Senate OKs new MTA chief

ALBANY -- The State Senate Monday unanimously confirmed Joseph Lhota as the new chairman and chief executive of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority -- after warning him that he must restore the MTA's credibility.

"The MTA has an integrity problem, a financial problem, an accountability problem," said Sen. Charles Fuschillo Jr. (R-Merrick), chairman of the Transportation Committee. "There's a public distrust."

The MTA has been under increasing scrutiny. In November, an audit by state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli found that 30 workers earned nearly $1 million in combined overtime and padded their pensions in 2010. Another DiNapoli audit a couple of months earlier found that the MTA's plan to borrow $15 billion for infrastructure projects was loaded with "significant budget risks."

In supporting Lhota, Fuschillo said he "brings the necessary public and private experience" to restore the agency's standing.

Lhota served as executive vice president for the Madison Square Garden Co. Previously, he served under New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani as deputy mayor for operations.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo nominated Lhota after Jay Walder left to head an international transportation company based in Hong Kong.

The Senate also confirmed Gil Quiniones as president and chief executive of the New York Power Authority. He has been acting chief of NYPA since the resignation of Richard Kessel last July, amid an investigation into grants, donations and other spending at NYA. Quiniones has been NYPA's chief operating officer since 2008.

Senate Energy Committee chairman George Maziarz (R-Newfane) called Quiniones "an industry professional who has the experience, know-how, and desire to lead this agency forward."