Photo by philliefan99.

That’s the word from WTOP’s Adam Tuss, who reports that Metro’s search for a new general manager is coming down to the wire. WMATA’s board has narrowed its search down to three unnamed finalists. Tuss reports that all three candidates will be interviewed a week from Saturday.

If the quotes from board members in Tuss’ report are to be taken seriously, then Washingtonians should prepare for a Metro boss who isn’t from a transit background. Calls for Metro to radically reorganize its leadership structure have been made by Metro’s Riders’ Advisory Council, the Greater Washington Board of Trade and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, all of whom suggested that the system would be better served with a stronger executive presence.

Metro has been without a permanent general manager since last spring, when John Catoe resigned from the position. Former New Jersey Transit Executive Director Richard Sarles has been filling the role on an interim basis since that time — Sarles is not being considered for the permanent position. One name which has been heavily rumored for the job is San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Chief Executive Officer Nat Ford.

Whoever takes over certainly will have their work cut out for them — controversial random bag searches, discouraging Inspector General reports, a long-term NTSB-recommended equipment replacement project, and myriad escalator issues are just some of the issues the new boss will need to address immediately.