When Jay Walder got off the No. 7 train at the Flushing-Main Street station shortly after 9 a.m. on his first day of work, TV camera crews and flashbulbs greeted him as he strolled through the turnstile.
For Walder, who started his first day as Chair and CEO of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) on Monday, October 5, the start was a homecoming for the former Queens resident, whose most recent job was running London’s transit system.
“I love New York; it’s my home city,” said Walder, shortly after 9 a.m. in Flushing where he greeted morning subway commuters. “This is an absolute tremendous transit system but it’s bigger and bolder than virtually anything in the world in terms of doing transit.”
Walder, who was born and raised in the Rockaways worked for the MTA from 1983-1995 serving as its Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer before his departure. In 2001, Walder joined Transport for London, where he served as the Managing Director for Finance and Development until 2006 where he received credit for drafting London’s transportation plan for the 2012 Olympics.
During a brief question-and-answer session with reporters, Walder said they chose the No.7 stop in Flushing because it was the busiest station outside of Manhattan and that it was important to remember and realize that the system provides service throughout all five boroughs. He also discussed his vision for the MTA as well as what he intends to bring to New York from his experience in London.
“I think we need to make this an easier system to use,” said Walder, a self proclaimed Mets and Jets fan. “I think we need to bring in some new technology that will give them a sense of comfort – technology like next train signs, next bus signs counting down – these are some of the things that have been done in some of the systems around the world.”
Another one of Walder’s goals is to increase the effectiveness of the bus system – something he did successfully while in London.
“We cannot have our bus system stuck in traffic,” Walder said. “We have the capability now through technology, through bus lanes, through enforcement to be able provide a clean right of way for buses and that’s what we have to do.”
Walder, who was nominated for the position by Governor David Paterson in July and confirmed by the State Senate last month, vowed to produce an action plan – with concrete goals and timelines – during his first 100 days in the position. For now, Walder said the agency must execute better and engage the community more effectively.
“We need to be accountable,” Walder said. “There shouldn’t be any question about my accountability or the transit system’s accountability for what it’s delivering.”
