WASHINGTON — As Metro looks for the next General Manager to replace Richard Sarles, a small rift has formed between D.C., Maryland and Virginia on what type of person the next leader should be.
The disagreement is whether the person should have a strong transit background or have a strong fiscal background. Leaders in all three jurisdictions says ideally the candidate would have both. But if that’s not possible, which is more important?
D.C. and Maryland want a fiscal wizard. Virginia wants a strong transit person to fix the problems with the system and make the 10-year Metro Momentum vision become reality.
“The decisions that are going to have be made by the next general manager involve a lot of financial issues that are going to be difficult and probably not going to be popular. But it’s going to be what it’s going to take to get Metro’s house in order,” says Maryland Transportation Secretary Peter Rahn.
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chair Sharon Bulova would like a Sarles-like person with some more financial acumen.
“I really do think that we need someone who understands transit. We really need a solid big picture person, someone who understands a system like WMATA. It is a combination of bus and rail. It is a large system and it has its set of challenges,” says Bulova.
This key difference also reflects different attitudes on the priorities between the two states. Rahn says Maryland’s priority is to get the system into a state of good repair, rather than expand the system. He tells WTOP that there’s not enough money to do both, and that between fixing what Metro already has and expanding to all eight-car trains and other costly initiatives under Metro’s 10-year vision, it must choose the former.
Meanwhile, Virginia is a big supporter of the Momentum vision and is funding Phase 2 of the Silver Line. It wants all eight-car rush hour trains and all the costly upgrades to make it a reality.
However, both hope that it will be possible to find a general manager who can fix the system, change the culture and balance the budget.
“That person is out and it’s a matter of making sure of finding the right person and maintaining the confidentiality to attract top candidates,” says Bulova.
