Achieving the ambitious goals of the vast FasTracks network of trains and buses has grown more complicated over the years.
Given RTD’s bleak financial outlook — and the need to re-pitch FasTracks to voters — the idea of hiring a manager charged solely with overseeing the nearly $7 billion project has a certain appeal, even if it does need some tweaking.
Faced with the loss of their charismatic general manager, Cal Marsella, who departs July 31, Regional Transportation District board members wonder if it would be more efficient to replace the longtime general manager and add a new executive for FasTracks.
It would be an added expense for a taxing district that has experienced a drop in sales tax revenue, but at $7 billion, FasTracks is a job worth doing right.
The system seeks to add 122 miles of light rail and commuter rail, 18 miles of bus rapid transit, 57 new transit stations and many other improvements. But since metro-area voters agreed to a 0.4 percent sales tax to build FasTracks in 2004, expenses have soared and tax collections have dropped, creating a $2.2 billion shortfall.
RTD directors decided recently to shelve a plan to ask voters this year for an extra 0.4 percent tax to cover the gap. They figure if they wait until next year, with a Marsella replacement on the job, voters would feel more comfortable about voting yes.
It’s prudent to wait at least a year, given the economy, but a tax hike likely still will be a tough sell for RTD.
Before RTD adds a new high-profile management position, it obviously will need to weigh the costs — both financially and politically.
Marsella is paid about $300,000 a year and has benefited from many pricey perks and benefits.
But if directors can show that two executives could rein in costs and efficiencies for the separate arms of the growing RTD, an added salary could be justified.
The RTD directors are considering making the two positions autonomous. They wouldn’t answer to each other, but to the board.
We think there should be a central top official. The general manager ought to be in charge over any FasTracks czar, as the demand of day-to-day operations would elude RTD directors.
Counting on the board’s oversight for both officials seems unwieldy.
Otherwise, we see the wisdom in the two-heads-better-than-one approach, and hope RTD looks at it seriously.
