In an exclusive interview with "Mornings On 1" Thursday, New York City Transit President Richard Davey took a moment to reflect on his tenure leading the MTA, spanning just over two years.
His departure comes at a pivotal moment for the agency, which is grappling with challenges such as congestion pricing and continuing improvements to transit services. However, despite his short time in the office, Davey believes he has made significant strides.
"You always have unfinished business in a job like this," he said. "If I stay five years or 50 years, there's always something left to do."
Davey also expressed hope that his efforts have made an impact on New Yorkers' daily lives.
“I remember my press conference two years ago, I said, I hope New Yorkers will be the judge of this that at the end of my tenure folks can say, ‘You know, that guy from Boston made a difference,’” he said.
During his time as president, Davey said there had been improvements in customer satisfaction and service quality.
"Subway service in the past 10 years—last year, in the last eight weeks, it's been the best and maybe even more," Davey said.
As he prepares to transition to his new role as head of Massachusetts' MASSPORT system, Davey acknowledged the dedication of the MTA's workforce, saying “presidents come and go, but the trains and buses are always running.”
Reflecting on what he will miss most about New York City, Davey praised the city’s vibrant culture and active communities.
“I think I'll miss the fact this place never turns off. It just is always on, there's always something, which is amazing. The culture, the richness,” he said. “As I said, 8 million New Yorkers, 38 million opinions; but that also says that people are active and involved and contribute to the life of the city.”