The Globe reports that the MBTA has brought back its former general manager, Dan Grabauskas, to serve as executive director of commuter rail, which means he'll be working with T officials to figure out ways Keolis, which actually runs commuter rail under a contract, can make things better. Read more.
Dan Grabausakas, for example, is building an el in Honolulu (and, hey, the project is delayed and possibly over budget).
Now President Obama has nominated Bev Scott for a seat on the National Transportation Safety Board (which would investigate any crashes on the T).
Via Mike Deehan.
Grabauskas has a lei-away plan.
Honolulu is building an el (a $5.3-billion el) and the people in charge want to hire our own Dan Grabauskas to oversee it. Wonder if he gets an SUV out of the deal.
His current boss, at the Bronner Group, couldn't be more thrilled:
The Globe gets copies of more e-mail among top players in state transportation circles, and you've just got to love Aloisi's declaration he will not let Grabauskas walk all over him like some two-bit Poland. Plus bonus sniping among PR people. All of which will give you something to think about as you sit on some stuck commuter train out of Needham or Providence (and you can bet Charlie Baker will wave copies of the article around on the stump next year).
So instead of Smilin' Dan, now we have Smilin' Jim, who, it turns out was the one pushing for the MBTA fare increases Grabauskas got fired over. The Globe has copies of the e-mail.
Aloisi is the devil we don't know, Mike Mennonno writes.
The Outraged Liberal poses a challenge:
Get out of your cars and try relying on the T for one month for all your transportation needs and check back with us. ...
Gives up, accepts buyout to leave the MBTA now instead of May, Channel 4 reports.
So who replaces him? And how long will his or her honeymoon last?
The Herald reports on what is shaping up to be a perpetual MBTA board of directors meeting.
Outgoing Newton Mayor David Cohen has waded into the battle over MBTA leadership, writing Gov. Deval Patrick that he fully supports current T General Manager Dan Grabauskas:
Mr. Grabauskas' management of capital spending has, in my opinion, saved the "T." Although 90% of the agency's staggering debt burden preceded his tenure, Mr. Grabauskas has emphasized using precious discretionary capital dollars to improve state of good repair. This has led to improved quality of service and enabled the "T" to get a much better handle on capital costs.
So bookmark Charley on the MTA's questions, then go back after a cup or two.
On "Greater Boston" last night, MBTA General Manager Dan Grabauskas was discussing the need for fare increases when Emily Rooney asked him about criticism from state Transportation Secretary James Aloisi for not being available last week when the feds released a critical report on that fatal Green Line crash. You may recall that Aloisi said he couldn't reach Grabauskas.
Grabauskas said he was on a forced, unpaid five-day furlough. But he said Aloisi knew how to reach him:
What he said was not true. ... He didn't try to get in touch with me. It's a lie.
On "unpaid furlough," apparently. Which the Herald reports isn't sitting well with state Transportation Secretary James Aloisi, what with the feds blasting the MBTA this week for the conditions they say led to last year's fatal Green Line crash.
He tells the Globe, though, that he's reachable on his vacation, but told the Globe it's none of its business where he is.
He'll be on WBUR's Radio Boston live at 1 p.m. today, to talk about T finances (at work? You can listen online).
So, is Dan Grabauskas really leaving the T in January? Amy Derjue, crack reporter/blogger over at Boston Magazine, exchanges e-mail with the T's Joe Pesaturo and asks him about the rumor. He sort of answers the question.
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