The RTD board will decide Tuesday whether to hire the executive search firm of Krauthamer & Associates for up to $100,000 to help it select a new general manager to replace Cal Marsella.

Marsella, who headed RTD through a time of expansion and controversy, left last month for a private sector position with MV Transportation.

Phil Washington, RTD's interim general manager

The proposed $100,000 contract includes a fixed fee of $40,000 for the new general manager search, an optional $35,000 if the board decides to recruit a second top manager to separately head the beleaguered FasTracks transit expansion program, and $25,000 in reimbursable costs for things such as advertising the position, candidate travels to interviews and background checks.

Krauthamer & Associates is a 38-year-old firm from Chevy Chase, Md., that has done executive search service for transit-related entities including the American Public Transportation Association, Bay Area rapid Transit, Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority, SEPTA in Philadelphia and the Long Island Railroad.

RTD got 15 proposals from firms wanting to do the work. A subcommittee of the RTD board ranked the top five proposals in terms of cost, experience, approach and timeline, then the full committee assigned to the search selected three of them for in-person interviews.

After those interviews were held on Tuesday this past week, the committee unanimously selected Krauthamer & Associates.

The RTD board is considering splitting the general manager position into two, with one responsible for overall daily operations of the bus and light rail transit system and the other devoted solely to taking over the FasTracks program.

FasTracks has soared in cost from the original estimate of $4.7 billion to $6.9 billion, and with the impact of the recession on the economy, the sales tax voters approved for it in 2004 is now projected to produce enough financial support for only $4.7 billion in work.

RTD is considering going to voters next year to ask for a second sales tax increase of four-tenths of a cent to build the original program, or failing that, alternatives to building as much of the 10 transit corridors as it can by extending the completion schedule over another 15 years or so.

Even if it leaves the responsibility for FasTracks with a single individual, RTD has to appoint a new chief for the program. Rick Clarke and Bill Van Meter have been handling responsibilities for engineering and planning, respectively, since last year’s departure of FasTracks chief Liz Rao.