NEW YOR – Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber Thursday announced he has appointed Catherine Rinaldi to serve as interim president of MTA Long Island Railroad. Rinaldi will concurrently serve as president of Metro-North Railroad, a role she has held since 2018. Rinaldi will succeed Phillip Eng, who is retiring after nearly four years as LIRR president.
Rinaldi grew up in Huntington, Long Island, and previously served as vice president and general counsel at the Long Island Rail Road from 2008 to 2011. Rinaldi was named the 2018 Woman of the Year by the Greater New York Chapter of the Women’s Transportation Seminar. She is a summa cum laude graduate of Yale and received her law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.
“Cathy Rinaldi is a proven leader with nearly 20 years of experience at the MTA, having served in leadership positions at headquarters and both commuter railroads,” Lieber said. “At Metro-North, she has led efforts to improve system reliability, achieve excellent customer service, and continue the intensive infrastructure work essential to maintaining system safety. She has great relations with labor, has the respect of her staff and puts the customer first. Phil has done an incredible job as president of the LIRR, strengthening operations through the LIRR Forward Plan and overseeing historic infrastructure investments like East Side Access and Third Track – all the while navigating a once-in-a-century crisis with COVID.”
Rinaldi’s first day as Interim Long Island Rail Road President will be Saturday, February 26.
