Long-Time Leader of Subways Division Has Delivered Strong System Performance and Service Increases, Helping to Fuel a Post-Pandemic Ridership Surge
MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber today appointed Demetrius Crichlow as Interim President of MTA New York City Transit, effective June 14. Crichlow has led New York City Transit’s Department of Subways as its Senior Vice President since July 2021, a period where service has increased and ridership has soared 67%. He has led the subway as it has maintained the best on-time performance in at least a decade, and recorded improving customer satisfaction.
“Demetrius is a long-time leader at New York City Transit who has ensured subway system performance remains at record levels even as we dramatically increased service beginning last summer,” Lieber said. “I have confidence that he will be able to build on the successes he’s helped to achieve.”
“I am thrilled to continue improving the experience of 1.3 billion annual subway, bus and paratransit customers,” Crichlow said. “As a third-generation MTA career professional, I am passionate about how public transportation can improve the lives of millions of people in New York City. We at New York City Transit will keep furthering our efforts to enhance service, safety, and accessibility.”
Crichlow is a lifelong New Yorker who started his career with the MTA in 1997 as an assistant signal maintainer at the Long Island Rail Road, rising through the ranks at the LIRR to become Train Movement Supervisor overseeing operations at Penn Station Central Control. In 2007 he transferred to MTA Headquarters to become Special Assistant for Operations for then-Executive Director Elliot G. “Lee” Sander.
While Crichlow started his career at the LIRR, his father — who retired as a car inspector for Subways — had always hoped he would continue the family tradition of working at NYCT. When Crichlow became Deputy General Manager for the line, it solidified three generations of service that began with his grandfather. Since then, he took on increased responsibility within NYCT, including Chief Officer of Field Operations, Chief Officer of the Operations Control Center, and Vice President & Chief Officer of Staten Island Railway.
As the Senior Vice President for the Department of Subways, he leads efforts for across-the-board service improvements and a better customer experience for the average 3.5 million daily customers who ride the subway. This includes working intimately on the implementation of communications-based train control on the line and line and its current expansion in the system, making vast upgrades to the customer environment, and rebuilding its 29,000-person workforce post pandemic.
Crichlow will succeed Richard Davey, who served as President of New York City Transit from May 2022 until announcing his departure this week.