would it be?
» CATOE: To non-commuters, I say to please give us a try. We believe we are competitive.

To those who don't use us, please remember that we are important to you too ... If we become unreliable, people may choose to go back [into] their cars and onto the roads, and that will impact people who don't ride us.

To my fellow commuters, all of the others, I say, this is a good system. We have been operating rail for 30 years and bus for even longer. We have new buses and rail cars coming in and some major programs coming on. We are a good system and we will be a great system.

Photos by Melina Mara/The Washington Post