Jay H. Walder assumed his duties Oct. 5 as chairman and chief executive officer of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) by meeting with employees at the Corona Subway Maintenance Shop and the Casey Stengel Bus Depot in Queens, before greeting customers at the Main Street Station on MTA New York City Transit’s 7 subway line.

With his appointment to the MTA by New York Gov. David Paterson, confirmed by the New York State Senate on Sept. 10, Walder returns to an agency where he previously worked from 1983 to 1995, eventually serving as executive director and chief financial officer. His term expires in 2015.

In 2001, Walder joined Transport for London, where he served as managing director for finance and development until 2006. He is credited with the introduction of the system’s extremely popular “Oyster card” and with drafting the transportation plan for London’s successful bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

“I am proud of the MTA’s progress over the past 20 years, but we need to do more. Our customers have raised their expectations and we cannot be satisfied with the status quo,” Walder said. “In partnership with the MTA’s hard-working men and women, I know we can meet those expectations. It will not be easy, but I come to the job with my eyes open and my sleeves rolled up.”

Walder said his first priority was to work intensively with the organization to bring himself up to speed on the MTA’s operations and better understand its challenges. He committed to quickly identifying priorities and producing a plan of action.

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