Jay H. Walder is set to become the new head of the MTA this week, and made some comments at a public hearing in Harlem today.

But, as New York Times reporter Michael Grynbaum notes, his comments were pretty vague:

He said in his testimony that he hoped to encourage “a new communications strategy with the communities we serve” and to make public information about the system more “comprehensive and comprehensible.” But he declined to be any more specific, leaving the several dozen attendees with more generic phrases that may not be out of place at management consultants like McKinsey & Company, Mr. Walder’s current employer.

In another “we’ve heard that before” statement:

“We need to address the issues of credibility, accountability and transparency,” Mr. Walder said when asked about his goals upon starting his job. “I’m sure we can all agree on that.”

StationStops sincerely hopes that Walder is coming in with the intention and action necessary to turn MTA around.

But for now, its wait and see.

One things for sure, if you want to impress New York City with your intent to change the transit system, you really need to avoid using noncommittal corporate-speak – this is exactly the kind of communications we have grown to expect from MTA.

Read more at The New York Times