MTA Names New Metro-North Railroad President

The MTA announced Thursday that it’s hired the executive director of a south Florida commuter group as the new president of Metro-North Railroad.

Joseph Giuletti—a former Metro-North executive who has led the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority for more than 14 years—succeeds Howard Permut, who had overseen the rail service as president for more than five years, according to a notice posted on the MTA website.

MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas F. Prendergast said Giuletti is taking the reins “at a critical moment.”

“Joe began his railroad career as a brakeman and assistant conductor on the Penn Central Railroad, and has honed his operational and leadership skills through positions of increasing responsibility,” Prendergast said. “I am confident Joe will quickly focus on enhancing Metro-North’s strong operational standards and safety practices, while continuing to develop the railroad’s future as a critical link in the region’s transportation system and economy.”

It’s been a difficult year for Metro-North, with derailments in Connecticut and New York and passenger fatalities. Permut’s retirement has been applauded by some elected officials saying the service has failed to keep up standards of safety and reliability during his tenure.

A commuter group, the Metro-North Railroad Commuter Council, congratulated Giulietti in a written startement issued Thursday. 

“We are confident that Mr. Giulietti’s experience with Metro-North and his successful tenure as Executive Director of the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, where he presided over the rapidly growing Tri-Rail system, will serve him well as Metro-North President,” he said. “The MNRCC thanks retiring Metro-North President Howard Permut for his many years of service and contributions to the Railroad.”

The longtime head of the Connecticut Rail Commuter Council, Darien’s Jim Cameron (whose “Talking Transportation” blog can be found here) stepped down as chairman of that group in November.

Here’s some more information about Giuletti, according to the MTA announcement:

“Giulietti began his career in 1971 with Penn Central while attending Southern Connecticut State University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in history and English. In 1978 he became a road foreman with Conrail, where he advanced to become assistant manager for operating rules. He joined the newly-formed Metro-North in 1983 as superintendent of transportation, and later became engineer of track for the Harlem and Hudson lines, assistant director of transportation and schedule coordination, and director of a project to reduce operational inefficiencies and increase productivity.”