PHOTOS: MTA Leadership Celebrates National Transit Employee Appreciation Day

Agency Presidents Pay Tribute to Transit Workers by Joining Them in the Field

Event Spotlights the Importance of Transit Employees Who Keep the City and Region Moving

See Photos of MTA Leaders with Employees

See Video of MTA Leaders with Employees

Listen to Announcements Recorded by New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow and Metro-North Railroad President Justin Vonashek Playing in the Transit System

In honor of National Transit Employee Appreciation Day, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) leadership spent time with transit workers in the field throughout the Authority's service region to demonstrate the importance of recognizing the essential service that transit workers deliver every day to get riders to their destination safely and efficiently.

MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber and MTA Chief Customer Officer Shanifah Rieara started their day at MTA Headquarters where they took calls at the Customer Call Center. They later headed up to Penn Station, where they greeted MTAPD officers, station staff, and customers at the 34 St-Penn Station Customer Service Center. Lieber and Rieara later rode the Long Island Rail Road to Jamaica, where they helped ticket agents scan customers' tickets.

New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow was joined by New York City Transit Executive Vice President of Buses Frank Farrell and Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal at the Kingsbridge Depot, cleaning and preparing buses to go into service for the morning rush. Hoylman-Sigal issued a proclamation to the transit crews at the Kingsbridge Depot thanking them for their service to the city.

President Crichlow and Borough President Holyman-Sigal were then joined by Executive Vice President of Subways Bill Amarosa Jr. at the nearby 207th Street Yard where car equipment staff inspect and maintain rolling stock at the Overhaul Shop. While there, Borough President Holyman-Sigal issued a proclamation to Yard Director Sophie Henderson, thanking her for her commitment to excellent service throughout her career spanning over 50 years at New York City Transit.

President Crichlow and EVP Amarosa later stopped by the Times Square-42 St Customer Service Center to greet station staff and assist customers. President Crichlow then met station staff and assisted more customers at the Grand Central-42 St Customer Service Center. Crichlow also recorded the following station announcement thanking MTA employees and asking customers to show their appreciation:

"Hey New York, it's New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow here. Today is Transit Employee Appreciation Day. I know I'm proud of the 50,000 New York City Transit employees who show up to move this city 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. So, if you see a transit worker today, join me in saying thanks for everything they do to move New York. And you can tell us about it by tagging us on social media @MTA."

New York City Transit Senior Vice President of Paratransit Rachel Cohen began her day in the Rockaways, where she and the AAR leadership team visited the All Transit carrier center. Cohen later greeted employees at Access-A-Ride headquarters in Long Island City.

To celebrate National Transit Employee Appreciation Day, Long Island Rail Road President Rob Free visited the Hillside Facility where he joined machinists and operated a water jet machine.

Metro-North Railroad President Justin Vonashek started his day at Grand Central Terminal, where he served as a coach cleaner alongside railroad crews. Vonashek also recorded a station announcement:

"May I have your attention, please. This is Justin Vonashek, President of Metro-North Railroad. Today is Transit Employee Appreciation Day. Please join me in taking a moment to thank our employees for the amazing job they do every day. Your appreciation means a lot. Thank you for riding with us, and have a safe day."

As part of Metro-North's appreciation efforts, they set up comment boards in Grand Central Terminal, where hundreds of customers shared thoughtful and supportive messages for the Metro-North team.