(The following story by Jennifer Maloney appeared on the Newsday website on June 4.)
NEW YORK — MTA officials are expected to announce today that Helena Williams, former president of Long Island Bus and a deputy county executive for Nassau, will take the helm of the Long Island Rail Road, becoming the first woman to lead the nation’s largest commuter rail system.
Williams, 51, of Stewart Manor, said her priority for the railroad is customer safety, including the platform gap problem, which she described as “my first day on the job issue.
“I will be looking at exactly what’s been accomplished and what the goals are in terms of further remediation” of gaps, she said. “It’s one of my highest priorities.”
Williams, who is expected to start June 18, said her review also will focus on security, service reliability and the system’s “readiness” to meet future transportation needs.
“She reminds me in many ways of Peter Stangl, who did not have a commuter rail background before taking over Metro-North, but brought similar kinds of assets,” said MTA chief executive Elliot “Lee” Sander.
State Sen. Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) expressed reservations about Williams’ appointment, citing her lack of railroad experience.
“She’s a very capable person, but she’s going to face real challenges as president of the Long Island Rail Road,” Skelos said. “It’s going to take a lot of on-the-job training.”
The appointment of an LIRR outsider with MTA experience closes with a twist a debate about whether the new railroad chief should come from within or without. It also confirms that Sander will not move to merge the LIRR with its sister railroad, Metro-North.
“Long Island Rail Road, in many respects, is performing well but needs to be taken to a higher level,” Sander said. “I think [Williams] will bring a fresh vision and energy to the railroad.”
As president of Long Island Bus from 1993 to 1998, Williams converted a diesel-powered fleet to eco-friendly natural gas buses. The first woman to head an MTA agency, she introduced a service for disabled riders and slashed fares by introducing the MetroCard, which eliminated transfer charges for Nassau-Queens commuters and sparked a ridership jump.
Williams later served as counsel and deputy county executive for Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi, helping to turn around the county’s near-bankrupt finances and shepherding the Nassau Hub project.
Yesterday, Williams did not elaborate on her plans for the railroad, saying she intends to seek input from employees and riders, and “take a fresh look at what can we do to make the commuter experience better.”
Acting President Ray Kenny, a 34-year LIRR veteran who applied for the permanent post, did not say yesterday whether he intends to stay on or retire. “It has been a distinct honor to serve as the acting LIRR president for the past nine months – a time when we have faced and effectively managed many challenges,” he said in a statement.
Mitchell Pally, who represents Suffolk County on the MTA board, praised Kenny’s interim leadership and called Williams “an excellent choice.”