Serious fixes for WMATA (cont'd): Bring in the CEO

Previously, we discussed two of the six elements of the Riders' Advisory Council's report on WMATA governance: setting high standards for board members' attendance and ridership, and the board focusing on high-level policy. Another very important element of the recommendations is getting more of a CEO to run WMATA, and treating him or her like a CEO.

WMATA needs strong leadership, especially now. It needs someone who can formulate a clear vision for WMATA's future, what steps it needs to take to get there, and advocate for the necessary resources from governments, organization restructuring, changes to labor agreements, and more.

Unfortunately, the board-general manager relationship does not facilitate this leadership. The General Manager acts as an employee of the Board instead of as the head of the organization. The Board chair, not the General Manager, typically does interviews on TV.

[Continue reading David Alpert's post here at Greater Greater Washington.]

David Alpert is founder and editor of Greater Greater Washington. The Local Blog Network is a group of bloggers from around the D.C. region who have agreed to make regular contributions to All Opinions Are Local.