Carmen Bianco’s presidency of New York City Transit is now permanent.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority chairman and chief executive Thomas Prendergast said Bianco no longer has the interim title attached to his name since April.
“He understands the issues, is an advocate for the customer and will remain someone the employees can depend upon for support,” Prendergast said at Wednesday’s MTA board of directors meeting in Manhattan. New York City Transit is an MTA unit.
Bianco, 61, is the seventh person to serve as president since the title was created in 1980.
Previously he served as senior vice president of the department of subways, overseeing the entire subway system since 2010.
He led the subway system through the MTA’s response to Hurricane Sandy, which flooded tunnels, inundated stations and washed out tracks in the most devastating event to ever strike the subways.
He oversaw the immediate efforts to pump out water and make round-the-clock emergency repairs, the unprecedented construction work to restore damaged areas to service, and the long-term planning to prevent future flooding.
“Carmen is taking the helm during one of the most challenging periods in NYC Transit’s history,” said board member Allen Cappelli. “He is the right man to spearhead our ongoing recovery efforts.”
As head of Subways, Bianco oversaw the restructuring of the Department of Subways, led the development of the FASTRACK program, and continued New York City Transit’s introduction of new technologies, particularly those that improve customer communications and efficient train operation.
Bianco is a 30-year transportation veteran who has also held senior safety positions at Amtrak and NJ Transit.
