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 the most dynamic transit agency in North America, which is engaged in one of the largest transit expansion programs, FasTracks. This multi-billion dollar capital program represents the biggest transit-only, voter-approved program in the country, and FasTracks will change the face of the entire Denver metro region in many positive ways.

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, Mr. Washington 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 Co-chair for Transportation for the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Most recently, 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. Phil has also been involved with many economic development issues during his tenure at RTD.

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, where he became very familiar with public transit as a daily passenger.  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.