MTA OKs reorganization plan, creates train speed task force

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) board yesterday approved a reorganization plan that includes measures aimed at improving subway service, ending cost overruns and project delays, and reducing waste and inefficient processes.

Following approval, the board also released critical deadlines and milestones for several of the major initiatives outlined in the plan, MTA officials said in a press release.

As part of one initiative, MTA also yesterday created the Train Speed and Safety Task Force to address unnecessary train slowdowns across the MTA New York City Transit (NYCT), Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) systems.

The task force will review train speed limits, improperly calibrated signal timers and overall operations to ensure trains don't run slower than safety and best practices dictate. 

The task force, will be chaired by former Federal Aviation Administrator Jane Garvey and will include: 

• Dominick Servedio, STV executive chairman;
• Robert Lauby, former Federal Railroad Administration chief safety officer;
• Veronique Hakim, MTA managing director;
• Thomas Quigley, MTA general counsel;
• Andy Byford, NYCT president;
• Pat Warren, MTA chief safety officer;
• Tony Utano, Tranport Workers Union Local 100 president; and
• MTA’s chief operating officer, a position that is not currently filled.

The task force also will work with respective unions, the Save Safe Seconds Transit effort, and with positive train control efforts at LIRR and Metro-North. 

Meanwhile, MTA yesterday also launched a task force to combat homelessness in the NYCT subway system, and in August will launch a Fare Evasion and Worker Safety Task Force. 

Other milestones to be met next month include conducting a review of the Subway Action Plan, announcing a review unit for major construction and conducting a review of work rules.

Later in the year, MTA will hire 45 managers and 10 executive leaders.