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To reduce costs and streamline operations, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) recently announced it plans to phase out the Office of Construction as current projects are completed.

As the department is phased out, the Office of Infrastructure and Renewal Programs will oversee rail and bus capital improvements. Eventually, local jurisdictions will take over service expansion projects. WMATA will provide support and oversight during the construction period.

Meanwhile, the agency named Suzanne Peck chief information officer to succeed Ronald Burfield, who is retiring this month. She most recently served as chief technology officer for the District of Columbia.

In addition, WMATA’s new general manager, John Catoe Jr., said he is close to hiring a new deputy general manager to oversee day-to-day operations of Metrorail, Metrobus and MetroAccess. The candidate: Gerald Francis, the current general manger of rail operations for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.