Agency Presidents Pay Tribute to Transit Workers by Joining Them in the Field
Event Spotlights the Importance of Transit Employees Who Keep the City and Region Moving
See Video of Today’s News Conference
See Video of MTA Leadership Working Today with Employees
See Photos of Today’s News Conference and MTA Leaders Working with Employees
Listen to Announcements Recorded by New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow Playing in the Transit System
In honor of National Transit Employee Appreciation Day, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) leadership spent time with transit workers in the field throughout the Authority’s service region to demonstrate the importance of recognizing the essential service that transit workers deliver every day to get riders to their destination safely and efficiently. Leadership was joined by several transit workers across the MTA at a celebratory appreciation event at Penn Station to thank them for moving the region.
MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber and MTA Chief Customer Officer Shanifah Rieara put on their bright highlighter-colored vests and served as Customer Service Center agents at the Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av-JFK Airport subway station. At the station they assisted customers with purchasing OMNY cards at the OMNY vending machines, guided customers in transferring trains and bus routes at the busy transportation center, assisted customers including international travelers from JFK Airport with station wayfinding, and also assisted with signing up senior citizens with Reduced-Fare OMNY cards at the outfitted Customer Service Center at that subway station.
“Today is a day where we stop to appreciate and show gratitude to the thousands and thousands of New Yorkers – 75,000 of them working at the MTA – who keep New York moving,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “We thank our conductors, operators, station agents, and cleaners, but also the folks who work in customer service, in the back office, the planners, the technicians of all kinds who maintain the system, the fleet, and make it possible for us to run this great service.”
“Our employees are the reason why the MTA is able to provide fast, safe and dependable service across the city and region,” said MTA Chief Customer Officer Shanifah Rieara. “Their hard work and dedication speak volumes, and we thank them for continuing to provide the reliable service that moves New York.”
New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow began his day at the Mother Clara Hale Bus Depot, cleaning and preparing buses to go into service for the morning rush. Crichlow then rode an M2 bus to the 168 Street Customer Service Center, joining station agents in greeting customers.
“This day is very special for me,” said New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow. “My father is from New York City Transit, my grandfather is from New York City Transit, my brother and nephew are cleaners, so it’s special for me to be able to be out here on Transit Employee Appreciation Day, just to say thank you to employees. This city does not move without the employees, the strong workforce that we have. I’m really grateful to be able to be here and express appreciation for all that they do, every day that they do it.”
President Crichlow also recorded an announcement encouraging customers to thank transit workers for everything they do to keep the subways and buses moving, which can be heard in all subway stations at 15-minute intervals through midnight on Wednesday, March 18:
"Hey, New York. New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow here. Tuesday, March 18 is Transit Employee Appreciation Day. I know I’m proud of the 50,000 New York City Transit employees who show up to move this city 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. So if you see a transit worker today, join me in thanking them for everything they day do to move New York. If you want, tell us about it and be sure to tag the MTA.”
To celebrate National Transit Employee Appreciation Day, Long Island Rail Road President Rob Free joined track workers at Jamaica Station and assisted LIRR foreman Joseph Famulari in changing and upgrading plates. LIRR Chief Train Dispatcher Marc Allen joined President Free at the celebratory event at Penn Station and was acknowledged for his years of service.
“Our most important asset is our employees, and as leaders, we have to go out, see these employees, listen to them and talk to them, but most importantly, thank them,” said Long Island Rail Road President Rob Free. “We often hear “no, I don’t need to hear a thank you, it’s not necessary,’ but they do, and it’s warranted, because our employees do an absolutely incredible job.
Metro-North Railroad Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Justin Vonashek started his day at Grand Central Terminal, where he served as an usher and then as a ticket seller. The MTA also set up boards where customers could write notes to MNR workers, thanking them for their service.
“On this day of Employee Appreciation, I want to say thank you to all of our employees,” said Metro-North Railroad Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Justin Vonashek. “Thank you for your commitment to excellence, for your unwavering dedication to our mission, and the pride you take in making Metro-North the best that it can be. Your hard work does not go unnoticed, and we are incredibly fortunate to have each of you as part of the team.”
New York City Transit Acting Vice President of Paratransit Rachel Cohen began her day in the Bronx, where she and the AAR leadership team assisted service provider GVC with the start of their morning routes. Cohen was joined by AAR Standards & Compliance Officer Chris Messina, Command Center Officer Simone Harvard, and Contracts Management Director Danny Rodriguez, who together have more than 75 years of experience serving customers across New York City Transit and the MTA.