MTA LIRR names SVPs for operations; engineering and marketing VP; Metro-North selects sleep apnea pilot vendor

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) appointed David Kubicek to senior vice president operations, Bruce Pohlot to senior vice president engineering and Edward Dumas vice president market development and public affairs, effective December 29.

 

“I am pleased to announce these very important additions to our leadership team at the LIRR,” said LIRR President Patrick Nowakowski. “David Kubicek and Bruce Pohlot bring with them decades of railroad industry experience and Edward Dumas is a veteran of government and corporate public affairs on Long Island.”

Kubicek has worked at Dallas Area Rapid Transit, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, where he served as chief mechanical officer and deputy general manager. As the LIRR’s senior vice president operations, he will be responsible for the transportation, maintenance of equipment and stations.

Bruce Pohlot started his career at the Lehigh Valley Railroad and also worked at Conrail. He spent the majority of his career at Amtrak, where he served most recently as chief engineer and the engineering firm of Parson Brinkerhoff. As the LIRR’s senior vice president engineering, Pohlot will be responsible for engineering, department of program management, as well as East Side Access and special projects.

Edward Dumas comes to the LIRR from the MTA’s executive staff. Prior to joining the MTA in February 2014, Dumas served in senior positions in Suffolk County government and at the Long Island Power Authority. At the LIRR, Dumas will oversee the railroad’s marketing, public information, corporate communications and government affairs operations.

In other MTA news, Metro-North Railroad selected a health care company to provide medical testing and evaluation services for a seven-month pilot project focusing on obstructive sleep apnea and locomotive engineers.

A contract will go to the full board of the MTA for a vote Dec. 17.

“Today, Metro-North is taking another big step in our pursuit of best safety practices,” said Metro-North President Joseph Giulietti. “This pilot will go a long way to ensuring safety of our customers, as well as improving the overall health of our employees.”

The railroad developed the pilot in tandem with LIRR and New York City Transit, which will be closely following its results.

All 410 Metro-North engineers and about 20 engineers in training will undergo an initial screening by the railroad’s Occupational Health Services Department based on industry best practices. Those locomotive engineers recommended for additional screening will be referred to the contractor, Persante Health Care Inc. of Mount Laurel, N.J., which specializes in sleep disorders.

The vendor will provide training and test equipment for an at-home, overnight sleep test. In the morning, the engineer will use a prepaid mailer and send the test device back to the vendor. Every aspect of the pilot was designed to make participation as easy as possible for employees. Test data will be analyzed and, if needed, employees will be referred to a sleep specialist for additional testing and/or treatment.

 

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