Home Asides Times: Ward set to leave PA post

Times: Ward set to leave PA post

by Benjamin Kabak

Over the next few weeks, Gov. Andrew Cuomo will have an opportunity to make a long and lasting impact on the New York City region’s transportation future for a week after Jay Walder is leaving the MTA, Chris Ward will resign as the Port Authority’s Executive Director, according to a report in The Times. Ward’s departure comes after months of speculation and seems to stem, as Walder’s did, in part, from a similarly icy relationship with the New York state governor. Neither Ward nor Cuomo offered a comment to The Times.

For the Governor, then, the challenge facing him is a tough one. As Michael Grynbaum writes, Ward earned accolades from the transit community. “Under his tenure,” he says, “the Port Authority froze its operating budget for three consecutive years, lowered its number of employees and reduced its budget for major capital improvement and maintenance projects.” Yet, similarly to Walder, Ward has also presided over some steep fare and toll increases and progress at the World Trade Center site, while moving forward, is very slow.

Despite this legacy though, Ward had, as Kate Slevin from the Tri-State Transportation Campaign noted, a “very strong and convincing case for more investment in our infrastructure,” and Cuomo will now have to find not one but two people who are both qualified and willing enough to enter the New York City area transportation morass. It will not be an easy task.

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7 comments

Al D September 29, 2011 - 2:19 pm

With all these leadership departures and no funding, we seem be at a precipice of a transit abyss…

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Alon Levy September 29, 2011 - 5:09 pm

So far, Cuomo’s lasting impact is to run for President rather than to serve as Governor.

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Nathanael October 15, 2011 - 11:18 pm

He might not win his own state if he did run. A fair number of upstaters aren’t going to be too happy about his pro-fracking attitudes towards most of upstate… and the ones who will be happy are Republicans. Downstate if he keeps trashing the mass transportation system that surely won’t make him popular. He’s certainly alienating the people who want the criminal bankers prosecuted.

Who’s his constituency?

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John September 29, 2011 - 7:32 pm

Cuomo is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He pretends to be tough on unions. And yes…his plan is to run for president.

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Ray September 29, 2011 - 8:31 pm

Not really getting these comments. Or perhaps I’m not as well informed as others. Based on what facts is Andrew Cuomo running for President, and when? I’m not sure anyone can characterize these resignations as anything other than people moving on… Sure both guys were among the ‘best in class’ – but its a big world guys. There are other people out there that can do the job.

As I see it Chris Christie is more than flirting with the POTUS campaign. It’s he that has screwed transit riders in New Jersey and isn’t willing to accept his state’s share of the infrastructure needs in his own state and in the region. Put the blame where the facts support your arguments.

And why does Cuomo have to be tough on unions if he’s able to negotiate with their leadership? Seems to me Ben is on the mark – he has an opportunity to change things – nothing more or less. Why not judge him for what he ultimately does vs. what Walder and Ward have chosen to do? Let Ward speak up – then I’ll be convinced that Cuomo pushed him out. Then I will be looking for an explanation. Right now… my questions are for Ward. (Walder has answered the public all ready – money spoke).

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Ray September 29, 2011 - 8:35 pm

Consider that maybe its not an icy relationship that ended Ward’s tenure. It may be all about money. Perhaps both governors plan to raid the PA piggy bank to fulfill their state’s respective needs. Will we see the PA fund both Christie’s road building campaign and Cuomo’s MTA Capital Plan?

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Nathanael October 15, 2011 - 11:19 pm

That would be interesting, certainly. I would, however, be surprised as Cuomo has not seemed interested in providing public services.

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