continued on page 2

INSIDE THIS ISSUE…

Familiar Faces, New Places Two management veterans are bringing their expertise, as well as their com mit­ment to excellence, to new places within the MTA family. Details on page 2.

Things Are Heating Up… Spring is still a ways away, but with the push of a button customers can stay toasty during winter’s harsh finale. Story on page 3.

A December To Remember From the boardroom to the gridiron, employees and children alike had a “ball” as the year came to a close. Read more on page 4.

Read us at home at www.yourmnr.org

Dear colleague,

As we enter a new year, I would like to look back at all we accomplished in 2014, and reflect on what we have learned that will enable us to continue to move forward in 2015.

I want to begin by thanking you for all your hard work and the dedication you have shown to this railroad since I became president of Metro-North. The proof of your efforts can be seen in our many successes.

Most importantly, numerous safety initiatives have been implemented or are underway. Recent improvements include completing the installation of alerters on the remaining one-third of our fleet to ensure that engineers remain responsive, launching a pilot program for identifying key employees with sleep apnea, and awarding a contract for the purchase of inward- and outward-facing cameras in the cabs of our fleet.

After getting through a difficult fall, train service has been performing more reliably. Recent service improvements saw the introduction of new half-hourly service between New Haven and New York in the off-peaks and on weekends, as well as adjustments on all three lines to improve reliability. And all this was accomplished as major work progresses along our right-of-way to restore our infrastructure.

Ridership is on track for a record year. Since our May schedule change, customer complaints are trending downward, drop-ping 30 percent overall through December. Complaints about late and cancelled trains dropped 60 percent in that same time period. Capital improvements have recently been completed at six New Haven Line stations and projects continue elsewhere.

January 2015The News Publication for MTA Metro-North Railroad Employees

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Looking Back, Moving Forward:A New Year’s Message From President Joe Giulietti

Special

Holiday Train Poster

Inside

Special

Holiday Train Poster

Inside

Good times were rolling through our territory as the 2014 Holiday Train delivered warm wishes and thanks to all employees who came aboard. See the special Holiday Train keepsake poster in this issue… and see YOU on the 2015 Holiday Train!

2 3

MTA Chairman Prendergast Announces Management Team Appointments

Rinaldi has served as Chief of Staff at headquarters since 2011. Prior to that she was Vice President and General Counsel at the Long Island Rail Road. She joined the MTA as Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel in 2003.

Rinaldi is a summa cum laude graduate of Yale College and received her law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.

Evans has spent much of her career performing and managing the public affairs, media relations and corporate communica-tions functions for two MTA agencies — Metro-North Railroad and New York City Transit. In 2007, she was selected to become Metro-North’s first chief of staff in over two decades and has served under three Metro-North presidents — a singular distinction.

In that role she retained direct managerial

MTA Chairman Thomas F. Prendergast

announced two significant changes in MTA’s management team effective this month.

Cathy Rinaldi (left photo), Chief of Staff at MTA Headquarters, is promoted to the position of Executive Vice President at Metro-North Railroad.

Appointed as Chief of Staff at the Office of the Chairman is Donna Evans (right photo), who has 34 years of experience in the transportation industry, most recently as Chief of Staff at Metro-North.

In her new role, Rinaldi is responsible for Capital Programs, Customer Service and Stations, Planning, Corporate and Public Affairs, Grand Central Terminal and Corporate Development, Procurement, and Human Resources.

Now Every Employee’s Got Mail!You will NEVER miss out on vital information again, thanks to our new Employee Email System that dispatches all the news that is fit to know to your preferred email address on file with MTA BSC as part of your profile!

“This is the start of a new way of communicating with all of our employees — our new Employee Email System, which will ensure that everyone gets vital information as soon as it is available,” President Joe Giulietti said.

This is especially great news for those employees who do not have email at work: You will receive Human Resources

notices and updates, job postings, corporate news (such as the Weekly News and On Track) and other critical information to keep you well-informed about what is happening at Metro-North.

Email lists will be updated quarterly. You may change the email address at which you receive information by going to the external BSC portal (http:// www .mta bsc .info/) and clicking on “eProfile”. You will find a link to update your email address in the left-hand column.

For those of you who don’t have an email on file… what are you waiting for? Go to your BSC profile and add one in!

Step aside, Jack Frost! The “hottest” station enhancements on our lines are not only

keeping our customers warm, but also generating some serious energy savings…

“Push for Heat,” one of many enhancements completed on our line stations, is an eco-friendly method of heating our station shelters without demanding more energy than needed. This new heating philosophy gives Metro-North the chance to shrink its energy footprint while continuing to keep customers warm and happy during the harsh fall/winter months.

Here’s how it works: The cost of energy consump-tion from a constantly running heater piles up, and many times there’s no one actually in the shelter itself. (Previously, from October to April, the shelters would be heated 24/7.) The “Push for Heat” button solves this wasteful problem by allowing riders to get heat “on-demand” for a period of 10 minutes — which is

about how long most customers wait for their trains.The energy savings of this ingenious idea were

immediate: after a pilot run in Hawthorne Station on the Harlem Line, it was determined that the energy consumption per shelter was reduced by 85%...which is equivalent to about $500 per shelter (per heating season). And spread out to all lines, the total savings can reach nearly $150,000 per year!

This “green” idea was conceived in 2012, by Frank Streeter, Sr. Electrical Engineer – Capital Engineering, and with the help of Sal Monti (retired) and Jeff Manthey in the Structures Department, and Kyle Ng, Associate Engineer.

“The idea behind the on-demand heating was to reduce energy usage while still providing our customers with a comfortable experience at the stations,” Streeter said.

Jay McConologue, Structures Electrical Foreman, working with Frank, helped create the heating controller prototype — making it easier for the electricians to do their work. From there, the final design was then developed through a joint effort from the Capital and Structures departments and financed through an operating fund for sustainability initiatives managed by Karen Timko and Gail Silke of the Environmental Compliance & Services team.

With a smooth installation and positive customer impact, “Push for Heat” is totally available on the Harlem Line and was recently completed by Structures’ Steve D’Aleo and Dave Strang on the Hudson and West of Hudson Lines.

A Hot Button Issue…

responsibility for the railroad’s corporate communications and corporate compliance functions. She also directed the development of and managed the implementation of Metro-North’s five-year strategic business plan. Most recently, the Procurement & Material Man age-ment Department began reporting to her.

As MTA Chief of Staff, Evans continues to coordinate MTA Board Members and agency heads. She will also oversee Board-related communications and emergency management and homeless services activities. Finally, she will advise and coordinate with MTA commu-nications messages — particularly as we begin working toward proposing and advocating for a new five-year capital program.

Evans is a summa cum laude graduate and valedictorian of Long Island University/Brooklyn Center Campus.

continued from page 1

Looking Back, Moving Forward:A New Year’s Message

Finally, contract agreements have been reached or, as I write this message, are being finalized with our unions, and non-agreement employees have seen a recent salary increase.

This is just a brief overview of all we have accomplished. Your response to the continual challenges we faced last year was exceptional. And, rest assured, we will encounter more in 2015. Remember: Do not get discouraged by any setbacks we may experience.

Instead, stay focused and continue doing your jobs safely and to the best of your

abilities. I am confident that, thanks to your talents, skills and dedication, we will be able to overcome whatever tests 2015 brings as we work together to restore Metro-North’s reputation for excellence.

I look forward to continuing to work with you in the coming year.

Sincerely,

Joe Giulietti

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At press time, our Employee Email System was set to launch at the end of January. Watch for your first news-packed email!

OnTrack_Jan15_v2.indd 2-3 1/23/15 10:39 AM

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Published for the employees of MTA Metro‑North Railroad by Corporate & Public Affairs, 345 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10017

Executive Editor: Mark Mannix

Editor/Writer: Joe Antonacci

Managing Editor/Writer: Nancy Huie

Communications Assistant/Writer: George Mateo

Senior Graphic Designer: Barbara Sarcich

continued on page 2

INSIDE THIS ISSUE…

Familiar Faces, New Places Two management veterans are bringing their expertise, as well as their com mit­ment to excellence, to new places within the MTA family. Details on page 2.

Things Are Heating Up… Spring is still a ways away, but with the push of a button customers can stay toasty during winter’s harsh finale. Story on page 3.

A December To Remember From the boardroom to the gridiron, employees and children alike had a “ball” as the year came to a close. Read more on page 4.

Read us at home at www.yourmnr.org

Dear colleague,

As we enter a new year, I would like to look back at all we accomplished in 2014, and reflect on what we have learned that will enable us to continue to move forward in 2015.

I want to begin by thanking you for all your hard work and the dedication you have shown to this railroad since I became president of Metro-North. The proof of your efforts can be seen in our many successes.

Most importantly, numerous safety initiatives have been implemented or are underway. Recent improvements include completing the installation of alerters on the remaining one-third of our fleet to ensure that engineers remain responsive, launching a pilot program for identifying key employees with sleep apnea, and awarding a contract for the purchase of inward- and outward-facing cameras in the cabs of our fleet.

After getting through a difficult fall, train service has been performing more reliably. Recent service improvements saw the introduction of new half-hourly service between New Haven and New York in the off-peaks and on weekends, as well as adjustments on all three lines to improve reliability. And all this was accomplished as major work progresses along our right-of-way to restore our infrastructure.

Ridership is on track for a record year. Since our May schedule change, customer complaints are trending downward, drop-ping 30 percent overall through December. Complaints about late and cancelled trains dropped 60 percent in that same time period. Capital improvements have recently been completed at six New Haven Line stations and projects continue elsewhere.

January 2015The News Publication for MTA Metro-North Railroad Employees

It was party hearty at the ever popular Holiday Party for the children of Metro-

North employees in December! About 60 attendees – employees and their children – gathered in the 347 Madison Ave., 5th Floor Boardroom to share in the magic of the holiday season! The event saw children from a wide range of ages enjoying the entertainment, including the face-painting and balloon-twisting prowess of “Loony Toony the Clown”, as well as pizza and goodies. And don’t forget about Santa – to everyone’s delight Kris Kringle made an appearance, stocked with gifts and his trademark jolly cheer! This festive and fun-filled event was coordinated by Capital Engineering’s Mike McKenna, Harry Hall, and Richard Ramkeesoon.

Amidst all the December holiday fanfare, Metro-North employees from all over

our territory, including New Haven, Croton-Harmon, Grand Central, and North White Plains (as well as some HQ employ-ees) assembled at Jets Stadium to watch the Jets battle the New England Patriots! It was a dramatic one, with a final score of Patriots-17, Jets-16. According to Roberto

Aguirre, Assistant Director, Diversity/EEO, many employees — particularly from the Connecticut area — were “Pats” fans, making for some healthy trash talk! And approximately 100 employees, families, and friends all had a blast at the pre-game tailgate party!

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They Had A Ball! Santa Claus Came To Town…

Looking Back, Moving Forward:A New Year’s Message From President Joe Giulietti

Good times were rolling through our territory as the 2014 Holiday Train delivered warm wishes and thanks to all employees who came aboard. See the special Holiday Train keepsake poster in this issue… and see YOU on the 2015 Holiday Train!

OnTrack_Jan15_v2.indd 4-1 1/23/15 10:39 AM