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Nov-06-2009Bloomberg Asks for Patience on MTA Plan(topic overview)
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Howard Roberts, president of the New York City Transit Authority, which operates the subways and buses, has resigned after two and a half years on the job. Jay Walder, the new chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, announced Roberts''' resignation and praised him, saying, '''He deserves credit for the hard work leading NYC Transit over the last two and a half years.''' '''I am grateful for his service to the MTA,''' Walder said. '''He will remain in his position through the end of November. His replacement will be named in short order.''' Roberts, who is eligible for a severance package worth $300,000, was widely praised for establishing separate managers for each subway line and for Rider Report Cards, a system in which subway riders tell transit authorities their opinions of service. [1] Howard Roberts Jr., president of NYC Transit for the past 2 1/2 years, resigned today, leading many to suspect more resignations will come, as new MTA head Jay Walder wants to leave his own stamp on the agency. According to the Daily News, "Transit advocates credit Roberts for a series of reforms, like asking bus and subway riders to rate service on their lines and rank their priorities," but a "few board members have expressed exasperation with delays that continue to plague the subway system. Some in the authority felt Roberts was too deferential to labor - a contention he strongly disputed."[2]
NYC Transit President Howard Roberts is leaving the station - with a severance package of approximately $300,000, officials said Wednesday. His resignation was accepted Wednesday morning by MTA Chairman Jay Walder, ending Roberts' 2 1/2-year-run as top executive of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's bus and subway division, the MTA said.[3] The move came just weeks after Jay H. Walder took over as chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. '''Howard deserves credit for his hard work leading N.Y.C. Transit over the last two and one half years, and I am grateful for his service to the M.T.A.,''' Mr. Walder said in a statement, adding that he would name a replacement '''in short order.''' During his tenure, Mr. Roberts introduced a management program that assigned individual supervisors to each subway line, an attempt to increase accountability to customers. He also insisted on publishing monthly performance figures that showed how often each subway line showed up to stations on time.[4] The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority opnbrktMTAclsbrkt plans to name Roberts' successor "in short order," said MTA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jay Walder in a prepared statement.[5]
NEW YORK (AP) - Bus and subway riders may one day be able to get mass transit information by calling the city's 311 hot line. Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman Jay Walder and Mayor Michael Bloomberg say they're exploring the idea. Currently, the state agency uses its own phone system. It offers more than 20 different phone numbers for subway, bus and MetroCard inquiries.[6] Mr. Prendergast, who was in Canada and not giving interviews Thursday, is chief executive of Vancouver's South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority, also known as TransLink. He has worked at the MTA before, serving as president of the Long Island Rail Road from 1994 to 2000 and senior vice president of subways at New York City Transit from 1990 to 1994. In a press release, the MTA called him "a world-renowned transit expert." Mr. Prendergast is being brought in by new MTA CEO Jay Walder, who had been expected to turn over some key positions and bring in his own people. "Tom is a leader who brings an extraordinary variety of experiences from around the world to a system that he already knows extremely well," Mr. Walder said in a statement.[7] The new president of New York City Transit will be Thomas Prendergast, who served as head of the city's subways from 1990 to 1994 and later as head of the Long Island Rail Road. M.T.A. chairman Jay Walder confirmed the hire this morning and said an announcement will be made this afternoon, just one day after he accepted the resignation of outgoing president Howard Roberts.[8] MTA Chairman Jay Walder said Thursday that Prendergast will start as president of New York City Transit on Dec. 1. He was head of the Vancouver transit system, which Walder says is 1 of the most sophisticated in the world.[9]
A day after Howard Roberts announced he was stepping down, agency hires former Long Island Railroad president Thomas Prendergast. A day after the president of New York City Transit announced his resignation, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority named his replacement.[7] Howard H. Roberts Jr., the avuncular boss of New York City'''s buses and subways, resigned Wednesday after a tenure of two and a half years. His departure raised few eyebrows inside the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, where officials had been speculating about Mr. Roberts'''s fate for weeks, according to several people familiar with the situation. Mr. Roberts had been blamed internally for allowing the Transport Workers Union to gain back ground during this year'''s contract negotiations, they said. Others believed that Mr. Roberts, a veteran manager who also led the transit system in Philadelphia, had been unfairly cast as a scapegoat.[4] The former NYC Transit head resigned Wednesday amid a leadership shakeup at the MTA. The most recent chief of New York City's buses and subways, Howard H. Roberts Jr., stepped down after the new leadership at the''MTA asked him to resign. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)[10] Howard Roberts Jr. resigned as MTA New York City Transit opnbrktNYCTclsbrkt president, effective Nov. 30. He has served in the top post since April 2007.[5] Howard Roberts was named president of New York City Transit -- overseeing the bus and subway system that carries over 7 million daily riders -- by ex-MTA CEO Eliot Sander.[11] Mr. Roberts also led efforts to introduce more advanced bus service in the Bronx and Manhattan, which produced a handful of pilot projects involving dedicated bus lanes and more reliable bus service. Mr. Roberts began his career at New York City Transit in 1981 as a vice president for finance and administration. He graduated from West Point and has two master'''s degrees from Princeton University.[4] One transit advocacy group, the Straphangers Campaign, issued a statement: "Howard Roberts Jr. has been a good head of New York City's transit system. Although saddled with budget cuts and disruptions caused by needed repair work, he put managers in charge of each line and pushed to provide faster bus service.[2]
"Tom's work running one of the most technologically sophisticated systems in Vancouver will be invaluable as we take the MTA to the next level in performance and customer service." Mr. Prendergast, 57, began his career at the Chicago Transit Authority and worked at the Federal Transit Administration. Starting at New York City Transitwhich operates city subways and buses for the MTAin 1982, he rose through the ranks before leaving in 2000 for the private sector. He joined TransLink in July 2008. "It is a tremendous honor to return home to lead the outstanding men and women who run one of the world's great transit systems," Mr. Prendergast said, in a statement.[7] NEW YORK (AP) - The chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority says the new head of the agency that runs New York City's buses and subways will be Thomas Prendergast.[9] NEW YORK (AP/ 1010 WINS) -- The head of the agency running New York City's bus and subway service has resigned amid a leadership shift at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.[11]
New York--Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg made another stride to tighten up New York City's communication systems by setting up a tour of the city's 311 call center for Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) officials.[12]
Then I can also save the cash strapped city billions of dollars withteh R160 subway cars since I actualy would put a stop to the rampant embezzlement that the government leaders tolerate. However since Mayor Bloomberg is a self made bilionare I strongly suspect he is not interested in considering me since he is a thief receiving kickbacks. I would like to point out that in spite of the MTA complaining about the union pay hike agred to an arbitrater they have raised the fare by many multiples of that figure. Again if the people of the city of New York want a competent candidate I have the credentials as Mr Grynbaum and Mr Dwyer wil confirm if they still have the documents that I emailed them.[4] With 311 taking in the MTA questions and other concerns of the people the MTA lines should soon clear up much like New York City's 911 lines.[12]
Try evacuating a train in a black out or flood condition while thousands of New yorkers tell you you are doing a horrible job. My father spent 31 years in the front of a train and he was always happy to serve the people of New York they in return spit at him, gave home the finger and pointed at their watches. He raised my sister and myself and put us through college. He was a decent man. I only wish that the city and the people he loved to get to work day in day out would have at least said 'Thank You' once in a while.[4]
Roberts' biggest defender during the flap was TWU Local 100 President Roger Toussaint. His spokesman argued Roberts made the right call because the healthcare provision allegedly was vague and could have been defeated by a legal challenge by the union. Walder released a statement saying Roberts "deserves credit for his hard work leading NYC Transit over the last two and one half years, and I am grateful for his service to the MTA. He will remain in his position through the end of November." He said new president will be named "in short order."[3] The agency did not say why Roberts bowed out after two years on the job. A replacement will be made "in short order," said MTA head Jay Walder, who is a month into his job. As a condition of passing a financial bailout for the MTA earlier this year, state officials pressed for a makeover of the agency's management ranks to increase transparency and accountability. Last week, NYC Transit's chief engineer quit to work in the private sector. Other agency leaders are vulnerable, transit sources said.[13]
Straphangers with questions or complaints may soon have a quicker way to reach the MTA: Dialing 311. The city's information line is already flooded with calls about subways and buses, so rather than transferring them to the MTA, as they do now, operators should start providing answers, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Thursday. "We think it would significantly cut down on confusion and improve customer service," Bloomberg said during an appearance at the 311 call center in Manhattan, where he was joined by MTA Chairman Jay Walder. Though few details have been worked out - including a timetable for when the changeover might happen - both Bloomberg and Walder expressed optimism that 311 will begin handling some of the load of the MTA's four call centers. [14] MTA CEO Jay Walder and Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DOITT) Commissioner Paul J. Cosgrave took a close look at the city's 311 call center with the mayor on Thursday to see how things work and to discuss options regarding the 311 team handling inquiries involving the MTA's subway system.[12]
If we can have one number to call to receive subway and bus information, report problems, or get directions, it would bring the same great service that New Yorkers have gotten from city government since 2003 to the MTA," stated the mayor in recent press release issued on Thursday.[12]
The Straphangers also cite other accomplishments like providing faster bus service (the first-ever "Select Bus Service" routes in the Bronx and Manhattan), the subway rider report cards, and adopting a new flood strategy.[2] An MTA spokesman said the package is worth about $300,000. Transit advocates credit Roberts for a series of reforms, like asking bus and subway riders to rate service on their lines and rank their priorities.[3] Though the transit agency would continue to operate caller lines for specific issues like arranging transportation for the disabled and handling EZ Pass accounts, officials said the most frequently asked questions about subway and bus service can be handed over to 311.[14]
The bus service on the West Side is even worse, with the lack of articulated buses on the M7 and M104 lines, which are crowded and so badly scheduled it is practically a health hazard. It wont matter if Mr Roberts, Mr. Walders, or even Mr. Rogers or Mr. Wizard is in charge. These dopey union rules and they way these drivers, dispatchers and unions run the MTA is the biggest waste of my hard earned tax dollars I have ever seen, and I have lived here all my life. Mr. Roberts was a political appointee of Mr. Sanders and he was fully expected to step down once sanders resigned. He implemented a line General Managers program that is a joke.[4] Agency watchdogs praised Roberts for curtailing subway flooding and beefing up train announcements. Some MTA board members grew disgruntled that he had not further improved train delays or enforced a requirement that union workers pay into their health plans. The loss of Roberts could hurt subway management, as he had just reorganized personnel across the lines, transit advocates said.[13] Mayor Bloomberg and former MTA Chairman Peter Kalikow in July blasted Roberts' decision not to increase workers' healthcare contributions, which was a cost-cutting concession the MTA wrested from the union in the wake of the 2005 strike.[3]
"Mr. Roberts had been blamed internally for allowing the Transport Workers Union to gain back ground during this year'''s contract negotiations, they said. Others believed that Mr. Roberts, a veteran manager who also led the transit system in Philadelphia, had been unfairly cast as a scapegoat[4] Kalikow blasted the decision as a "a sweetheart, behind-the-scenes deal with the Transit Workers Union that will cost the agency millions of dollars."[3]
NYC Transit President Howard Roberts abruptly resigned Wednesday morning, a sign that more leadership change could come with a new MTA chief in charge. [13] The former NYC Transit head resigned Wednesday amid a leadership shakeup at the MTA.[9]
A transit consultant when hired at NYC Transit, Roberts was second-in command of the bus and subway system in Philadelphia for nearly a decade ending in 1997. In the 1980s, he was the top bus official at NYC Transit.[3] Prendergast previously served as president of the Long Island Rail Road and was senior vice president of subways for NYC Transit.[10]
I am intersted in receiving the position of New York City Transit President. I have sent to both Jim Dwyer and Michael Grynbaum plenty of documents that I would be an ideal candidate for running the New York City Subway.[4] "We pledged to build a stronger relationship between the city and the MTA, so we can build the modern and efficient mass transit system New York City deserves.[12]
Shocking, shocking news. The good news, however, is that the Transit Riders Council, an MTA watchdog group, is finishing up their underground study (results of which will be available in early 2010). For weeks they've "monitored trouble spots and found stations without adequate signs as well as seriously delayed trains." Andrew Albert, a member of the council ( and the MTA board) explains why they are keeping such a close eye on the service issues, saying, "We're doing this because transit has said that even though all this work is being done on the weekends, that service is staying on a schedule. Our experience is that it's not.[15]
No estimates were given for how much it might cost the city or save the MTA, which now has 40 phone lines at four call centers with varying functions and hours of operation. Walder, who's been on the job a month, said he is still finding numbers and phone lines he didn't know about. "People of the city and state want to be assured the MTA is providing good value for the taxpayer money," he said. "This is a direction we're going to explore and I think we can work it out."[14] Walder - on the job just one month - had promised to bring new leadership to the MTA, which also operates two commuter railroads and has other divisions.[3]
I look forward to working with Mayor Bloomberg as we explore ways to improve our customer service and operate more efficiently." said MTA Chairman and CEO Walder at the tour.[12] Sander's replacement Jay H. Walder took office last month. Walder said in a statement Wednesday that Roberts worked hard to lead the agency for the past 2{ years and thanked him for his service.[11] '''The subways and buses can drive New Yorkers nuts, but Howard Roberts worked hard for a saner system,''' said Gene Russianoff, staff lawyer for the Straphangers Campaign, in a statement.[4]
The IG should investigate the continuing Cronyism, favoritism, and nepotism that is ongoing with every new President that enters the office at Madison Ave. Meanwhile the hard working Train operators, Bus drivers, conductors get a bad rap because of the idiots who sleep while at work (The should be fired for sleeping).[4]
Today, we take the first step by agreeing to work toward utilizing the power of 311 to make life a little easier for the 8.5 million people who take mass transit every day in the city. [12] With the MTA being so closely wed to the city's other departments, the mayor is looking to make things easier for everyone by getting direct contact with MTA, and officials from MTA seem to be in agreement. "The MTA must make it easier for our customers to access the information they need to navigate our transportation network.[12]
SOURCES
1. YourNabe.com > Archives > Queens > Roberts resigns as NYC Transit president
2. NYC Transit President Howard Roberts Jr. Resigns: Gothamist: New York City News, Food, Arts & Events
3. NYC Transit President Howard Roberts resigns in wake of Jay Walder's elevation to MTA chair
4. President of New York City Transit Resigns - City Room Blog - NYTimes.com
5. Roberts resigns as NYCT's president
6. NYC could offer transit info on hot line - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
7. MTA quickly finds new chief of NYC Transit - Crain's New York Business
8. New York Transit Gets a New Chief | The New York Observer
9. MTA names new head of NYC Transit - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
10. MTA Names New Head Of NYC Transit - wcbstv.com
11. 1010WINS.com'' - NYC Transit President Quits Amid Leadership Shift
12. Epoch Times - MTA to Utilize 311 for Subway Info
13. NYC Transit chief resigns as MTA shakes up leadership - am New York
14. Bus, subway info may soon be on 311 - am New York
15. Subway Watchdog Group Says "There's Bedlam": Gothamist: New York City News, Food, Arts & Events
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