Assembly Resolution No. 289

BY: M. of A. Shimsky

CONGRATULATING Catherine Rinaldi upon the occasion
of her retirement, as President, after many years of
distinguished service to the MTA Metro-North
Railroad

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body seeks to acknowledge those
individuals whose professional lives and civic endeavors serve to
enhance the stature of the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Catherine Rinaldi is a summa cum laude graduate of Yale
University and obtained her law degree from the University of Virginia
School of Law; and

WHEREAS, In 2003, Catherine Rinaldi joined Metropolitan
Transportation Authority (MTA) as General Counsel; in January of 2015,
she joined Metro-North Railroad as Executive Vice President; she has
served as President of Metro-North Railroad since February 21, 2018; she
is the sixth president of Metro-North and the first woman to hold that
position; and

WHEREAS, Catherine Rinaldi has held several titles during her tenure
with MTA, including Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel at MTA
Headquarters, Vice President and General Counsel at Long Island Rail
Road, and Chief of Staff and Counsel to the MTA Chairman; from February
of 2022 until October of 2023, she was appointed as Interim President of
the Long Island Rail Road; and

WHEREAS, The first woman to lead the Metro-North Railroad, Catherine
Rinaldi oversaw Metro-North's best on-time performance in history in
2024 and Long Island Rail Road's largest service increase while serving
as its Interim President; and

WHEREAS, Catherine Rinaldi has worked to improve employee engagement
at the railroad, including support for women in the Metro-North
workforce; under her leadership, the Metro-North Railroad's
customer-facing safety program, "Together Railroads And Communities
Keeping Safe" (TRACKS), won the 2018 American Public Transportation
Association (APTA) Gold Award for its safety standards and management;
and

WHEREAS, Additionally, Catherine Rinaldi has led the effort to
implement a federally mandated Positive Train Control (PTC) system for
the Metro-North Railroad; and

WHEREAS, In 2018, the Greater New York Chapter of the Women's
Transportation Seminar (WTS) named Catherine Rinaldi "Woman of the
Year"; she has achieved the implementation of many essential programs
and improvements within MTA's railroad system, rendering railroad travel
safer and more enjoyable for passengers and the work environment safer
for employees; and

WHEREAS, Throughout her many years of dedication and service to the
MTA, most notably for the Metro-North Railroad, Catherine Rinaldi has

earned the admiration, esteem, and affection of her colleagues; now,
therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate Catherine Rinaldi upon the occasion of her retirement, as
President, after many years of distinguished service to the MTA
Metro-North Railroad; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Catherine Rinaldi.