Interim general manager Dave Genova is one step away from becoming the new permanent boss of the Regional Transportation District.
The RTD board of directors voted unanimously Friday night to enter into contract negotiations with Genova to make him the agency’s general manager and CEO by the end of the year.
Genova, 54, was among for the job. The other two were Stephanie Dawson, chief operating officer at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and Richard Leary, chief service officer for the Toronto Transit Commission.
Genova has served as interim general manager and CEO for RTD since April. He stepped in after Phil Washington left to become head of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
Genova has been with RTD for more than 21 years, serving as the assistant general manager of safety, security and facilities for the past eight years. In that position, his responsibilities included overseeing safety certification for rail line openings and the renovated Union Station.
“After conducting a nationwide search and interviewing three very talented finalists, we concluded Dave was the best fit to lead RTD forward,” said board chairman Chuck Sisk. “We have a long history of developing leadership from within the agency.”
Genova said he looked forward to leading the agency into 2016, when it opens five major transit lines.
“RTD has made tremendous progress, and we need to keep our collective focus on how to best continue providing more transit options to serve the rapidly growing metro area,” he said.
