MTA boss Kalikow stepping down

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Chairman Peter Kalikow announced his resignation on Monday following about six years of service in the position.
“I am a firm believer in setting aggressive goals, accomplishing those goals and then giving others the opportunity to both expand upon those initiatives and create new ones with fresh vision and energy,” Kalikow said. “As both a longtime public servant and an avid supporter of term limits as a means to maintain healthy and effective government leadership, I believe the public will best be served by my decision.”
After making the announcement, Kalikow reflected on the positive things that came out of his service. Among them were the revival of the Second Avenue Subway, East Side access, the No. 7 line being extended, increased funding for the MTA, purchasing 4,400 new subway cars, commuter rail cars and buses, purchasing 500 hybrid buses, increased MTA police force and a budgetary process overhaul.
However, members of organizations such as the NYPIRG Straphangers Campaign gave Kalikow “mixed ratings,” looking at both the positive and negative accomplishments. Among the negatives they cited were that he was heading the MTA in 2003 when there was criticism for its financial reporting as it got ready for a fare hike, pledging money for a Long Island Rail Road link between downtown Manhattan and Jamaica that the agency does not have, and initially agreeing to sell Atlantic Yards and the far West Side for a significant amount less than it had been appraised for.
“We wish Mr. Kalikow well on his future endeavors. Today’s resignation brings an era of mixed results to a close and frees up the new leadership at the MTA to truly make the changes necessary to ensure that mass transit for New Yorkers once again become the highest priority in our region,” said City Councilmember John Liu, the Chair of the Transportation Committee. “While we all support the big projects underway to expand our mass transit system, ensuring our current transportation infrastructure is in a state of good repair remains the fundamental responsibility of the MTA.”
Kalikow will officially resign once a new chairman has been nominated and confirmed.
“Being entrusted with one of the largest transportation systems in the world is an enormous responsibility,” Kalikow said. “But it has also been immensely satisfying. Where else can you have a daily impact on over 7.5 million people?”