Trust.

It is essential for running a transportation system as vast as the MTA and crucial for providing effective oversight.

When trust in the system erodes, riders feel less safe, worker morale drops, and public perception becomes excessively negative.

And I believe the work of my office is critical to earning that trust. We help improve public trust in the system through our meticulous audits and investigations, which aim to make the MTA safer, more efficient, and less burdened by fraudulent and wasteful practices.

To effectively oversee MTA operations, my office also needs to gain the trust of MTA employees, which can be a challenge. But it is vital to make sure misconduct, unsafe conditions, waste, and other issues get reported.

We earn that trust in part through our frequent visits to MTA facilities, where we explain the role of my office, listen to employee concerns, and encourage them to reach out to us so we can address those issues wherever possible. I've had productive conversations with a wide array of employees, including subway line superintendents, track workers, railroad conductors, control tower operators, train car mechanics, elevator and escalator personnel, subway and bus operators, and a public address announcer for the A/C line.

Some of them asked tough questions. Some did not know if they could trust my office. And that's okay. That trust needs to be earned.

But my messaging is consistent: we are allies, not adversaries.

As we look to the future of this office and to our area's transportation system, I want the public and the MTA workforce to trust that we are steadfastly focused on improving the MTA, its operations, its efficiency, and its safety.

We will be relentless in fulfilling that mission.​

Daniel G. Cort​
MTA Inspector General