Richard A. Davey Explained

Richard A. Davey is an American attorney and transportation executive. He was the Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation from September 2011 to October 2014 and previously the General Manager of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority from March 2010 to September 2011. He was also the President of the New York City Transit Authority from 2022 to 2024.

Early life and career

A native of Randolph, Massachusetts, Davey earned a BA degree from the College of the Holy Cross and a JD summa cum laude from the Gonzaga University School of Law.^{[1] [2]}

He began his legal career in 1999 with the United States Department of Justice as a trial attorney for the Immigration and Naturalization Service.^[3] Davey later worked for the New York City law firm of Schulte Roth & Zabel.^[4]

Transportation executive

In 2002, Davey joined the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company, a private company that runs the MBTA Commuter Rail.^[5] In July 2003 he was named the MBCR's general counsel and in 2007 was named deputy general manager of the MBCR. In 2008 he was promoted to the general manager's position. In his first full year as general manager, customer complaints went down 40 percent.

Davey left the MBCR in March 2010 when he became the general manager of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.^[6]

On August 4, 2011, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick announced that Davey would succeed outgoing Transportation Secretary Jeffrey Mullan on September 1, 2011.

On October 10, 2014, Davey informed Patrick that he would step down as Transportation Secretary, effective October 31. Frank DePaola, MassDOT Highway administrator, would be appointed the acting Transportation Secretary.^[7]

After leaving state government, Davey served as chief executive of Boston 2024, a non-profit group planning Boston's unsuccessful bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics. Davey was also a partner and associate director at Boston Consulting Group (BCG).^[8]

In March 2022, New York City's Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced that Davey would become the president of the New York City Transit Authority in May 2022.^[9] The Transit Authority, a division of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, oversees the city's subways and buses.^[9] The MTA announced that Davey would leave in June 2024, to join Massport.^{[10] [11]}

Personal life

Davey is married to Jane Willis, a partner at Ropes & Gray and a former member of the MIT Blackjack Team.^[12]

Notes and References

1. News: Moskowitz. Eric. T board OK's new manager at lower pay. Boston Globe. March 26, 2010.
2. Web site: Secretary Richard A. Davey. massDOT. Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
3. News: 40 Under 40: Richard Davey. 3 January 2012. Boston Business Journal. October 11, 2010.
4. News: Massachusetts Bay commuter-rail contractor appoints Davey deputy GM. 3 January 2012. Progressive Railroading. May 7, 2007.
5. News: Massachusetts commuter-rail operator names Davey GM. 3 January 2012. Progressive Railroading. October 6, 2008.
6. News: Moore. Galen. MBTA chief Davey to replace Mullan as transportation secretary. 3 January 2012. Boston Business Journal. August 4, 2011.
7. Web site: Transportation Secretary Richard Davey to step down - the Boston Globe. The Boston Globe.
8. Web site: Rich A. Davey. Boston Consulting Group. January 28, 2019.
9. News: Gold . Michael . N.Y.C.'s New Subway Chief Comes From Boston and Doesn't Own a Car . 23 March 2022 . The New York Times . 23 March 2022.
10. Web site: Wanek-Libman . Mischa . 2024-05-30 . Demetrius Crichlow named interim president of New York City Transit . 2024-06-19 . Mass Transit . en.
11. Web site: 2024-05-14 . NYC Transit chief Richard Davey leaving for MassPort: report . 2024-06-19 . en-US.
12. News: Count her out . The Boston Globe . March 25, 2008 . Mark . Shanahan.