Metro-North President Howard Permut is stepping down. The New York Times reports that he announced his retirement Monday afternoon.
Permut is to be replaced by Joseph Giulietti, executive director of the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority.
2013 was a rough year for the MTA. In early December, a train on the Hudson line derailed in the Bronx, killing four people, the first passenger fatalities in the MTA’s history. More than 60 people were injured.
In September, a power failure disrupted travel on the New Haven line for nearly two weeks. Back in May, two commuter trains collided outside of Bridgeport, injuring more than 70 people. Just weeks later, a track foreman was killed by a train near West Haven.
Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal told The New Haven Register that as the MTA replaces Permut, it must focus on revamping its safety culture and systems.
