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MTA to give each line its own boss

By Marlene Naanes, amNewYork Staff Writer
More stories | MNaanes@am-ny.com

September 25, 2008

New York City Transit will appoint general managers to each subway line to run the system more efficiently and improve service.

The plan is an expansion of a pilot program that put two general managers and two deputy managers in charge of the L and No. 7 lines. Both lines have become cleaner since the managers took the help 10 months ago, transit officials said.

The remaining train lines will receive general managers in phases, and less-traveled lines like the N and W will be grouped together. All 18 mangers are expected to be in place by early next year.

The general manager program cuts out much of the bureaucracy that exists and allows for quicker decision-making, officials have said. The program will remove two layers of management and supervision that currently exists, resulting in $7 million in savings when it is fully implemented, transit president Howard Roberts said.