Richard A. White
Encyclopedia
Richard A. White is an American public transportation official who served as the CEO and General Manager of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
, from 1996-2006. Prior to joining WMATA as CEO, he served as the general manager at Bay Area Rapid Transit
in the San Francisco area. White also spent six years with the federal Urban Mass Transit Administration, which is now the Federal Transit Administration
. White is from Massachusetts
.
.
vacated the post to become New Jersey's transportation commissioner. When White left BART, his annual salary was about $141,000 per year, not including benefits that increased his total compensation per year to about $180,000.
During the dispute White revealed his temper in public: "BART's top administrator yesterday angrily told union negotiators, 'It's time for a reality check.'" White asserted that "The issue is money" and that the members of ATU Local 1555 were engaged in "a campaign of misinformation and a lack of honesty" designed to make people believe the primary root of the dispute was work rules. "We have been as flexible and creative as we can...but this hardly resembles a good faith effort," White said.
A strike was averted in late September when workers approved new contracts.
after Lawrence G. Reuter left to take the top job at the MTA
New York City transit system. White was chosen from a field of over 60 candidates, and three other finalists, when he became general manager at WMATA. WMATA was a much larger agency than BART: when White assumed the job, WMATA had over 7,000 employees and a $750 million operating budget. In contrast, BART had about 3,000 workers and a $270 million budget. When WMATA hired White, his total compensation was about $200,000 per year.
A string of incidents in 2004-2005 and complaints of mismanagement at WMATA, however, eventually led to his dismissal on January 11, 2006. White stepped down on February 16, 2006 and was replaced by Dan Tangherlini
, as interim CEO.
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is a tri-jurisdictional government agency that operates transit service in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, including the Metrorail, Metrobus and MetroAccess...
, from 1996-2006. Prior to joining WMATA as CEO, he served as the general manager at Bay Area Rapid Transit
Bay Area Rapid Transit
Bay Area Rapid Transit is a rapid transit system serving the San Francisco Bay Area. The heavy-rail public transit and subway system connects San Francisco with cities in the East Bay and suburbs in northern San Mateo County. BART operates five lines on of track with 44 stations in four counties...
in the San Francisco area. White also spent six years with the federal Urban Mass Transit Administration, which is now the Federal Transit Administration
Federal Transit Administration
The Federal Transit Administration is an agency within the United States Department of Transportation that provides financial and technical assistance to local public transit systems. The FTA is one of ten modal administrations within the DOT...
. White is from Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.
1981-1991: New Jersey Transit
From 1981 to 1991, White worked for New Jersey TransitNew Jersey Transit
The New Jersey Transit Corporation is a statewide public transportation system serving the United States state of New Jersey, and New York, Orange, and Rockland counties in New York State...
.
1991-1996: BART
In 1991, White was hired as BART's deputy general manager and became BART's general manager in April 1994 after Frank WilsonFrank Wilson
Frank Wilson may refer to:* Frank E. Wilson , U.S. Representative from New York* Frank H. Wilson , American actor* Frank J...
vacated the post to become New Jersey's transportation commissioner. When White left BART, his annual salary was about $141,000 per year, not including benefits that increased his total compensation per year to about $180,000.
Labor relations
White inherited an agency with fractious labor relations. Union officials often criticized White's predecessor, Frank Wilson, as autocratic, arrogant, and distrustful of the rank-and-file.1994 contract negotiations
Just months after he assumed the helm in 1994, union members threatened to strike. Governor Pete Wilson imposed a 30-day cooling-off period in July, and the period was later extended to sixty days by a Contra Costa County Superior Court order. Management and members of the unions, which included the Service Employees International Union Local 790 and the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555, disgareed over a proposed contract provision that would have allowed management to transfer workers anywhere within the system. The two sides also disagreed over pay provisions.During the dispute White revealed his temper in public: "BART's top administrator yesterday angrily told union negotiators, 'It's time for a reality check.'" White asserted that "The issue is money" and that the members of ATU Local 1555 were engaged in "a campaign of misinformation and a lack of honesty" designed to make people believe the primary root of the dispute was work rules. "We have been as flexible and creative as we can...but this hardly resembles a good faith effort," White said.
A strike was averted in late September when workers approved new contracts.
Capital improvement
White pushed through a three-year, 45-percent fare increase, the largest cumulative increase in the agency's history. The increase was part of a 10-year, $1-billion program of capital investment.1996-2006: WMATA
In 1996, White became general manager of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit AuthorityWashington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is a tri-jurisdictional government agency that operates transit service in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, including the Metrorail, Metrobus and MetroAccess...
after Lawrence G. Reuter left to take the top job at the MTA
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York)
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York is a public benefit corporation responsible for public transportation in the U.S...
New York City transit system. White was chosen from a field of over 60 candidates, and three other finalists, when he became general manager at WMATA. WMATA was a much larger agency than BART: when White assumed the job, WMATA had over 7,000 employees and a $750 million operating budget. In contrast, BART had about 3,000 workers and a $270 million budget. When WMATA hired White, his total compensation was about $200,000 per year.
A string of incidents in 2004-2005 and complaints of mismanagement at WMATA, however, eventually led to his dismissal on January 11, 2006. White stepped down on February 16, 2006 and was replaced by Dan Tangherlini
Dan Tangherlini
Daniel M. "Dan" Tangherlini is the current Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Management, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Performance Officer at the U.S. Department of Treasury. Prior to that, he served as City Administrator of Washington, D.C...
, as interim CEO.
Further reading
- Peter Fimrite, "BART Boss Leaving to Run D.C. Transit Authority," San Francisco Chronicle, June 1, 1996, page A15.
- Dennis Akizuki, "BART Chief to Head D.C. Transit," San Jose Mercury News, June 1, 1996, page 1B.
- Kevin Fagan, "BART, Unions Talking Again," San Francisco Chronicle, September 7, 1994, page A13.
- Kevin Fagan, "No BART strike -- Workers Ratify New Contract," San Francisco Chronicle, September 29, 1994, page A1.
- Katherine Corcoran, "BART Exec to Lead N.J. Agency," San Jose Mercury News, January 14, 1994, page 1B.