MTA To Probe 'Excessive' Overtime At Friday Meeting

NEW YORK — The MTA is working overtime on overtime. The transit agency's board will hold a special meeting Friday to examine the exorbitant overtime pay that has driven up expenses.

The meeting will follow a report showing that some rank-and-file workers earned more than the MTA's top executives when overtime and other pay was factored in.

"The issues of excessive overtime and the inadequacy of the MTA time and attendance systems must be addressed," MTA Chairman Patrick Foye said in a statement.

"Overtime is an important and useful tool as we urgently seek to modernize our entire system but we must be sure it is being used effectively, accurately and appropriately," Foye added.

A nearly 16% jump in overtime payments fueled a $418 million increase in the MTA's payroll costs last year, according to records released last month by the Empire Center, an Albany-based think tank.

New York City Transit, the MTA branch that runs the city's subways and buses, spent $119 million more on overtime last year as average pay for its workers rose to $84,265 from $79,916, the report said.

One former Long Island Rail Road worker pulled in $461,646 including overtime and other pay, a far fatter paycheck than NYC Transit President Andy Byford's $325,600 earnings, according to the figures.

Foye called the reports of such extravagant overtime pay "extremely concerning" last week as he directed the MTA's sub-agencies to review their current overtime regulations and procedures. He also asked the MTA's inspector general to make sure big overtime payments were planned for appropriately and that the hours were actually worked.

The MTA has said it relies on overtime because night and weekend work is necessary to keep the transit system fully running on weekdays and during rush hours.