Washington to leave Denver transit agency for Los Angeles

Phil Washington will leave his post as general manager of Denver's Regional Transportation District (RTD) to become the new chief executive of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA), according to Denver news media reports.

Washington yesterday morning turned in his letter of resignation to the RTD's board, but an official end date has not yet been determined, according to the Denver Post newspaper.

"The greatest impact that one can have on any enterprise is to continue to see the results of their involvement long after they have left," Washington wrote in his letter, the Post reported. "I will always be proud to speak to my years here at the RTD and the success and experiences that we have shared."

LACMTA's board has not yet announced that Washington is its choice for the next chief. A board meeting notice says the board will meet today in closed session to discuss potential candidates to replace CEO Art Leahy, who announced in January that he would leave the agency after a six-year term.

RTD's GM since 2009, Washington led the agency's multibillion-dollar transit expansion project known as FasTracks.

"He is a magnificent, magical person," RTD board member Claudia Folska told the Denver Post. "Phil Washington is a rock star."