Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, board chair of L.A. Metro, announced this morning that Phil Washington, from the Denver Regional Transportation District, will replace former CEO Art Leahy as head of Los Angeles County’s largest transit agency. Washington oversaw a rail building boom in Denver, a city that also launched its rail program via a sales tax measure. In fact, local leaders drew inspiration from Denver’s experience in putting Measure R on the ballot in 2008.

I spoke with Steve Julian at KPCC radio earlier this morning about the new CEO and the challenges he will face: