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| Hong Kong bound Jay Walder cites budget crunch for widespread service cuts during tenure (1106112) | |
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MTA board to outgoing chief Jay Walder: You're a 'transit rock star' |
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Posted by Gold_12TH on Wed Sep 28 18:50:45 2011, in response to Hong Kong bound Jay Walder cites budget crunch for widespread service cuts during tenure, posted by Gold_12TH on Wed Sep 28 18:37:22 2011. They weren’t showering him with champagne, but MTA board members did pour praise on outgoing chairman and “transit rock star” Jay Walder after his final meeting Wednesday.Transit committee chair Mark Lebow called Walder “the best transportation operator on the planet,” and board member Alan Cappelli, who leads the bridges and tunnels committee and came up with the “rock star” title, suggested Walder could have become mayor if he wanted the job. (A laughing Walder quickly shot down the idea) Walder, 52, will vacate his job on Oct. 21 after two years at the helm for a private sector transit gig in Hong Kong. He continued the love-fest by returning the compliments to transit employees, while offering his yet-to-be-named successor some advice. “Nothing happens at the MTA because a person in the corner office at 347 Madison Avenue says it should happen,” Walder said at the conclusion of yesterday’s board meeting. “Things happen at the MTA because 67,000 dedicated men and women make it happen.” “My advice to my successor is to throw yourself into this place, to really find a way to marshal the power of all of the men and women across the MTA,” he added. The Rockaway native Walder said he was proud of the accomplishments made during his tenure, including the subway countdown clocks, Second Avenue subway construction progress and, most recently, the launching of underground cell phone service. His only regret was having to cope with the cash-strapped agency’s economic woes that resulted in a fare hike and severe service cuts. “I wish we could have done more to be able to improve services,” Walder said, adding, “You have to play the hand your dealt.” “In a different world, in a different way, all of the attention, all of the energy would have gone into improving services,” Walder said, “and that would’ve been great.” Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office did not return calls to comment on when he would name a new MTA head. --- http://www.amny.com/urbanite-1.812039/mta-board-to-outgoing-chief-jay-walder-you-re-a-transit-rock-star-1.3208629 |
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Jay Walder Says His Replacement Doesn’t Need Transit Background |
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Posted by Gold_12TH on Wed Sep 28 18:53:21 2011, in response to Hong Kong bound Jay Walder cites budget crunch for widespread service cuts during tenure, posted by Gold_12TH on Wed Sep 28 18:37:22 2011. The CEO of New York’s MTA, Jay Walder, said that his successor doesn’t necessarily have to have a transportation background — but he or she does have to love it.“Whoever runs this organization should be dedicated to the organization,” he said, and “be dedicated to what it does on a day-to-day basis.” Walder went on to say: “I think it is helpful to have a knowledge of mass transit. I don’t know that it’s an absolutely essential quality.” His remarks came at his final meeting of the MTA board before he leaves for a job in Hong Kong next month, where he’ll be heading that city’s transit agency. In an interview last week, New York Governor Mario Cuomo, whose administration is currently looking for Walder’s replacement, also telegraphed that the next MTA chief may not come from the transportation world. He told New York State Public Radio’s Karen DeWitt in a telephone interview that his administration was engaged in a “very aggressive talent search.” And he said didn’t necessarily want to hire a “transit geek.” “The MTA primarily is an effective manager, and I think the ability to manage a complex process, that deals with highly technical services, in a political environment, in a large organization, at a financially strapped time, you know, that’s where we are,” Cuomo said. “To me, the management is very important. Of course, the technical expertise, but you give me a good manager, who can run an organization, and find efficiency, that this organization is going to have to find, that’s going to be paramount.” The next head of the MTA will be managing a delicate financial situation, as Walder pointed out in today’s meeting. “As you look forward for the MTA, I think you need to be able to find a way to have both sufficient resources and stability of resources,” he said. “I think the ups and downs of the economic cycle create financial burdens for the organization that’s inconsistent with the fact that we have a service that continues to run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. And frankly, I don’t think all of us don’t want to see that service have to suffer through that.” When asked later if he had any regrets about his tenure, he said “I wish the economic situation I came into was different…[but] you have to play the hand you were dealt. And the hand we were dealt was one that said this was a very very difficult time financially.” But Walder said he was proud of the work the MTA had done under his tenure. “Nothing happens at the MTA because the person in the corner office at 347 Madison Avenue [MTA's current headquarters] says it should happen. Things happen at the MTA because 67,000 dedicated men and women make it happen.” He repeatedly praised MTA staffers of all stripes — from token booth clerks to management to his colleagues on the board. “When we say we’re going to get something done, the result is truly, truly incredible.” When the meeting’s official business was over — and it was dispatched with in under 20 minutes — board members took to the microphones to tell Walder how much they’d miss him. Nancy Shevell said that right after she began working with Walder, she told a friend “well, it’s just a short matter of time before a large public-sector company scoops him up. And it happened, and I’m not surprised. And it’s sad, in my opinion, for the MTA.” “You are the tallest person in the room,” said Mark Lebow. “You will probably be the tallest person in China, and you will, I’m sure, be the tallest achiever there as you were here.” (Walder: “I think Yao Ming is going back.”) Governor Cuomo hasn’t yet said when he will announce Walder’s replacement. As for Walder, he greeted a Chinese-speaking reporter with a hearty “Ni Hao” — and then said he was going down to the Rosetta Stone store. --- http://transportationnation.org/2011/09/28/jay-walder-says-his-replacement-doesnt-need-transit-background/comment-page-1/ |
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Re: MTA board to outgoing chief Jay Walder: You're a 'transit rock star' |
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Posted by SelkirkTMO on Wed Sep 28 19:25:57 2011, in response to MTA board to outgoing chief Jay Walder: You're a 'transit rock star', posted by Gold_12TH on Wed Sep 28 18:50:45 2011. Perhaps they were referring to the rocks under 2nd Avenue. :) |
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Re: MTA board to outgoing chief Jay Walder: You're a 'transit rock star' |
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Posted by Bill from Maspeth on Wed Sep 28 20:37:27 2011, in response to MTA board to outgoing chief Jay Walder: You're a 'transit rock star', posted by Gold_12TH on Wed Sep 28 18:50:45 2011. Sounds like things started to get rather "syrupy" there.Were there lots of tissues in the board room? |
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MTA Board Says Outgoing Chairman Made The Best Of Financial Difficulties {video} |
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Posted by Gold_12TH on Wed Sep 28 23:09:21 2011, in response to Hong Kong bound Jay Walder cites budget crunch for widespread service cuts during tenure, posted by Gold_12TH on Wed Sep 28 18:37:22 2011. Video link: http://www.ny1.com/content/news_beats/transit/148044/mta-board-says-outgoing-chairman-made-the-best-of-financial-difficultiesMetropolitan Transportation Authority board members showered their outgoing Chairman and CEO Jay Walder with praise at his last board meeting in Midtown on Wednesday. "You are the best transportation operator on the planet," said MTA Board Member Mark Lebow. They highlighted his accomplishments -- harnessing technology to install countdown clocks and touchscreens below ground, and special bus lanes and real-time bus tracking above ground. Walder also oversaw a user-friendly web site. "At a time when public and private sector is in retrenchment, you were able to develop new initiatives that made a significant impact on the public and community," said MTA Board Member Patrick Foye. But it was the impact of the serious retrenchment he carried out that was on Walder's mind. Walder said he regrets making some of the worst service cuts in decades to close a $900 million budget gap. "The hand we were dealt was one that said that this was a very difficult time financially, and we had to focus a lot on dealing with those financial uncertainties," said Walder. Even with a smaller budget, transit advocates said Walder got projects done that had been on the drawing board for years. "He made some commitments to do things and he did them," said Bill Henderson of the MTA Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee. "And that's very important for riders and people to be able to trust the folks that operate the system." But not everyone is sad to see Jay Walder go. The MTA's biggest union cannot wait to see a new person in charge at the agency. "We want someone who has operational experience and we want somebody who's going to stand up for New York's working communities, rather than stand up for the interests that are trying to build these big projects," said Transportation Workers Union President John Samuelsen. Still, Walder praised the work of the MTA's 67,000 employees. "When we work in unison and we point in a direction and say we're going to get something done, the result is truly, truly incredible," said Walder. Sources say the governor's search committee was interviewing candidates on Wednesday to replace Walder, who announced suddenly in July that he was calling it quits. Walder is leaving on October 21 to run a multi-national transit company in China. |
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MTA graduation: Grading Jay Walder {Metro NY} |
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Posted by Gold_12TH on Wed Sep 28 23:20:59 2011, in response to Hong Kong bound Jay Walder cites budget crunch for widespread service cuts during tenure, posted by Gold_12TH on Wed Sep 28 18:37:22 2011. MTA Chairman Jay Walder held court for the last time yesterday at his final MTA board meeting before he leaves Oct. 21.Walder was plucked from his $350,000 MTA gig to work for MTR Corporation in Hong Kong, a company that runs rail services in Europe and Asia, for a nearly $1-million salary. Governor Andrew Cuomo must appoint a new chair by the 21st, Walder's last day. When Walder came onboard, many hoped he would revolutionize the MTA with his management know-how. He saved the MTA millions by eliminating waste and can be credited with the popular countdown clocks. But he also, in large part due to a state budget crunch, was forced to lead the MTA through a dark period that saw more crowded trains, two subway lines eliminated and a massive fare hike. Metro reflected on Walder's tenure: Transparency: A Upon taking control of the MTA, Walder promised more communication. He vowed to clear up confusing signage and redesign the authority’s website. He rolled out a new website in May 2010 and more signs than ever before paper the subway system. Budget balancing: A Another area where Walder has been able to deliver: Under his “Making Every Dollar Count” plan, the MTA has undergone unprecedented cost-cutting measures. Over 600 redundant administrative employees at the MTA were laid off, 15 percent of staff, which resulted in $50 million worth of savings for the agency. Countdown clocks: B + The most visible change on the subways: Countdown clocks were installed at more than 150 stations, providing riders with real-time train arrival information. "Countdown clocks are another way we are fundamentally changing the customers’ experience," Walder said. The clocks aren't systemwide yet, however, and they aren't always accurate, either. Buses: D When Walder first came to the MTA from London, he was eager to replicate the British bus system. “In London, you carry nearly twice as many people in the bus system as you do on the Underground,” he told the New York Times at the start of his tenure. Yes, Walder has expanded Select Bus Service and cleared bus-only lanes. But all that progress is far outweighed by the massive bus cuts he enacted. Over 130 local and express bus routes were shortened or altered, and 37 bus routes were axed entirely. Crime: F Last year, Walder removed 450 station agents. Some riders say that fewer MTA employees make the system scarier — and some even fear that their absence has caused the rise in crime. Robbery has skyrocketed in the subway system, up nearly 40 percent from last year. What’s worse, Walder also axed 254 cleaners, making room for more trash bags and rats, riders say. Fare collection: F Walder implemented the Oyster Card in London, an all-purpose, contactless transit card. He aimed to replace the MetroCard with a similar tap system by 2014, but it looks like that won’t happen. It costs the MTA 15 cents per dollar to collect fares, and since the futuristic cards refill automatically, they would reduce costs and congestion at the turnstiles. Service improvement: F Just months after assuming the helm of the MTA, Walder oversaw an unprecedented amount of service cuts. Walder said the Dec. 2009 service cuts were necessary as the MTA desperately needed to close a $900 million budget gap. Riders also remember the horrendous response to the “Snowpocalypse” of last winter, and the fare hike for the unlimited MetroCard, which rose from $89 to $104. Who’s next? Here are some names that have been suggested as the next MTA head: - Janette Sadik-Khan: NYC DOT commissioner - Chris Ward: executive director of the Port Authority - Helena Williams: president of MTA Long Island Rail Road - Thomas F. Prendergast: president of MTA New York City Transit - Michael Burns: the head of the transit system in Santa Clara, Calif. - Jeffrey Morales: a former Chicago Transit Authority executive ---- http://www.metro.us/newyork/local/article/982820--mta-graduation-grading-jay-walder |
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Greg Mocker saying bye bye to Jay Walder & visits Chambers St (J)(Z) |
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Posted by Gold_12TH on Thu Sep 29 00:14:52 2011, in response to Hong Kong bound Jay Walder cites budget crunch for widespread service cuts during tenure, posted by Gold_12TH on Wed Sep 28 18:37:22 2011. |
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Re: MTA graduation: Grading Jay Walder {Metro NY} |
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Posted by Kriston Lewis on Thu Sep 29 01:44:47 2011, in response to MTA graduation: Grading Jay Walder {Metro NY}, posted by Gold_12TH on Wed Sep 28 23:20:59 2011. Janette Sadik-Khan: NYC DOT commissionerOh god, no. |
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Re: MTA graduation: Grading Jay Walder {Metro NY} |
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Posted by Bill from Maspeth on Thu Sep 29 01:51:09 2011, in response to Re: MTA graduation: Grading Jay Walder {Metro NY}, posted by Kriston Lewis on Thu Sep 29 01:44:47 2011. Kinda scary, huh? |
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Re: MTA board to outgoing chief Jay Walder: You're a 'transit rock star' |
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Posted by chud1 on Thu Sep 29 04:33:54 2011, in response to MTA board to outgoing chief Jay Walder: You're a 'transit rock star', posted by Gold_12TH on Wed Sep 28 18:50:45 2011. he's a dead rock star. he's a coward leaving just 2 yrs into his tenure. how do u say, ur fired, in chinese.chud1 |
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Re: Jay Walder Says His Replacement Doesn’t Need Transit Background |
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Posted by Mark S. Feinman on Thu Sep 29 13:29:08 2011, in response to Jay Walder Says His Replacement Doesn’t Need Transit Background, posted by Gold_12TH on Wed Sep 28 18:53:21 2011. And he [Cuomo] said didn’t necessarily want to hire a “transit geek.”Well, I guess that means that most of us won't be considered :) --Mark |
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Re: Jay Walder Says His Replacement Doesn’t Need Transit Background |
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Posted by randyo on Thu Sep 29 15:40:35 2011, in response to Jay Walder Says His Replacement Doesn’t Need Transit Background, posted by Gold_12TH on Wed Sep 28 18:53:21 2011. I think that one of the biggest mistakes being made in this country is that we seem to be espousing the theory that since the definition of "management" is getting things done through other people, that a managed does not need to have a working knowledge of the area to be managed. It would be unthinkable to have the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff at the Pentagon come from a non military background and common sense mandates that a police chief have a police background and preferable from the particular force he/she is to head, yet nobody seems to raise any eyebrows if a non transportation individual is appointed to run a transit agency especially one of the magnitude of the NY MTA. No other transit system in the country or possible even the world with the possible exception of London comes anywhere close to the complexity of the NY transit system, yet often managers from other "Toonerville Trolley" like systems come to NY thinking that they can manage the NY system. No disrespect to David Gunn, but there was a lot of brouhaha over his appointment as NYCT president citing his management of SEPTA. Just a portion of the NYCTS does more railroading than the entire SEPTA system including its commuter railroad service yet nobody in the press at the time though to bring that up. It is a crying shame that neither the MTA nor its constituent agencies can provide a home grown person capable of running the system unless perhaps such people exist and our elected officials are just too clueless to recognize them. Regardless of Walder's attitude towards a potential MTA manager, if an MTA head cannot be picked from within the agency, whoever does eventually get the appointment has a non negotiable OBLIGATION to attain and maintain an exhaustively encyclopedic knowledge of the operation of the MTA and all its constituent agencies. |
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Re: Jay Walder Says His Replacement Doesn’t Need Transit Background |
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Posted by Steve B-8AVEXP on Thu Sep 29 16:10:27 2011, in response to Re: Jay Walder Says His Replacement Doesn’t Need Transit Background, posted by Mark S. Feinman on Thu Sep 29 13:29:08 2011. At least he didn't use the term, "foamer." |
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Re: Jay Walder Says His Replacement Doesn’t Need Transit Background |
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Posted by chud1 on Thu Sep 29 16:13:23 2011, in response to Re: Jay Walder Says His Replacement Doesn’t Need Transit Background, posted by randyo on Thu Sep 29 15:40:35 2011. get someone from a frigging transit background.if that person can not do da job fire their ass and find someone else. chud1. |
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Re: Greg Mocker saying bye bye to Jay Walder & visits Chambers St (J)(Z) |
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Posted by IRT/O on Thu Sep 29 16:36:40 2011, in response to Greg Mocker saying bye bye to Jay Walder & visits Chambers St (J)(Z), posted by Gold_12TH on Thu Sep 29 00:14:52 2011. That guy in the red bandana is a former union officer. He picked his vacation to coincide with the end of the contract and the strike in 2005. It just struck me as wrong. |
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Re: Hong Kong bound Jay Walder cites budget crunch for widespread service cuts during tenure |
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Posted by AMoreira81 on Thu Sep 29 18:24:57 2011, in response to Hong Kong bound Jay Walder cites budget crunch for widespread service cuts during tenure, posted by Gold_12TH on Wed Sep 28 18:37:22 2011. I actually agree here; the next head will need to be a bean counter more than anything. |
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