Link to Video: Board Recognition of President Eng
View Photos of Phil Eng’s Last Board Meeting
Outgoing MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) President Phil Eng was given a standing ovation by members of the MTA Board as he attended his final meeting after four years as head of the LIRR.
A transcript of President Eng’s remarks appears below, along with comments by MTA Chair and CEO Lieber.
MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber: Okay, get out the handkerchiefs.
This is a big year for the Long Island Rail Road. Two of the marquee projects of the current plan, East Side Access and Third Track are heading to the finish line, together with the transformational expansion of the Long Island Rail Road concourse at Penn Station.
Everybody has heard by now that Phil Eng is retiring next week after nearly 40 years of public service. I'm going to talk about him in a moment. But first, a couple of words about his amazing successor.
There is no one better prepared than Cathy Rinaldi to lead the LIRR through what is sure to be the most eventful year in its history, with Third Track wrapping up and new service to Grand Central, effectively making the Metro-North Railroad and the LIRR, as I say, roommates.
She's held a variety of key roles in the past 20 years at the MTA including, relevant to this news, General Counsel of the Long Island Rail Road for some years, General Counsel of the MTA, Chief of Staff at MTA headquarters, and now Metro-North President. All of MTA and Long Island Rail Road partners and stakeholders, government elected office, labor, civic and advocacy – we all know that Cathy is an exceptional professional. Plus, she has true Long Island bona fides growing up in Massapequa and Huntington.
The reason I'm so confident about LIRR’s future is because the railroad is in great shape, and that's thanks, in large part, to Phil’s work over the past 4 years. In his time at the LIRR, Phil has strengthened operations tremendously.
A lot of it was laid out in the Long Island Rail Road Forward Plan, that he commissioned and executed. He helped the agency grow on-time performance every year since 2019 and also set on-time records in 2020 and 2021.
At every step, Phil’s embraced technology. Whether it's laser trains zapping away leaves on the roadbed or real time crowding condition updates on the Long Island Rail Road TrainTime app – the real innovation that helped so many people to get comfortable coming back to transit in the COVID era.
Phil’s accomplishments are all the more impressive when you consider he's been dealing with the effects of the global pandemic these last couple of years. I just want to say on behalf of everybody at the MTA, thank you for your service, we wish you luck in your next chapter.
**Applause and standing ovation from MTA staff and board members**
Lieber: All right Phil, mic’s to you
MTA LIRR President Phil Eng: Wow, in my 39 years of public service, I don't think my heart has been beating as fast as it is beating right now, and that's a true testament to how much I'm going to miss everyone here. I'm going to miss the challenges that we all faced together, and I know the challenges that lie ahead.
But it's because of everyone in this room and the workforce that is outside doing the jobs that they do, that some of the things that you gave me credit for Janno, and the speakers gave me credit for, is why we've accomplished so much.
I think when you have a chance to work day in and day out with the fantastic folks in public service and here at the MTA, you see the dedication, you see the expertise and the knowledge and the sacrifices that we make, particularly in jobs that are 24/7.
The real thing that I think comes back is that when you see things that improve people's lives in the public that we serve, the communities, the families, people that work, live and play in the New York metropolitan area – when you see those positive impacts, that's the reward you get and there's nothing better than that.
So, I want to thank you Janno for your leadership and for your support. I want to thank the Board, you are phenomenal and you're passionate about these things and without your support and input, we couldn't do what we do.
I want to thank all the labor partners because together we make sure that the workforce has the right skill sets, the right support, the right tools and the right direction because what they do day in and day out is phenomenal.
I want to thank all my agency presidents because they are the best of the best. I'm going to miss working with them day in and day out as well.
I want to thank the public because without the feedback from them – without them, we don't have a job too so you know, it's great to know that we are making a difference. We're supporting the communities, we're supporting families and we're just making people's lives better for everyone that lives in this New York metropolitan area and that is what's going to help bring back New York, the economy and keep people living where they do and thank you very much.
It's been a great ride. I'm only getting off at one stop and I'll figure out what the next stop will be but you are phenomenal. Thank you so much and thank you to all the workforce that have supported me because they are the reason that you got to say nice things about me and they're staying so, God bless you all. Thank you.