Phil Washington Named New CEO of LA Metro

The man who has been at the helm of the Regional Transportation District (RTD) for the past six years is taking his leadership and talents to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority.

RTD General Manager and CEO Phillip Washington was selected this morning by the LA Metro Board to serve as the agency’s next CEO. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who also serves as chair of the Metro board, made the announcement this morning and introduced Washington at a news conference.

“Phil Washington is the ideal person to manage our $36 billion transportation infrastructure program to ease congestion, cut smog and boost our economy for decades to come,” Mayor Garcetti said. “Phil Washington’s track record of maximizing project efficiency, securing much-needed funding and increasing customer service will well-serve Metro riders and taxpayers.”

“I feel so privileged to have served the forward-thinking RTD Board, the talented RTD staff and the riders of our system,” said Washington. “But I’m honored to have this unique opportunity.”

Washington has been an executive at RTD for 15 years – six years as GM and CEO and nine years before that as assistant general manager. When he arrived at RTD, Washington, a Chicago native, had just retired from the U.S. Army as a Command Sergeant Major after a 24-year military career.

“It is with mixed feelings that I leave RTD and the Denver metro region, which is a model for the nation not only for our transportation innovation, but for an amazing spirit of regional collaboration,” said Washington. “I will always value the progress and positive outcome that will be ever present through our collective footprints as community partners.”

RTD Board Chair Chuck Sisk congratulated Washington on his new endeavor and sees the agency continuing on the same strong course established under Washington’s leadership.

“Phil has served RTD with great distinction and skill in guiding the agency forward to meet the many challenges head-on that we have faced together. We’ve accomplished a lot with more great accomplishments to come.”

Sisk says the board will move swiftly to name an interim general manager and begin the recruitment process for a new general manager. No date has been set yet on when Washington will leave RTD for his new endeavor.

RTD serves the Denver metro area by offering safe, clean, reliable, courteous, accessible and cost-effective service in an eight-county service area with a new record ridership of nearly 105 million passenger trips annually.