During his confirmation yesterday, Jay Walder, the incoming head of the MTA, spoke about his plans for the beleaguered transit agency. While Walder spent some time talking to the Senate about the ways in which he hopes to make the transit system “more inviting,” his most telling comments concerned upcoming personnel changes. “It’s my intention to form a management team, bring new people into the MTA with a broad range of experience and success in different parts of the world,” Walder said. “It’s a fair expectation to say the MTA will be moving forward with a new team.”
For the next few weeks, the MTA will continue with its current interim structure minus outgoing Chair Dale Hemmerdinger. Walder said he will begin his job in early October after, in the words of Pete Donohue, “settling his affairs in England.” For now, Helena Williams will continue as the interim CEO, and Andrew Saul, the current vice chairman, will take over as interim chair during next Wednesday’s MTA Board meeting.