What it will cost, who will step in
Aloisi said the board will buy out the rest of Grabauskas’ contract, which would have run through May 2010, for $327,487. MBTA general council William Mitchell will serve as acting general manager.
Published 21:54, August the 6th, 2009
MBTA head resigns after fight with gov.
Meeting with the T’s board results in Grabauskas stepping down
Shouldering much of the blame for the MBTA’s financial woes as well as two Green Line trolley crashes, General Manager Dan Grabauskas resigned Thursday.
The general manager, who has been caught in a spat with the Patrick administration, took a buyout after a lengthy meeting with the T’s board.
Grabauskas stepping down will allow the administration to install a leader with “an energy and a drive to take a look at the status quo,” according to Transportation Secretary James Aloisi.
The resignation, effective immediately, comes after the National Transportation Safety Board’s critical assessment of the T’s role in the May 2008 Green Line crash and with growing financial concerns at the agency.
The administration’s attempt to oust Grabauskas resulted in an impasse earlier in the day, with board members locked in a 4-4 vote.
Gov. Deval Patrick announced Thursday on WTKK-FM that he has asked former John Hancock CEO David D’Alessandro to conduct a review of the MBTA, looking to put “fresh eyes” on the agency’s financial oversight and operational competency. The board will also establish a review panel with external experts to examine the MBTA.
