Career David L. Gunn

1 career

1.1 positions (1964 1984)
1.2 new york city transit authority (1984 1990)
1.3 wmata (1991-1994)
1.4 toronto transit commission (1995 1999)
1.5 amtrak (2002-2005)

1.5.1 beginning of presidency
1.5.2 policies , reactions
1.5.3 political upheaval , firing

career
early positions (1964 1984)

the following gunn s positions, many related railways:

atchison, topeka , santa fe railway, 1964 1967
new york central railroad, 1967 1968
assistant vice-president, illinois central gulf railroad, 1969 1974
director of commuter rail, massachusetts bay transportation authority (mbta), 1974 1975
director of operations, mbta, 1975 1979
general manager , chief operations officer, southeastern pennsylvania transportation authority (septa), 1979 1984

new york city transit authority (1984 1990)

he president, new york city transit authority (nycta), 1984 1990, , according new york times, mr. gunn credited turning around new york city subway system in late 1980s. during tenure president of nycta, gunn instituted operational changes led reduction of graffiti , service improvements in new york subway system, including establishment of clean car program , restoring system state of repair. cars regularly cleaned, hundreds of older cars overhauled , tracks , stations rebuilt. redbird cars known gunn red or broad street red when repainted between 1984 , 1989, under gunn s tenure.

wmata (1991-1994)

he general manager, washington dc washington metropolitan area transit authority (wmata), 1991 1994.

during tenure @ wmata (the washington metro) 1991 1994, gunn @ odds agency s board of directors, included representatives district of columbia , suburban jurisdictions in maryland , virginia.

toronto transit commission (1995 1999)

he chief general manager, toronto transit commission (ttc), 1995 1999.

gunn has philosophy called state of repair first priority maintain infrastructure , equipment, making regular repairs needed , retiring equipment service @ end of life-cycle. brought him in frequent conflict ttc chairman howard moscoe, advocated use of funds improving ttc accessibility. gunn s tenure @ ttc marked changes in management structure, criticized successor, rick ducharme, amongst others. argued against new subway construction.

toronto s fatal subway train accident, 1995 russell hill subway accident claimed 3 lives, happened 8 months after gunn became head of ttc, gunn addressing incident in media.

amtrak (2002-2005)


beginning of presidency

gunn assumed presidency of amtrak on may 15, 2002, after coming out of three-year retirement take job. gunn came amtrak reputation experienced operating manager. during tenure @ wmata (the washington metro) 1991 1994, gunn @ odds agency s board of directors, included representatives district of columbia , suburban jurisdictions in maryland , virginia. work president of new york city transit authority 1984 1990 , chief general manager of toronto transit commission in canada 1995 1999 lent him great deal of credibility, these 2 agencies each largest transit operations of respective countries.

policies , reactions

the view of gunn administration departure predecessors promises make amtrak self-sufficient in short term, gunn argued no form of passenger transportation in united states self-sufficient economy structured, similar highways, airports, , air traffic control require large government expenditures build , maintain.

gunn eliminated of express business while improving critical equipment repair facilities , services keep trains moving. in 2002, stated continued deferred maintenance become safety issue not tolerate , management team implemented amtrak s first system-wide comprehensive capital program planned target dates , budgeting. under gunn, amtrak s ranks of unionized , salaried workers reduced.

during administration @ amtrak, gunn subject of congressional criticism. gunn polite direct in response congressional criticism. before congressional hearing, leading amtrak critic arizona senator john mccain demanded elimination of operating subsidies; gunn responded asking senator if demand same of commuter airlines, upon citizens of arizona dependent. mccain, not @ loss words when debating amtrak funding, did not reply.

political upheaval , firing

he fired board of directors on november 9, 2005, ostensibly refusal split company in preparation privatization; gunn opposed policy, pointing out entire reason amtrak created because private railroad companies did not wish run passenger services. new york times @ time wrote gunn s opposition reason firing, credited improving railroad s management, cutting costs , imposing better financial controls, improving state of repair of amtrak s locomotives , aging passenger cars, tracks, signals , electrical systems, antique.

however, other recent problems had included gunn s decision suspend acela service in northeast corridor until wheel , brake problems sorted out manufacturer, gunn s philosophical difference on dividing long distance inter-city services northeast corridor. report issued government accountability office 1 week before gunn s dismissal stated amtrak needed continue improve way monitored performance , oversaw finances in order achieve financial stability. chairman of board, david laney, george w. bush appointee, provided statement read amtrak s future requires different type of leader aggressively tackle company s financial, management , operational challenges .