At New Jersey Transit, a ‘Culture Change’ Is Called For
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/25/opinion/at-new-jersey-transit-a-culture-change-is-called-for.html Version 0 of 1. To the Editor: “Neglect Brings a Steep Decline for N.J. Transit” (front page, Oct. 14) speaks a simple truth that both regular commuters and occasional passengers on regional rail lines have known for years: The state of railroad transportation in this country is deplorable. The wry but accurate statement of Anthony Foxx, the federal transportation secretary, that this level of neglect is “almost criminal” speaks volumes. I would go a step further and say it has now become grotesque. As the article notes, funding in transportation budgets has been systematically siphoned off at the state level without a second thought to long-term consequences. Instead of updating rails, tunnels and bridges, state governments pour tax dollars elsewhere with reckless abandon. Emphatically, this must stop. Continuing this pattern of neglect all but guarantees disastrous and paralyzing consequences in the future. JEFFREY L. VOLPINTESTA Stamford, Conn. To the Editor: Your article about the decline in New Jersey Transit focused on reductions in capital. During the agency’s successful 1990s, my colleagues and I delivered extensive leadership development, customer service programs and other need-based programs. As a plan is put in place to fix safety and operational gaps, the infusion of capital must be supplemented by organization change in human resources, and education and training efforts in full cooperation with the union. The omission of these culture-change initiatives is certain to degrade capital programs and safety performance. DONALD C. MIKLAS Morganville, N.J. The writer was director of employee development and training at New Jersey Transit in the early 1990s. |