[IMAGE]Catoe-award-full.jpg[/IMAGE] Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) General Manager John Catoe has been named the nation’s 2009 top public transportation manager by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).

The annual Outstanding Public Transportation Manager Award goes to the top manager in North America who has made outstanding contributions to the public transportation industry.

“I congratulate John Catoe on his tireless efforts to advance public transportation, here in the Washington Metropolitan area and around the country,” said APTA President William Millar. “With 30 years of experience in public transportation, John has a stellar track record of strong leadership and innovative performance. He has worked to improve public transportation at each of the public transit systems he has been associated with and has also worked to nurture the next generation of leaders.”

“To be selected as the 2009 Outstanding Public Transportation Manager means that John Catoe is the ‘best of the best’,” Millar said.

This is the first time in 20 years that a Metro General Manager has won APTA’s Outstanding Public Transportation Manager Award. Carmen E. Turner, Metro’s general manager from May 1983 to Dec. 1990, won the award in 1989.

APTA will present the award to Catoe in October at its annual meeting.