The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Chairman and CEO Patrick J. Foye declared it was a “new day at MTA” following the MTA Board’s approval of the agency’s first reorganization plan on July 24.
“Now that the Board has approved these recommendations, the work of transforming the MTA into a world-class organization that provides its customers with the service they deserve begins,” said Foye.
The reorganization plan was developed by AlixPartners following an extensive evaluation process. The plan calls for MTA to refocus on core objectives and centralize many department functions.
MTA says the plan will prepare the agency to dramatically improve service, end project delays and cost overruns and establish the modern system customers deserve. In addition to the board’s action of approving the plan, the MTA also released critical deadlines and milestones for several of the major initiatives to make the reorganization plan a reality.
“In short, this report will institutionalize the enormous success of the Subway Action Plan, which has proven to be working and has increased on-time performance to 81.5 percent, marking the first time it has crossed the 80 percent threshold in six years,” the agency said.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said, “The MTA's reorganization plan is a good start, but now it comes down to execution and sound management. The timelines should provide hard dates to assess progress."
The governor had also expressed his wish that MTA use the transformation plan to address the homeless population on the subway.
To address these concerns, the MTA established on July 24 a Homeless Plan/Task Force with the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) Commissioner, the New York City Police Department (NYPD), the MTA Police Chief and the MTA Chief Safety Officer to assist homeless individuals on MTA property. MTA says the plan will include any additional MTA police officers necessary to assist the effort and an assessment of the effectiveness of the human service agencies currently employed by the MTA. A detailed action plan for the task force is Sept. 3.
Details of the plan and deadlines can be viewed on MTA’s website.
MTA leadership was supportive of the reorganization.
“This reorganization builds upon the progress made and will transform every aspect of our service and deliver modern, fully accessible transit to riders,” said New York City Transit President Andy Byford.
“I am encouraged that a fresh approach to MTA operations will help ensure that, as we embark on a truly transformational era in public transportation, that we are efficient and consistent with shared best practices, which will further our mission to give customers the service they deserve,” said Long Island Rail Road President Phillip Eng.
Metro-North Railroad President Catherine Rinaldi added, “The AlixPartners plan will create new opportunities for the sharing of best practices and new technologies across all of the MTA agencies with the goal of improving customer and employee safety, the reliability of service, and the overall customer experience.”
Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director
Mischa Wanek-Libman is director of communications with Transdev North America. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the transportation industry covering construction projects, engineering challenges, transit and rail operations and best practices.
Wanek-Libman has held top editorial positions at freight rail and public transportation business-to-business publications including as editor-in-chief and editorial director of Mass Transit from 2018-2024. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.
She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and served 14 years as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.
She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.
