New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Chairman and CEO Thomas Prendergast has named MTA Bridges and Tunnels President James Ferrara as interim president of MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) effective Aug. 21, when NYCT President Carmen Bianco retires. Ferrara will serve as interim president until Bianco’s permanent replacement is named.
Ferrara joined the MTA as a Bridges and Tunnels officer in 1977 and was named president of that division in 2010. B&T Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Donald Spero will serve as acting B&T president during this time.
The MTA is now engaged in an international search to fill the NYCT president position and says it is evaluating internal and external candidates.
“Running MTA NYCT is one of the most complicated and critical jobs in the entire MTA, and Jim’s excellent judgment and strong managerial skills make me confident that the agency will be in good hands while we find the next permanent president,” Prendergast said.
“I am honored to be asked to assume this challenging role and I thank the chairman for entrusting me with it,” Ferrara said. “This temporary shift will require continued good work and support from my colleagues at Bridges and Tunnels as well as NYCT, and I thank them in advance for their help advancing the work of the entire MTA.”