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The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency’s (SFMTA) board has appointed Debra Johnson acting executive director and chief operating officer. She will temporarily replace Nathaniel Ford Sr., who leaves the top post today.

Johnson currently serves as SFMTA’s director of administration, taxis and accessible services. She will hold the interim post until a new director and CEO is appointed, SFMTA officials said in a prepared release.

“Debra has more than 20 years of experience in the transportation industry and has a vast understanding of how SFMTA works,” said SFMTA Chairman Tom Nolan. “She was the driving force behind the recent labor negotiations and is trusted throughout the SFMTA and at City Hall as a person of great integrity.”

Johnson began her transportation career working for an engineering firm, and later transitioned into public transportation, holding various positions with the Bay Area Rapid Transit, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.

Meanwhile, SFTMA’s board also awarded a $233.6 million contract to Barnard Impregilo Healy for the Central Subway tunneling project. The company will develop 8,240 feet of concrete guideway tunnels and procure two tunnel boring machines to be used for construction.

Last week, the Federal Transit Administration awarded SFMTA $20 million in New Starts funds for fiscal-year 2011 to keep the project moving forward. The Central Subway has received $95.9 million in federal funding to date.