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Richard White will resign as Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) general manager and chief executive officer, the authority announced yesterday.

White and WMATA's board reached an agreement under which he will continue to serve in his current position until an interim replacement assumes control over the authority’s day-to-day operations. The interim transition is expected to be completed by March 31.

The board appointed alternate member and District of Columbia Department of Transportation Director Dan Tangherlini to serve as acting GM while board members conduct a nationwide search for a new leader. Tangherlini will resign from WMATA’s board and the district’s DOT.

The board is searching for a new chief executive who can address such issues as improving service, expanding regional mobility, using existing resources efficiently and developing new funding sources.

WMATA’s longest-serving top executive, White joined the authority as GM in 1996. During his tenure, he oversaw the agency’s first significant rail expansion, helped stabilize the bus system, incorporated new technology, fostered transit-oriented development and worked with member jurisdictions to create the six-year, $3.3 million "Metro Matters" funding agreement.