Moulton Statement on the Appointment of Phillip Eng as New MBTA General Manager

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Seth Moulton, who sits on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, released the following statement in response to the Healey administration’s announcement that Phillip Eng will be the next MBTA General Manager. 

“Today’s announcement by the Healey-Driscoll administration that Phillip Eng will soon take the reins at the T is a promising signal for the MBTA and the Commonwealth.

The T is a mess. It needs a top-to-bottom transformation. It’s simply unacceptable for a world-class state like Massachusetts to have a barely functioning public transit system.

Mr. Eng brings experience managing a large and diverse workforce. He has had to handle the complex politics and complex operations of New York City Transit and the Long Island Rail Road. As an engineer, he understands the technical complexities of both municipal and regional rail systems. He has also undertaken technology-focused modernization projects—which gives hope for the beleaguered MBTA, which desperately needs innovation.

The MBTA’s problems are deep and systemic. They go well beyond just one person, but leadership at the top will set the tone for everything the MBTA does moving forward.

Before any serious changes can be made, the MBTA must fix its staffing shortage and make itself an attractive place to work that can recruit and retain talent like its sister agencies overseas. This will allow the agency to create a vision for the future that solves problems instead of creating more of them.

If we finally take on projects like the North-South rail link and East-West rail -- not to mention making our commuter rail into a true regional rail system -- we can better position the Commonwealth–not just Greater Boston for growth and improved accessibility. 

I am heartened that Governor Healey and her team took this search so seriously and I look forward to working with Mr. Eng. It’s time to transform the MBTA from a trundling mess to the pride of the region it deserves to be.”