The Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced that Justin Vonashek will take over as president of MTA Metro-North Railroad.
Vonashek succeeds Catherine Rinaldi who is retiring after seven years in the role. Rinaldi, who was the first woman to lead the railroad, will leave the railroad on March 31. Vonashek will take the helm on April 1, having joined Metro-North in 2016, and serving as the railroad’s exec. VP and COO since September 2023.
“Justin Vonashek has been a key player at Metro-North for years, helping the agency deliver sky high on-time performance and record customer satisfaction. We are fortunate to have such a seasoned executive ready to lead and make this transition a smooth one,” Lieber said. “Cathy Rinaldi leaves big shoes to fill. There aren’t many people talented enough to run two of the busiest commuter railroads in the country – let alone at the same time — but she is one of them. We are grateful for her many years of exemplary service and wish her all the best in retirement.”
Vonashek started at Metro-North as vice president of System Safety before being promoted to Senior VP of Operations in 2020 and EVP and COO in 2023.
“I am honored that Janno has placed his confidence in me to lead one of the busiest commuter railroads in the country,” Vonashek said. “I’m grateful to Cathy for her 20 years of service to the MTA and for her guidance over the years as we have worked together at Metro-North. I am excited for the challenges ahead and look forward to continuing to deliver the best service possible.”
During Rinaldi’s time at the helm, the railroad saw the best on-time performance in the railroad’s history, at 98 percent. She also served as the interim president of Long Island Rail Road from February 2022 until October 2023. In addition to those roles, Rinaldi has served as MTA Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel, and Chief of Staff and Counsel at MTA Headquarters.