Q&A: 10 Questions for Metro's John Catoe

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10 Questions is Express' ongoing conversation with Metro's new general manager, John Catoe. Our first interview, conducted just after Catoe assumed his post in January, can be found here.

» EXPRESS: Right after you started with Metro, the agency had to deal with issues including the Red Line problems at Farragut North, the winter storm, tragic pedestrian deaths involving Metrobuses and other problems that meant you didn’t really get a honeymoon period. How do you think the commuting public has received you?

» CATOE: I'm not sure that I expected a honeymoon period. The challenges are the reason I accepted the position. This job is what my 30 years of transit experience has been leading up to. I felt that Metro was a good organization that can be great. What I've learned since coming here is that my perceptions about the people at Metro were right. This hasn't been an easy time. The deaths have been tragic, and have illustrated the need to focus on safety issues, but there is a real commitment and desire in the employees to make Metro the best in the nation.

As far as acceptance from Metro customers, my best measure of that is my daily commute, which has been good.

» EXPRESS: You have said that transit safety is your top concern and you've taken steps to mandate more frequent safety training for bus operators in the wake of the pedestrian deaths. Do you think there are larger safety
issues involving Metrobus that don't necessarily involve bus operators, but are more tied to situations that are largely out of the control of operators, e.g., poorly designed intersections and congested bus corridors downtown like I Street NW? How much risk can Metro reduce?
» CATOE: Our bus operators have a difficult job, I know that, and I want everyone in our region to understand and appreciate that. Where we can make the burden they carry lighter we will. I have supervisors looking at our schedules to see if we need to make changes there. Are the schedules reasonable given traffic on the routes? We need to make sure the answer is yes, or we need to change the route or schedule.

If there is a dangerous intersection, we need to consider changing the route to avoid it. I've also asked the bus operators in particular for input on improving safety, and I've gotten some very thoughtful suggestions. While we're doing what we can internally, we'll work with the regional jurisdictions to make sure that the operating environment is what it should be.

» EXPRESS: How are Metro employees reacting to the recent string of accidents and incidents?

» CATOE: First, my heart and the hearts of all Metro employees go out to the families of Mrs. Schoenborn, Ms. McGhee and Ms. Walters. We want them to know that we share their grief and are working to make sure that tragedies like this don't happen in the future. Within Metro, these events certainly affect us, and that's because our employees care so much about what they're doing. Though it is a difficult time, our employees are facing the challenges with straight backs. As I've mentioned, I am getting suggestions from our bus operators and other employees daily on improving safety. Our employees are up to the task.

» EXPRESS: In our last discussion, you said that one of your transit pet peeves is dirty buses and train cars. The recent winter weather didn't help that much. Metro is currently testing more durable flooring materials in some train cars. How is that experiment going? Do you see a day when carpet will be removed from the rail system?
» CATOE: Two of our 1000-series cars, cars 1062 and 1063, have some slip resistant vinyl flooring at their entrances. So far, we've not had any negative response from customers. In the future, we'll consider outfitting a pair of cars completely with new flooring, to see what customers think. While it may be difficult to a move away from carpet in the older cars without a major modification to their floor panels, I haven't ruled that out.

» EXPRESS: While the saga of the Tysons Corner Metrorail tunnel vs. elevated rail line debate pre-dates your arrival at Metro, what do you think of it from the sidelines?
» CATOE: I think you've hit the nail on the head, when you say we're on the sidelines. Right now, the coaches are developing the game plan. Soon enough, they'll call our number and we'll be in the game. We've shown over the last 30 years that we can operate with tunnels or elevated lines, and we're excited by the prospects of extending rail service into that area. The plan itself, though, has to be developed and approved by those who are most directly affected, the people writing the checks and those that live and work there.

» EXPRESS: You've recently said that you would rather cut jobs at the transit agency than raise fares. That certainly calms the nerves of commuters who reacted very negatively to a fare-hike proposal and downtown congestion surcharges from late last year. Will cutting jobs and expenses within Metro be enough to solve short- and long-term funding issues?
» CATOE: First, let's remember that Metro provides transit service, and our review of the authority is designed to focus everything on that. I won't propose raising fares or cutting service until I'm sure that all our resources are organized in the most effective way.

That's why I have decided to phase out the Office of Construction upon the completion of its current projects, and why the Office of Infrastructure Renewal will be more involved in improving bus facilities in the future.

It is crucial to understand that [the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority] is moving into a new era. Over the last 30 years, the authority has been focused on building and operating an impressive transit system. Now, to go from impressive to being truly great, we have to narrow our focus. That focus will be maintaining and operating the nation's best transit system.

Does that mean expansion for Metro is complete? No, there's talk of expansion everywhere, but Metro won't be doing the construction. The jurisdictions will take the lead on construction, with our oversight. When that's done, they'll turn the keys over to us and we'll operate and maintain the system.

Now, over both the short and long-term, there are funding issues that have nothing to do with the number of people we employ. The cost of fuel, for example, is factor we can't control. We can do analysis and make plans, but ultimately we can't control that. Being able to project our revenues and funding though is a huge factor for us. That's why a dedicated funding source is important to our long-term success. Being able to firmly project the contributions from the various jurisdictions gives us the ability to plan strategically for our future service to this region.

» EXPRESS: Where does Metro face the most obstacles politically: the District, Annapolis, Richmond? With all of Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine's problems with state lawmakers over transportation funding, many assume that the biggest problems lie in Virginia. Do you agree?
» CATOE: You know, I have to concentrate and comment on things that I can affect. As the elected officials and their staffs create budgets, the greatest impact Metro and I can have, is to provide safe, efficient, and convenient service. That's our primary focus. We'll deliver that and the other things will fall into place.

» EXPRESS: On the congressional level, you left a state that now enjoys great political power on Capitol Hill. Have you talked to friends of the transit community on Capitol Hill since you arrived in Washington about Metro's long-term funding issues?
» CATOE: I've made it a point to get out and make contact with leaders at the federal, state, county and city level. And I'm not done meeting people yet. I think it is very important to have a dialogue. If we know what challenges and issues each of us face, then we can we truly help each other and this region. And, as I said, our part is to deliver safe, efficient and convenient service.

» EXPRESS: So far in your job, what is one thing about the transit system that you've discovered that you've found odd, fascinating and/or unexpected that the average commuter wouldn't ever know about?
» CATOE: The one thing the average commuter would never know about is the age of our bus facilities. Most of them are more than 60 years old, and the oldest turns 100 this year. These need to be replaced because modifying them would be like trying to turn a log cabin into a high-rise apartment building. As of now, though, there's no money in the budget to replace them, which again leads us to the need for dedicated funding.

» EXPRESS: How has your commute been going?
» CATOE: Overall, my commute has been good. Of course, a couple of times I've been caught in delays on the rail line. I've talked to the head of rail about the need for the train operator to provide more specific information to the passengers of a delayed train. For example, what do you mean by a short delay?

One thing that's amazed me on my commute is the etiquette practiced by the customers during boarding. Everyone is very good about waiting for the train to unload before boarding. It is great to have that cooperation and it helps us keep the trains moving on time.