By Philip Newman
The New York City Transit Authority has finished appointing separate managers for each line of the subway system, completing a plan the agency began with successes on the No. 7 and L trains.
“With these most recent appointments, we are completing a change in managerial philosophy that shifts the responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the city’s subway system from the office to the field,” said Transit Authority President Howard Roberts.
“The employees have shown the type of leadership qualities that will do nothing but benefit the city’s subway customers,” Roberts said.
Transit officials said the line general manager program had “decentralized the decision-making process, moving the responsibility to a point where a direct, hands-on approach is taken to subway operations.”
The system permits general managers more independence and the possibility of employing their own ideas on how to improve service.
The first two lines for which the general manager system was instituted, the No. 7 and the L, were recently cited by the Straphangers Campaign as the cleanest in the system, and the No. 7 was designated by the Straphangers as the best subway line in the city.
The system was expanded to all numbered subway lines last November and transit officials said the decision has proved successful.
The new system has been credited with introduction of such innovations as lighted “express” and “local” signs on the Flushing line cars, the recent Woodhaven Express pilot project and installation of platform monitors indicating real-time train locations on the L line.
The line general managers are:
• Joe Leaders: No. 1
• John Doherty: No. 2
• Demetrius Crichlow: No. 3
• Stepfone Montgomery: No. 4 and the 42nd Street shuttle
• Robert Smith: No. 5
• Paul McPhee: No.6
• John Hoban: No. 7
• Herbert Lambert: A and the Rockaway Park shuttle
• James Leopard: B, Q and the Franklin Avenue shuttle
• Frank Jezycki: C
• Evelyn Koehler: D
• Deidra Taylor: E
• Dwayne Anglero: F, V
• Pamela Elsey: G
• Thomas Wehrman: J, M and Z
• Melvin Oliver: L
• Joseph Ragusa: N and W
• Peter Velasquez Jr.: R
The Transit Authority said a few general managers are in charge of more than one subway line because of overlapping trackage and fewer hours of operation as a result of a few lines not operating on weekends.
Straphangers who want to contact a general manager about a complaint or other comment may e-mail by logging on to mta.info/nyct/service/line_general_manager.htm and clicking the line they run.
Reach contributing writer Philip Newman by e-mail at timesledgernews@cnglocal.com or phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 136.
