The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority has named the current chief of Austin, Texas’s transit system as its next general manager, to replace the retiring Paul Wiedefeld.
Randy Clarke, president and CEO of Austin’s Capital Metro since March 2018, was chosen “following an exhaustive nationwide search,” WMATA announced Tuesday. Wiedefeld disclosed in January he would retire in six months after leading Greater Washington’s dominant transit system for a trying six years.
Clarke will take over at a date still to be determined in late summer, when he’ll assume a five-year contract at an annual salary of $485,000. Wiedefeld plans to step down June 30.
The turbulent times for Metro will not end with Clarke’s arrival. Although ridership is on the rise after the pandemic crash — it was falling even before Covid-19 — a host of challenges face the new GM, from safety and reliability on the rails to financial gaps. WMATA’s 7000-series cars remain out of service after a…
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