Former Cablevision Exec Lhota Tapped as Next MTA Chief

Governor Andrew Cuomo has nominated Cablevision executive Joseph Lhota to be the next chairman and CEO of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the largest transit system in North America.

Lhota, if confirmed by the state senate, would be replacing outgoing chair Jay Walder, whose final day at the authority is Friday. Walder will depart for a new job as the head of MTR, a rail and real estate company in Hong Kong.

If approved, he will oversee the MTA’s trains, subways and buses that carry 11 million weekday riders and serve 12 New York and two Connecticut counties. The confirmation process could take up to a month.

Lhota served in the Giuliani administration for six years, first as budget director and then as deputy mayor of operations. He also served as the Commissioner of Finance for New York City, and has been a Board Member of the MTA. He was an adviser to Giuliani’s failed presidential campaign in 2007-2008.

“Throughout my career in both the public and private sectors, I have initiated reforms that are performance-based and that cut costs," Lhota said, "and I look forward to bringing this same approach to the MTA."

Lhota was the choice of a search committee convened by the governor and charged with winnowing a list of candidates provided by an executive recruitment firm.

“Joe Lhota brings one-of-a-kind managerial, government and private sector experience to the job and a lifelong commitment to public service that will benefit all straphangers," Cuomo said in a statement. "I look forward to working together as we continue to reform the MTA, reduce costs and improve service for New Yorkers.”

Mitchell Moss, Director of the Rudin Center for Transportation Policy and Management, was on the search committee. He said Lhota should be able to defend the regional mobility tax in Albany, which has been under attack from Republican lawmakers.

“They’ll know he’s a serious guy," Moss said. "He’s a Republican. The whole culture of transportation will require very different leadership now.” 

Moss said he expected fewer funds from the federal government, and managing relationships with Albany would become key to keeping the MTA funded.

Cuomo also appointed two women to serve in key transportation posts: Nuria Fernandez, a former Federal Transit Administration official and a the Chicago Transit Authority official will be the MTA’s CEO, and Karen Rae, who worked in the Obama Administration on high speed rail, will serve in the Governor’s office as Deputy Secretary of Transportation

Cuomo is also recommending that Lhota be paid 5 percent less than Walder's salary of $350,000 a year.