N.Y. MTA names new bus division leader

Citing a depth of experience covering all areas of bus operations from maintenance to service planning, New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Chairman/CEO Jay H. Walder named Darryl Irick to the permanent posts of MTA New York City Transit senior vice president, buses; president MTA Bus Co. and president MTA Long Island Bus (LI Bus).

Irick has been the acting head of the MTA's bus divisions since late last year when former bus head Joe Smith announced his retirement.

Beginning his NYC Transit career in 1986 as a bus operator working out of the Kingsbridge Bus Depot in Manhattan's Inwood section, Irick moved up to earn progressively more senior positions in the areas of depot management, operations planning and road operations.

A New York City resident, he is coming into this leadership role at a particularly challenging time when bus services are expected to continue to improve even in the face of severe budget constraints. He views the delivery of services as a business model and will maintain a core commitment to offer safe, customer-focused and efficient service, while overseeing improvements such as Select Bus Service, camera-enforced bus lanes and the rollout of MTA Bus Time, which provides real-time bus location information.

Irick will also manage the orderly transition of LI Bus services to Nassau County's selected operator by the end of 2011.