John B. Catoe Jr.
John B. Catoe, Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Occupation | Public transit executive |
| Years active | 1979–2010 |
| Known for | General manager of Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (2007–2010) |
John B. Catoe, Jr. held the position of general manager at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) between 2007 and 2010, taking over from interim GM Jack Requa. A native of Washington, D.C., Catoe completed his secondary education at Spingarn High School and went on to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Redlands in California. He currently lives in Santa Monica, California.
Career
Bringing more than thirty years of experience in public transit, Catoe played a pivotal role in enhancing transportation systems nationwide. In 2009, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) honored him as Outstanding Public Transportation Manager, recognizing his leadership in ensuring safe and reliable transit operations during the 56th presidential inauguration. During his tenure as WMATA’s general manager, he introduced 23 dedicated rapid bus routes and extended peak-hour service to cover 17 consecutive hours, aligning with President Obama’s vision for improved transit accessibility.
At WMATA, Catoe managed an annual budget of $2 billion and supervised over 10,000 staff members while spearheading capital infrastructure planning and funding initiatives. Prior to his role at WMATA, he served as Deputy CEO of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) from 2001 until 2007.
While directing Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus system, Catoe achieved a 40% increase in service levels alongside a 36% growth in ridership. His efforts were recognized with the Metro Award for Efficiency from the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission and multiple accolades from APTA for safety and operational excellence.
Between 1979 and 1995, Catoe was employed by the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), where he managed the integration of various transit districts into a unified authority.
Although his WMATA contract was extended through 2012 with strong backing from the board, Catoe stepped down effective April 2, 2010, following the fatal train collision on June 22, 2009, which caused nine deaths.