Thirteen months ago, Long Island Rail Road President Phil Eng retired effective Feb. 25, 2022. MTA Chairman Janno Lieber subsequently appointed Metro North President Catherine Renaldi who is now celebrating one year as interim LIRR president.
After 12 months on the job, she must have developed a good working knowledge of the agency organization, staff, operations, facilities and customers needs. She should be familiar with ongoing and planned capital projects in the LIRR’s multibillion-dollar portion of the MTA’s $51 billion 2020-2024 Five Year Capital Plan.
If MTA Chairman Janno Lieber is happy with her performance to date, why hasn’t he promoted her to be the next permanent LIRR president? Is there something we don’t know? Remember that Lieber, just like his predecessors will need the blessing of the governor. Just like past history, Gov. Kathy Hochul will play a behind-the-scenes role in the selection for a permanent LIRR president.
Larry Penner
Great Neck
Larry Penner is a transportation advocate, historian and writer who previously served as a former director for the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office of Operations and Program Management.
