Governor Appoints MBTA General Manager
BOSTON — Governor Maura T. Healey, Lieutenant Governor Kimberley Driscoll and Transportation Secretary Gina Fiandaca announced that, after a comprehensive search, they will be appointing Phillip Eng as the next General Manager of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA).
Eng is an engineer with nearly 40 years of experience in transportation, including as President of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) Long Island Rail Road and Interim President of New York City Transit.
"Phil Eng is the proven leader the MBTA needs to improve safety and reliability across the system and restore the public's trust," said Governor Healey. "He understands that a functioning transportation system is essential to a functioning economy, and he has a track record of taking the reins of struggling public transit systems and dramatically improving service. He also takes a collaborative approach to his work and maintains open lines of communication with customers, workers, businesses, local officials and communities."
Eng worked his way through the ranks of the New York State Department of Transportation beginning in the '80s, ultimately serving as Executive Deputy Commissioner and Chief Engineer from 2013-2017. He then served as Chief Operating Officer of the MTA, where he oversaw successful efforts to improve performance and efficiency across all agencies, including the NYC Transit Authority, Metro-North Railroad, Long Island Rail Road and MTA Bridges and Tunnels. He led the procurement and awarding of a $540 million contract to modernize the MTA's mobile ticketing system and improved the MTA's contracting methods to better ensure that projects would be completed on time, with reduce costs and with improved quality and durability.
"It's time for a new way of doing business at the MBTA. As an engineer, a transportation professional for 40 years, and a commuter myself, I'm laser focused on finding innovative solutions to complex problems and approaching them with a sense of urgency that always puts the customer first," said Phillip Eng. "I'm also committed to supporting the hardworking employees who keep the MBTA running and ramping up hiring to ensure that we have the workforce in place to deliver the reliable service that riders deserve."
Eng was then tapped to serve as Interim President of NYC Transit, where he led a workforce of 50,000 employees and was integral to initiating and implementing the $836 million Subway Action Plan to fix aging infrastructure and improve performance across the system.
From 2018-2022, Eng served as President of the MTA Long Island Rail Road, where he managed a system of 7,600 employees and a $1.6 billion operating budget. He transformed the system from having the worst on time performance in decades to having the most consistent on time performance in the railroad's history. He oversaw the implementation of new technology that improved the accuracy of train arrival time estimates on platforms and led to the release of the new and improved LIRR TrainTime app, which provides the public with up-to-date service information. He also focused on improving relationships with customers, workers, labor, elected officials, local businesses and community leaders through consistent communication, including the launch of "Customer Conversation" forums and "Meet the Manager" station settings.
"I am pleased to announce the appointment of Phil Eng to the position of MBTA General Manager. Phil has a record of achievement in delivering world class transportation services in New York State, managing billions of dollars in capital projects, and launching initiatives to improve the customer experience," said Secretary Fiandaca. "Most importantly, Phil has excelled at finding solutions to challenging problems. It's clear he is focused on customer satisfaction, operational excellence, and championing a safe, reliable transportation system. He has wide ranging experience as an executive manager for mass transit, highways, ports, waterways and aviation facilities. We look forward to having Phil guide and support improvements and innovations at the MBTA."
Since June, Eng has served as Executive Vice President of the LiRo Group, where he advises public and private sector clients on engineering, transportation and infrastructure projects. He has worked with a number of public transportation clients across the Northeast, including the MBTA, on construction management and quality design, assurance and control inspections.
He lives in Smithtown, New York with his wife Carole and will be relocating to Massachusetts to begin his new role on April 10.
Interim General Manager Jeff Gonneville will remain with the MBTA and assist with the transition to new management.
"I'm deeply grateful to Jeff Gonneville for his 22 years of dedicated service to the MBTA and for rising to the challenge as Interim General Manager during this critical period. He has ushered in a new era of transparency and communication at the MBTA that I know that Phil Eng will continue to build on. We are pleased that Jeff will continue his service to Massachusetts," said Governor Healey.
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