Metro CEO Art Leahy to step down in April

After heading Metro for six years, CEO of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Art Leahy announced he will leave his post after his April 5 contract expires, Metro shared on its blog The Source.

Leahy, who began his transportation career as a bus operator 44 years ago, worked on big projects during his CEO tenure including implementing Measure R, launching a $1.2-billion overhaul of the Metro Blue Line; guiding the purchase of a new fleet of rail cars; and led Metro’s acquisition of Union Station.

"This is entirely his choice," Metro Spokesman Marc Littman told KPCC. "He’s accomplished a great deal and it's his choice to move on."

Littman does not know if Leahy will work elsewhere or retire but said others have approached Leahy with opportunities.

“Millions of people will get to work and home to their loved ones faster because of his stewardship of the nation’s largest public works project, the implementation of Measure R transportation program,” said Mayor and Metro Chair Eric Garcetti in a statement Tuesday.

Construction of the new carpool lane on the northbound 405 freeway that led to the apocalyptically-named Carmageddon I and II weekends that saw no traffic was also under Leahy’s watch.

“Art Leahy especially distinguished himself through his ability to secure and leverage federal funding with local funding sources to get projects off the ground,” said Garcetti. “In addition he was committed to maintenance and refurbishment of existing bus and rail lines. On his watch Metro buses are more accessible, more punctual, and cleaner.”

In addition, Metro added, minorities and disadvantaged workers have opportunities for construction jobs and apprenticeships for five new rail projects under construction due to the nation’s first federally-approved Project Labor Agreement and Construction Careers Program that began during Leahy’s tenure. 

The Metro board of directors will decide who replaces Leahy. Littman has not heard of any candidates yet but says Leahy's successor will deal with Metro's $5 billion annual budget and over 9,000 employees. 

"The board's going to have to hire not only someone who knows about transit but someone who knows about construction and that can manage a huge budget and workforce that is literally changing the urban fabric of Los Angeles," said Littman. "Those are big shoes to fill."