MTA shakes up its board

A shake-up in the MTA front office will drain some power from MTA board members who represent riders.

According to documents, the six nonvoting members, who represent the interests of the public and the transit union, are getting chopped from some the board’s 10 committees, where the bulk of the MTA’s business is handled.

“They are the voices to raise the views of the riders,” said Gene Russianoff, of the Straphangers Campaign.

As of next month, the MTA will also eliminate and consolidate some committees, merging the ones responsible for the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North. Buses operated by three separate MTA divisions will be folded into one committee, information distributed yesterday shows.

“This is part of the chairman’s plan to restructure each of the agencies to make them more effective and more efficient,” MTA spokesman Kevin Ortiz said. 

Nancy Shevell, a trucking company executive most known for being Paul McCartney’s gal pal, will oversee the new bus committee, an appointment some transit sources questioned.

“What does she know about buses?” said one transit insider, noting that Shevell’s attendance hasn’t been spotless.

Shevell did not return a request for comment.