The head of New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority resigned effective May 22 to comply with a provision of the MTA bailout.
New York Gov. David Paterson accepted the resignation of Elliot Sander, executive director and chief executive officer, the MTA announced Thursday. Sander’s position no longer exists under the financial bailout legislation that passed Wednesday night and was signed into law by Paterson on Thursday.
Under the new law, the positions of chairman and chief executive officer are combined and executive director is a separate position. Sander submitted his resignation earlier this year in anticipation of the change, which was recommended by a commission headed by former MTA chairman Richard Ravitch.
Paterson spokeswoman Erin Duggan said that for now, it is assumed that chairman Dale Hemmerdinger will be the chairman and CEO, however the new law also stipulates that his term will expire in 30 days. Duggan said a decision about the executive director position had not been made yet. Sander was appointed by former Gov. Eliot Spitzer and began his term on Jan. 1, 2007.
“It has been a great honor to lead the 70,000 hard-working men and women who run the world’s greatest public transportation system,” Sander said in a statement. “I am tremendously proud of our accomplishments making the MTA a leaner, more efficient and effective organization .... There is more work to be done, but I leave confident knowing the MTA is headed in the right direction.”
