AMNY Subway Tracker

With yesterday's passage of the 2007 Budget by the MTA Board, I have decided that the time is right to tender my resignation from the MTA. For the last five years, I have had the great fortune of being part of the most remarkable transportation system in the country. During that time, we have overcome enormous hurdles, and I am proud to say that we are safer, more secure, more reliable and serving more customers than we have in many decades. And with this most recent budget and its billion dollar surplus, the MTA is well positioned to address the significant obstacles that lie ahead. Undoubtedly, our revamped financial process with its attendant transparency as well as our recent corporate governance enhancements will assist the new leadership of the MTA in maintaining credibility with our customers and the general public. Our $21B Capital Plan is well underway to ensure the system is maintained in a state of good repair and next week we will formally receive the $2.65B Federal commitment for the LIRR East Side Access project signifying the first major expansion of the MTA network in over half a century.

I spoke with Governor-elect Spitzer last night and agreed with his desire to begin promptly the process of installing new leadership at the MTA. I have agreed to remain in my current position through the end of the year. I wish the Governor-elect great success in his endeavors at the MTA and throughout our great State.

AND
for the record,

STRAPHANGERS CAMPAIGN STATEMENT ON RESIGNATION OF MTA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR KATHERINE LAPP

Thursday, December 14, 2006

Today, MTA Executive Director Katherine Lapp announced that she would resign by the end of December after five years in office.

The Straphangers Campaign would give Ms. Lapp's good marks for her tenure. We have found her open, direct, hardworking and accessible. Whether we agreed with her or not, she listened to our concerns and thoughtfully explained her position on issues from security to ethics to cell phones in the subway.

Among Ms. Lapp's accomplishments, we would note that she:

- encouraged a more open and transparent budget making in response to widespread criticism about the agency's financial reporting - her reforms included issuing a preliminary budget months in advance of final approval;

- ran a successful campaign to win a new $21.3 billion five-year capital rebuilding program in 2005, critical to the continued improvement of the transit system and financed in large part by new taxes and fees;

- convinced the MTA board to wisely invest its surpluses in recent years on worthwhile needs, including pension liabilities, more security, painting all 468 subway stations and a holiday fare bonus program back in 2005; and

- made fare discounts better and more progressive, including insurance for lost or stolen 30-day MetroCards and easier access for low-income New Yorkers to pay-per-ride MetroCard discounts, going from one-free ride for $15 to one free ride for $10.