Williams replaced as president of LIRR

Bill San Antonio

Helena Williams, the first woman to serve as president of the Long Island Rail Road, has been replaced after seven years in the position, Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials said Wednesday.

“It’s been a privilege to have served as LIRR president,” Williams said. “My focus always has been on the providing safe, secure and reliable train service to our customers and I believe we achieved those goals while improving customer communications and strengthening our relationships with the many communities we serve throughout Long Island. I am deeply grateful to the men and women of the LIRR and to my leadership team who have worked tirelessly to meet the needs of our customers and help modernize the LIRR’s operations.”

Patrick Nowakowski, who for the last five years has been the executive director of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project, which would connect northern Virginia to the metropolitan Washington D.C. area when finished, has been selected to replace Williams, MTA officials said.

“The Long Island Rail Road is a public transportation resource like no other, and I am deeply honored that [MTA chairman and chief executive officer] Tom Prendergast has entrusted me to lead it,” Nowakowski said. “Long Island relies on the LIRR, and Tom has made clear that my job is to make sure the railroad lives up to high expectations every single day, while also planning its future growth to improve the service we provide to Long Islanders. It’s a tall order, and I look forward to working with the LIRR’s customers, employees and other stakeholders to ensure the railroad achieves its goals.”

Prior to taking over as LIRR president in 2007, Williams served other MTA positions, including five years as president of the MTA Long Island Bus. She is the first woman to serve as president of an MTA agency.

Nowakowski was previously the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s assistant general manager of operations, and had served the company for more than 27 years.

“I want to thank Helena for her long and successful service to the MTA, to Long Island and to everyone in the New York metropolitan region,” Prendergast said. “Helena’s tireless work to improve the LIRR’s operations, communications and community relations has not just made the railroad better for LIRR customers, but has improved the economy and the quality of life for everyone on Long Island.”

Prendergast said Nowakowski will have his work cut out for him, as the railroad continues its “double track” project along the Ronkonkoma branch, improves its infrastructure to fortify against future storm threats and prepares to unveil its East Side Access project to provide direct service to Grand Central Terminal and Manhattan’s East Side.

Share this Article