L.A. transit official hired as new WMATA GM

John B. Catoe Jr. was hired as the new general manager of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), and will begin his new post in January 2007. Currently the deputy chief executive officer for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), Catoe has 26 years of experience in the transit industry. As WMATA's general manager, he will oversee nearly 10,000 employees, a $1.2 billion annual operating budget and a $3.3 billion six-year capital improvement program. At Los Angeles' Metro, Catoe's responsibilities included overseeing the agency's more than 2,600 buses, three light rail lines and heavy rail line. He will replace Richard White, who left the agency in February 2006.