RTD general manager Cal Marsella has enjoyed great success at the helm of the metro transit district.
On his watch, three popular light-rail lines opened on time and within budget. He helped secure nearly $1 billion in federal money to build rail lines and transit corridors. He pushed public-private partnerships that helped bring down transit costs, benefitting taxpayers. And he helped develop FasTracks, a plan supported by voters in 2004 to build rail lines throughout the metro area.
The Regional Transportation District also was named the Outstanding Public Transportation Agency in North America by the American Public Transportation Association in 2003 and 2008.
Yet, also on Marsella’s watch, the costs for FasTracks ballooned from the $4.7 billion approved by voters to nearly $7 billion today. The agency now is faced with asking voters to approve another 0.4 percent sales-tax increase to finish all phases of the project by 2017.
Marsella, who announced Tuesday he’ll leave RTD in July for a private- sector job, can’t take credit for all of RTD’s successes, nor can he blamed for rising construction costs and the price of steel that have hampered FasTracks. (However, the agency grossly miscalculated the costs of the projects and the amount of sales taxes coming in to pay for it.)
His departure means a new set of eyes will review FasTracks and the cost overruns, and at this point, we think that’s a positive.
Marsella was a tireless campaigner for RTD and FasTracks. He became the face of the agency as he worked the morning chamber breakfasts and evening service club meetings. He delivered a stump speech on the need for transit that was more persuasive than any a politician could have delivered.
But he also became a lightning rod for criticism. We recently chided Marsella for trying to defer a hefty salary hike and bonus, totalling $50,000, rather than forgoing the money entirely in tough economic times. Marsella eventually agreed to cut his overall salary and bonus package by 3 percent.
At the time, we said Marsella’s bonus and salary hike would give potential opponents useful fodder for attack ads if RTD seeks a tax hike. His departure gives opponents less traction.
Yet to find someone suitable, RTD’s board of directors will need to offer a similar compensation package. We hope they will show more fiscal restraint when it comes to benefits. Marsella’s benefits include a pension credit equal to 2 1/2 years of service for each year worked, retroactive to 1995. And he can roll over unused vacation and sick time each year. He’ll cash out about 2,000 hours when he leaves. That’s quite a golden parachute. Sick time shouldn’t be banked.
Overall, Marsella can be proud of the job he did at RTD, and he’ll leave the agency a better place.
