Beverly Scott, the current general manager of the MBTA, plans to step down from her post on April 11. Scott announced her pending resignation in a letter to the state Department of Transportation board of directors on February 11, giving the agency two months to find her replacement.
After speaking with a number of people close to the issue, here are four potential candidates: Anna Barry, the deputy commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Transportation; Stephen Silveira, the senior vice president of consulting firm M.L. Strategies; Douglas Husid, the vice chair of the Massport board of directors; and former MassDOT chief Richard Davey, the current head of Boston’s Olympic committee.
A mix of research and conversations with multiple transportation experts helped BostInno compile this initial list, which we plan to expand upon as the search intensified. None of the experts we spoke with would provide comment for the purpose of this story, a fact which should cue people in to the politically sensitive nature of the hunt for the T’s next general manager.
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, while declining to comment specifically on potential candidates, had this to say:
In order to create a modern, 21st century transportation system that serves all of our residents and all of our neighborhoods,the MBTA needs the adequate infrastructure funding to modernize an aging system. I look forward to working with Governor Baker and the next GM to give Boston’s residents the reliable public transportation system they deserve.
Over the course of the last month, historic snow has put the T – specifically the problems so many knew existed but weren’t addressed properly – into the national spotlight. Meet the aforementioned potential candidates who may be tasked with helming the MBTA.
Anna Barry
Barry spent 25 years at the T, beginning her career with the agency in 1988. Moving her way up through the ranks, Barry would serve as the T’s director of subway operations, director of railroad operations, and as senior director of vehicle engineering and quality assurance.
As the head of railroad operations, Barry oversaw and procured the T’s contract with former commuter rail operator the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company, which was replaced by current operator Keolis on July 1, 2014. She was named ConnDOT deputy commissioner in August, 2012.
Barry, through ConnDOT spokesperson Judd Everhart, declined to comment.
Stephen Silveira
The senior vice president of ML Strategies, Silveira spent nearly nine years at the T. During his tenure, Silveira served as the T’s deputy director of real estate as well as the assistant director of planning. Currently a gubernatorial appointee to the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), Silveira has earned support from both Republicans and Democrats on Beacon Hill. In 2004, he was appointed chair of the Commonwealth’s 13-member Transportation Finance Commission by Governor Mitt Romney (R). In 2006, Governor Deval Patrick (D) appointed Silveira to the same position.
Douglas Husid
Before joining Boston law firm Goulston & Storrs in 1997, Husid served for four years as chief of staff for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Transportation and Construction (EOTC). Husid has legal expertise in real estate development, large project permitting, statutory, regulatory and financing issues in the field of transportation. Currently the vice chair of the Massport board of directors, Husid also serves on the board of CERES, a national network of investors, environmental organizations and other public interest groups working to address sustainability issues faced in today’s economy.
Rich Davey
Currently the head of Boston 2024, Davey held the job as general manager of the T for more than a year between March, 2010 and September, 2011. He vacated the position when Governor Patrick appointed him MassDOT secretary and CEO in 2011. Davey was the Patrick administration’s longest serving Transportation Department chief at the time of his resignation, on October 31, 2014. Davey would not comment on his interest in the job or the T’s search.
