General Manager

Phillip A. Washington

Phillip A. Washington was unanimously selected as RTD’s General Manager in December 2009 by RTD’s Board of Directors. Phil had served as the interim General Manager for six months, and prior to that was RTD’s Assistant General Manager of Administration for nearly ten years.

As RTD’s General Manager, Phil is leading one of the most dynamic transit agencies in North America, which is implementing the FasTracks program, one of the largest transit expansion programs in the country. In a relatively short period of time and with the recent groundbreaking of the commuter rail line from Denver International Airport to downtown Denver, Phil has spearheaded the implementation of the first-of-its kind $2.3 billion dollar transit Public Private Partnership.  He has worked to reach agreement on two major railroad deals that will pave the way for the build out of two commuter rail lines.  Additionally, he has led the effort to install a state of the art Intrusion Detection System (IDS) along the portions of the region’s Southwest Light Rail line where the freight tracks are in close proximity (The IDS uses seismic technology to detect earth movements associated with train derailments and immediately sends alarms to RTD.  RTD is the first transit agency in North America to utilize this technology.).  Phil is responsible for a 2011 total agency budget appropriation in the amount of $1.9 billion dollars and is currently managing active transit expansion projects in the amount of $3.0 billion.  He has also created the RTD & Community Workforce Initiative Now (WIN) Program that will identify, assess, train, and put to work thousands of people who live in communities affected by major infrastructure projects. 

As RTD’s AGM of Administration, he directed the Finance, Materials Management, Information Technology, Human Resources, Treasury, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise divisions. Phil was a key member of the 2003 and 2006 management negotiating teams that resulted in collective bargaining agreements with the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), Local #1001, and was the Chief Negotiator for the 2009 collective bargaining agreement talks between RTD and ATU Local 1001.  Phil also recently had oversight responsibility in implementing a new multi-million dollar Enterprise Resource Planning system to replace RTD’s 25-year old Legacy computer systems. That project was completed ahead of schedule and $750,000 under budget.

In October 2006, Phil was appointed by the Office of the Mayor of Denver to serve on the City’s Diversity in Safety Task Force to review, discuss, and make recommendations about strategies for promoting diversity in the recruitment and hiring of fire fighters and police candidates.

In November 2007, Phil was selected to a 12-member United States transit team for the fall 2007 Transit Cooperative Research Program, International Transit Studies Program to study and report on issues and challenges facing transit agencies in Canada and Europe. Also, in 2007, Phil was appointed by the Office of the Mayor of Denver as Working Co-chair for Transportation for the 2008 Democratic National Convention. In February 2009, Phil was appointed by Governor Bill Ritter to serve on the State of Colorado’s Workforce Development Council to help the State create a 21st century workforce.

Prior to Phil’s transportation industry experience, he had a storied 24-year military career, retiring as a decorated Active-duty U.S. Army soldier, having attained the rank of Command Sergeant Major, (E-9). This position is not only the highest non-commissioned officer rank an enlisted person can achieve, but also requires uncompromising integrity and leadership skills. He is the recipient of numerous military honors and citations for outstanding performance of duty and leadership.

Mr. Washington is originally from the south side of Chicago – the Chicago Housing Projects of Altgeld Gardens - where he became very familiar with public transportation as a transit-dependent rider.  He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Columbia College and a Master of Arts degree in Management from Webster University.

Phil commutes to work by bus and light rail each day from his home in Aurora, Colorado.