INSIDE THIS ISSUE…

Things Are Heating Up… But with these weather-related safety tips for staying cool on the job, you won’t have to. Details on page 3.

Happy Wheels! Cyclists on the New Haven Line won’t be “grinding their gears” with these new bike-friendly station enhancements. Story on page 4.

“Green” Suits Us. The MTA’s largest-ever energy-efficient project is complete, and the savings are as grand as Grand Central. More on page 5.

Seeing Red. Thanks to the donations made at this year’s blood drive in Grand C entral’s Vanderbilt Hall, countless lives

will be saved. Read more on page 6.

Read us at home at www.yourmnr.org

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to: G

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Metro-North Construction Engineer Nadia Savage (left) and Kapris Project Engineer Guneet Singh look over project designs for the (soon-to-be) new and improved Croton-Harmon station.

June 2015The News Publication for MTA Metro-North Railroad Employees

Work is underway to redesign our busy Croton-Harmon Station (seventh

largest station in terms of ridership), giving it a modern airy and light-filled look, plus a more efficient layout.

It is the Croton-Harmon Overpass project, which is expected to be completed in February 2016. The work will be done in phases of approximately 1/3 of the station per stage, going from south to north.

To ensure that there is as little disrup-tion as possible for customers using the station, we temporarily relocated the concession stand (everyone needs that first cup of java, right?) downstairs in early May, while the ticket window is slated to move to street level at the end of July/early August. (Both will “do business” from space formerly occupied by the old dry cleaners.)

There is a lot of work to do. Besides painting the entire area, we (and contractors from Kapris, Inc.) will be installing a new, more powerful and energy efficient air-con-ditioning system; upgrading bathrooms with new ceilings, floors, walls and fixtures, plus better ventilation; installing new ceiling tiles throughout the station; creating new stair portals to tracks (make sure you check out the snazzy lettering at the portals!); upgrad-ing to more efficient LED lighting; and laying down a new floor finish.

“We’ll also create a more efficient layout, primarily by relocating the Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs) nearby the Ticket Window to have a self-contained ticket-purchasing area,” Senior Facilities Engineer & Project Manager Kurt Ziegler said.

And speaking of the ticket window, that will also undergo a makeover with new millwork, finishes, ceiling and better lighting, and most importantly, the counter will be ADA accessible.

And when we’re done with the conces-sion stand, picking up a bagel and coffee will be a pleasure! The stand will feature new millwork, lighting, ceiling, finishes, power and plumbing.

While this project represents interior work, we couldn’t resist doing some cos-metic exterior elements such as replacing ceilings and selected lights, as well as painting the enamel exterior and putting in accented fascia panels in the front of the station building marquee at street level.

Also working on this project are: the Structures Force Account group: Capital’s Jim Harrington, Senior Construction Engineer, and Nadia Savage, Construction Engineer; and Customer Service & Stations’ Field Manager Liz Hotetez, Assistant Director-Station Operations Joe Golino, and Deputy Director Matt DePasquale. n

Croton-Harmon Goes Contemporary

ABOVE

& BEYOND (AND HERE, TOO!)

What the other members of our MTA family are up to.

2

You could say City & State has a “big beat” to cover: It is the only media

company devoted solely to reporting the news about government and politics in New York.

Their award-winning team of journal-ists publish attention-grabbing online and print publications mixing in-depth features and smart analysis of the biggest issues facing the “city and state” and those of us who live and work here.

So we naturally took notice when they named Metro-North’s Executive Vice President Catherine Rinaldi as one of 25 women in their prestigious “Above & Beyond” 2015 Class. She and the other recipients—all of whom share the distinction of having succeeded in traditionally male-dominated industries — were honored at a recent gala held in New York City.

As one person who nominated her put it: “Catherine has a great mind for solving thorny issues.”

“I was completely surprised when I got the email saying I was nominated,” Rinaldi, who oversees multiple depart-ments on the railroad, including Human Resources, Planning, Capital Programs, Compliance & Procurement, Customer Service & Stations, GCT & Corporate Development, and Corporate & Public Affairs, said. “At first, I thought it was some type of solicitation!”

And while she was only at Metro-North for six weeks when she received the nomina-tion, she is no stranger to public transporta-tion having been part of the MTA family since 2003.

“I’m in a traditionally male-dominated profession. I still go to meetings where I’m the only woman in the room. I can honestly say, I’ve never really felt like I’ve experienced hostility or questioning or anything like that in terms of why is a woman in the room. People expect you to be prepared. People expect you to be knowledgeable. People expect you to hold your own in a profes-sional setting, and I’ve always been able to do that.

“I must say that I am happy to be at Metro-North,” she said. “Everyone was very welcoming when I first came onboard.

“I am proud to be part of this wonderful organization at what is an exciting time in its history. President Joe Giulietti is taking the railroad in a new direction, and I am impressed by the professionalism and pride shown by the people who work here.”

Rinaldi is also a Metro-North customer, taking the Hudson Line to work every day.

“I’ve got to tell you, it’s a beautiful ride. When it’s light in the evening and you’re riding along the Hudson River, I mean, you could be in Switzerland.”

She could be, but we are glad she is here, and congratulate her on her award! n

Rail News

They got a gold! The Mother Clara Hale Bus Depot in Harlem has been certified LEED gold level status, an internationally recognized standard by the U.S. Green Building Council that measures a building’s environmental standards.

The Depot opened in November 2014, five years after New York City Transit demolished a retrofitted 19-cen-tury trolley barn that became too obsolete for the needs and functions of a modern bus fleet.

The new depot’s sustainable features include a green roof that uses plants to cool the facility by adding a layer of insulation, absorbs carbon dioxide from the air, and reduces storm-water runoff; a south-facing solar wall that functions as a passive heating device by captur-ing and preheating air; a rainwater rooftop collection system that sends rainwater into an underground storage tank for use in depot operations; a bus wash water reclamation system; cost-effective and energy-efficient rooftop Heat Recovery Units that use a heat exchanger when it is cold outside; and a high-efficiency white roof that prevents heat gain in warm weather and does not reflect light onto nearby buildings. New trees also were planted, and bicycle storage was added for employee use.

Easy to get E‑ZPass. Sales of MTA Bridges and Tunnels’ popular On-the-Go tags in cash lanes recently reached a major milestone with the purchase of the 500,000th tag since the program began in 2011. Sales have been spurred by signs at toll plazas showing E-ZPass discounts.

Reports show that sales of On-the-Go tags at all facilities is up 58 percent year-to-year over a five-week period since the signs were installed, with sales strongest at the Robert F. Ken-nedy Bronx toll plaza where they were up 138 percent (2,551 tags) and at the Verrazano-Narrows where sales were up 70 percent (1,935 tags).

3Did you know that of the 333 million cubic miles of water on the Earth, only 2.5% of it is fresh water? With the average American family using about 400 gallons of water per day, it is becoming more and more impor-tant to maintain a clean water supply.

WATER IS ESSENTIAL FOR… • HEALTH – the human body can last

weeks without food but only days without water. Human bodies are made of 50-65% water on average.

• URBANIZATION – every week one million people move into cities, and hundreds of miles of pipes make up the infra-structure of water systems.

• INDUSTRY – every manufactured product requires water. More water is used to manufacture a car than to fill a swimming pool.

• ENERGY – water is required to generate energy, and energy is required to deliver water. Water and energy are natural partners.

• FOOD – one liter of water is needed to irrigate one calorie of food. To produce two steaks you need 15,000 liters of water.

To help maintain our clean water supply at home and at work, keep these tips in mind:• Properly dispose of hazardous wastes.

If you are unsure of the proper disposal method, contact Metro-North’s environmental department at McHale@mnr.org.

• Conserve water by turning off the faucet when brushing your teeth, shaving, or washing your face.

• Go easy on fertilizers and pesticides. Test your soil to help determine fertilizer and compost needs for your lawn and garden to avoid over fertilization.

• Check for leaking fluids from vehicles. Clean up any drips with an absorbent and dispose of properly once contained.

• Join in a beach, stream, or wetland cleanup project. Although World Water Day is marked

on March 22 annually, we should cel-ebrate fresh water year-round. Out of the 7.2 billion people in the world,

Keep Your Cool…

Summer is finally at our doorstep! But whether you’re getting ready for some summer fun at the beach or

prepping to work outdoors, remember that Mother Nature is no stranger to dishing out extremities.

For employees working outside especially, the dangers of carrying out your tasks during intensely hot weather are always looming. And without proper care, one can fall victim to a number of serious heat-related injuries, including sun poisoning, heat stroke and more…

Hydrate!

Drink plenty of it... all day long

...before you feel thirsty.

Water hydrates you better than coffee,

tea, or other caffeinated

drinks.

Keep an eye on

one another

and be alert for signs of heat

exhaustion. Warning signs are

fatigue, nausea, headache,

dizziness, disorientation or

if skin is damp or clammy

and looks flushed.

For more information on how to stay safe in hot weather, refer to your copy of the General Safety Instructions booklet, or access it at http://bit .ly / 1FAokhM.

So, what can you do to beat the heat? Here are some tips to keep your cool on the job:

Wear light-colored clothing made of cotton. If you work in heavy protective clothing, take more rest breaks and be sure to drink more fluids to avoid a heat-related injury.

The body needs enough time to adjust to heat especially when new to a job and/or environment. Be extra careful the first two weeks on the job.

Emergency medical help is required in case of heat stroke.

Symptoms include hot dry skin (no sweating) and a high

temperature, feeling of confusion,

convulsions, or losing consciousness.

continued on page 8

Take rest breaks, preferably in a cool and shady spot. Trade rest periods and

breaks with other workers so everyone can rest – especially during heavy work.

4

...especially if you are into being green! As part of a Capital

Programs project focusing on New Haven Line station enhancements, six stations have seriously boosted their bike- and eco-friendliness: Mount Vernon East, Pelham, New Rochelle, Larchmont, Mamaroneck, and Harrison.

These locations now have an abundance of spots on both inbound and outbound sides (previously some were only found on one side, i.e. Harrison Station). In addition, at stations like Mt. Vernon East, Pelham and Larchmont, you’ll find “vertical” spots, where cyclists can essentially hang their bikes upright. This cuts the space that it takes up in half, while also offering more installation flexibility.

Currently underway is construction of a new bike rack shelter at Mamaroneck Station, increasing the station’s capacity to 84 spots! Recently, Pelham Station got a fresh batch of bike spots for their outbound side.

This effort is in response to concerns that the lack of appropriate bicycle parking was having a negative effect on the stations. Previously, cyclists would chain their bikes to side railings, chain link fences, and areas obstructed with pedestrian walkways or vehicle parking spots.

According to Nick Scarano, Assistant Director – Facilities Engineering, after hearing the concerns of local officials, bike advocates, and customers on the NHL who mutually agreed that there was not enough room to store their two-wheeled steeds, this became a major part of the enhancement.

“These amenities greatly benefit our customers by keeping them satisfied and benefit us by ensuring that riders don’t park their bikes in obstructing areas,” Scarano said. “Bill Donohue and Ariel Velarde of Capital Planning & Programming conduct-ed a bike commutation survey, and munici-palities were eager for this project to get underway. Since the project’s completion feedback has been very positive.”

In addition to these upgrades, stations have seen major renovations of the platform structures to include canopies and guardrail; ADA compliant staircases and ramps; new lighting and artwork by MTA Arts and Design (at Mamaroneck and Pelham Stations), and other various amenities.

This “high-geared” project is a collabora-tive effort between Capital En gi neer ing, Capital Planning & Programming, Customer Service & Stations and Corporate & Public Affairs.

MOTHER NATURE

Although Kermit the Frog would dis-agree, it’s not so bad being green, especially when it comes to industrial wastewater disposal at Brewster Shop!

With an eye toward lowering dis-posal costs and reducing our eco footprint, our Stations & Facilities (S&F) and Environmental Compliance & Service (ECS) departments part-nered to determine the best way to reduce costs and ramp up our sus-tainability effort.

Here’s what they did: At Brewster, industrial wastewater was being con-tained in a 6,000-gallon tank that required frequent pump-outs (meaning the unit had to be hauled to a municipal treatment plant operated by the Town of Southeast to be emptied)—sometimes up to six per month! Both departments knew they could do better!

And they did—in December 2014 they upgraded to a larger (12,500-gal-lon), more eco-friendly wastewater disposal tank!

“A big concern with the smaller tank was that we couldn’t let it overflow,” Wesley Kennen, Manager – Stations & Facilities (S&F), said. “While it sends out an alarm when it’s ready to be drained, in many cases we’d have to

SAYS “TANK” YOU

2 4wheels are Better Than

Photo: Nick Scarano

These newly-installed racks eliminate improper bicycle parking, improving station appearance

and reducing unnecessary safety hazards.

Here comes big brother: This new wastewater disposal tank is twice the size of its predecessor…and twice as efficient.

4 5

Grand Central is Now Green!

The MTA’s largest-ever energy-efficiency project, which will save $2.5 million in annual energy costs at Grand Central Terminal, has been completed.

The upgrades will reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions by more than 11,200 tons a year—the equivalent of removing roughly 2,140 cars from the road. The more than 750,000 people who pass through Grand Central daily will benefit from improved air quality and better climate control.

The $25 million project is the result of a partnership between the New York Power Authority and the MTA: It was carried out under Governor Cuomo’s BuildSmart NY program, a statewide initia-tive to increase energy efficiency in public buildings. It is consistent with the Governor’s Reforming the Energy Vision plan, which spurs clean-energy innova-tions that protect the environ-ment and strengthen the State’s economy.

The project, which began in 2012, includes a variety of energy-saving measures, such as the installation of cooling towers, temperature controls and compressed air and steam distribution systems, air handling upgrades, and new chillers to enhance the Terminal’s original cooling system. The project also implemented sub-meters to provide a better understand-ing of the energy usage throughout the facility.

Thomas F. Prendergast, MTA Chairman, said, “This undertaking is the largest energy efficiency project in the MTA’s history and will reap benefits for this terminal for decades to come—all with no upfront costs to Metro-North and capital expenses to be repaid to NYPA with the money saved by reduced energy consumption.”

...especially if you are into being green! As part of a Capital

Programs project focusing on New Haven Line station enhancements, six stations have seriously boosted their bike- and eco-friendliness: Mount Vernon East, Pelham, New Rochelle, Larchmont, Mamaroneck, and Harrison.

These locations now have an abundance of spots on both inbound and outbound sides (previously some were only found on one side, i.e. Harrison Station). In addition, at stations like Mt. Vernon East, Pelham and Larchmont, you’ll find “vertical” spots, where cyclists can essentially hang their bikes upright. This cuts the space that it takes up in half, while also offering more installation flexibility.

Currently underway is construction of a new bike rack shelter at Mamaroneck Station, increasing the station’s capacity to 84 spots! Recently, Pelham Station got a fresh batch of bike spots for their outbound side.

This effort is in response to concerns that the lack of appropriate bicycle parking was having a negative effect on the stations. Previously, cyclists would chain their bikes to side railings, chain link fences, and areas obstructed with pedestrian walkways or vehicle parking spots.

According to Nick Scarano, Assistant Director – Facilities Engineering, after hearing the concerns of local officials, bike advocates, and customers on the NHL who mutually agreed that there was not enough room to store their two-wheeled steeds, this became a major part of the enhancement.

“These amenities greatly benefit our customers by keeping them satisfied and benefit us by ensuring that riders don’t park their bikes in obstructing areas,” Scarano said. “Bill Donohue and Ariel Velarde of Capital Planning & Programming conduct-ed a bike commutation survey, and munici-palities were eager for this project to get underway. Since the project’s completion feedback has been very positive.”

In addition to these upgrades, stations have seen major renovations of the platform structures to include canopies and guardrail; ADA compliant staircases and ramps; new lighting and artwork by MTA Arts and Design (at Mamaroneck and Pelham Stations), and other various amenities.

This “high-geared” project is a collabora-tive effort between Capital En gi neer ing, Capital Planning & Programming, Customer Service & Stations and Corporate & Public Affairs.

MOTHER NATURE

Although Kermit the Frog would dis-agree, it’s not so bad being green, especially when it comes to industrial wastewater disposal at Brewster Shop!

With an eye toward lowering dis-posal costs and reducing our eco footprint, our Stations & Facilities (S&F) and Environmental Compliance & Service (ECS) departments part-nered to determine the best way to reduce costs and ramp up our sus-tainability effort.

Here’s what they did: At Brewster, industrial wastewater was being con-tained in a 6,000-gallon tank that required frequent pump-outs (meaning the unit had to be hauled to a municipal treatment plant operated by the Town of Southeast to be emptied)—sometimes up to six per month! Both departments knew they could do better!

And they did—in December 2014 they upgraded to a larger (12,500-gal-lon), more eco-friendly wastewater disposal tank!

“A big concern with the smaller tank was that we couldn’t let it overflow,” Wesley Kennen, Manager – Stations & Facilities (S&F), said. “While it sends out an alarm when it’s ready to be drained, in many cases we’d have to

call for trucks to pick up a partial amount of water because of how quickly it filled.”

These frequent trips were racking up a large bill, and more importantly, generating unwanted fuel emissions.

The larger tank has been a win-win: Not only is it double the size of the older model, but it is “double-walled,” providing built-in protection against any overflow. This results in less trips from the trucking company — saving money and promoting our sustainabil-ity efforts.

“This effort is just another example of how well Environmental Compliance and Stations & Facilities routinely team up to achieve a positive goal,” Karen Timko, Director, Environmental Compli-ance & Services said. “The method of using such a smaller tank was becom-ing outdated, so we decided to be ahead of the curve and reap the imme-diate benefits of the larger container.”

This “green” initiative was a team effort between Stations & Facilities, Environmental Compliance, and Maintenance of Way. And a special “tanks” to employees Timko, Kennen, John Sickenius, Alan Morton and Jeff Manthey.

SAYS “TANK” YOU

2 4wheels are Better Than

Photo: Nick Scarano

Photos: Patrick Cashin

Photos: Wesley Kennen

These newly-installed racks eliminate improper bicycle parking, improving station appearance

and reducing unnecessary safety hazards.

Here comes big brother: This new wastewater disposal tank is twice the size of its predecessor…and twice as efficient.

Grand Central Terminal was one of the coolest places to be this

summer (literally and figuratively) thanks to the replacement of five old cooling towers atop GCT with

four energy efficient ones.

5

Grand Central is Now Green!

The MTA’s largest-ever energy-efficiency project, which will save $2.5 million in annual energy costs at Grand Central Terminal, has been completed.

The upgrades will reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions by more than 11,200 tons a year—the equivalent of removing roughly 2,140 cars from the road. The more than 750,000 people who pass through Grand Central daily will benefit from improved air quality and better climate control.

The $25 million project is the result of a partnership between the New York Power Authority and the MTA: It was carried out under Governor Cuomo’s BuildSmart NY program, a statewide initia-tive to increase energy efficiency in public buildings. It is consistent with the Governor’s Reforming the Energy Vision plan, which spurs clean-energy innova-tions that protect the environ-ment and strengthen the State’s economy.

The project, which began in 2012, includes a variety of energy-saving measures, such as the installation of cooling towers, temperature controls and compressed air and steam distribution systems, air handling upgrades, and new chillers to enhance the Terminal’s original cooling system. The project also implemented sub-meters to provide a better understand-ing of the energy usage throughout the facility.

Thomas F. Prendergast, MTA Chairman, said, “This undertaking is the largest energy efficiency project in the MTA’s history and will reap benefits for this terminal for decades to come—all with no upfront costs to Metro-North and capital expenses to be repaid to NYPA with the money saved by reduced energy consumption.”

MOTHER NATURE

call for trucks to pick up a partial amount of water because of how quickly it filled.”

These frequent trips were racking up a large bill, and more importantly, generating unwanted fuel emissions.

The larger tank has been a win-win: Not only is it double the size of the older model, but it is “double-walled,” providing built-in protection against any overflow. This results in less trips from the trucking company — saving money and promoting our sustainabil-ity efforts.

“This effort is just another example of how well Environmental Compliance and Stations & Facilities routinely team up to achieve a positive goal,” Karen Timko, Director, Environmental Compli-ance & Services said. “The method of using such a smaller tank was becom-ing outdated, so we decided to be ahead of the curve and reap the imme-diate benefits of the larger container.”

This “green” initiative was a team effort between Stations & Facilities, Environmental Compliance, and Maintenance of Way. And a special “tanks” to employees Timko, Kennen, John Sickenius, Alan Morton and Jeff Manthey.

SAYS “TANK” YOU

Photos: Patrick Cashin

Photos: Wesley Kennen

Grand Central Terminal was one of the coolest places to be this

summer (literally and figuratively) thanks to the replacement of five old cooling towers atop GCT with

four energy efficient ones.

6 76

Caitlin TimoneyAnalyst – Environmental Compliance & ServicesI hope the mentoring program provides the interns with someone to ask the questions that they would be apprehensive to ask anyone else.

Tyler WolfSpecialist – Pass OfficeAs a mentor, I hope to encourage the interns to gain as much from their experience here as possible. Having support and en cour­age ment is a crucial component of personal de vel op­ment, especially in the work place.

George MateoCommunications AssistantI hope that this mentoring program reinforces the fact that interning is a learning process, and that they use us as a means of personal and professional guidance this summer.

Scott MellynchukLabor Relations RepresentativeI hope our interns learn to collaborate effectively in an office environment and take away some of the specialized know­ledge that makes the railroad such a distinctive industry.

Because lives will be saved! This past April, we teamed up with the

New York Blood Center (NYBC) for the 3rd annual Community Blood Drive in Grand Central’s Vanderbilt Hall. President Joe

Giulietti, along with hundreds of Metro-North employees, customers and nearby residents, rolled up their sleeves and contrib-uted to this much-needed effort.

The drive generated 281 lifesaving donations, topping last year’s donation count of 262! Although shy of our 300 goal, it’s just as significant because these donations help replenish NYBC’s blood inventory, with each unit of blood giving hospital patients in need a fighting chance.

As part of the process, donors received free mini-medical exams and got information about their temperature, blood pressure and red blood cell levels. They also earned Advantage points (through the NYBC’s Advantage Program), which are redeemable for a variety of merchandise or gift cards.

The NYBC extends its appreciation to everyone involved. Every day, there are cancer patients, organ transplant patients, newborn babies, and burn victims who depend on blood transfusions to stay alive. This can only occur when donors generously support a local blood drive. Giving blood is a necessary and selfless act, as donors never meet the patients whose lives their blood saves. And now, each unit of blood must pass the FDA’s rigorous testing, to ensure that it can be safely given to a patient in need.

Missed the event? You can donate any time – make an appointment to give blood by calling 800-933-2566 (BLOOD) or visiting www.nybloodcenter.org. You can also call the NYBC with any questions or concerns about donating or about your medical eligibility at 800-688-0900. n

IT WASN’T IN “VEIN”

Photos: Patrick Cashin

Inquiring Photographer

We asked our new intern mentors: “What do you hope the students will take away from this program?”

President Joe Giulietti, (right photo) along with hundreds of Metro-North employees, customers and nearby residents, rolled up their sleeves and contributed to this much needed effort.

76 7

T o Whom It May Concern:

Just wanted to thank the conductor, Andre R. Beliveau, on the 4:47 PM out of Grand Central on May 7, 2015 to Poughkeepsie who made multiple announcements advising the passengers of the police activity and closing on the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge.

It was a huge help—and heads up—to the ridership and their families and friends travelling in that area. It had nothing to do with Metro North service but was extremely appreciated.

Sincerely, —TONYSPILLANE

CUSTOMERCORNERThis column will highlight a customer letter that shows how, on a daily basis, our employees’ dedication and hard work contribute toward Metro-North’s reputation as a brand name for excellence.

Brian MisdomHR Testing AnalystI hope the students this summer recognize their mentor as a friendly face and someone to whom they can bring their ideas for honest review.

Tiffany LeungTC SecretaryI hope the interns have fun and learn to network with one another. I hope this ex pe ri ence can broad­en their ho ri zons past their de part ments to see MNR as a whole and how their con tri­bu tions assist in railroad operations.

Photos: George Mateo

The Office of Diversity and EEO uses the slogan “Celebrate Diversity” and some employees have asked us why?

Good question – there are four reasons why celebrating diversity is important to Metro-North Railroad. First, we want to turn a perceived negative into a real positive. Immigrants who arrived in the United States were often subjected to a wave of hostility and prejudice simply because of their ancestry or religion. It happened to every immigrant group, from the Irish in the late 1800s who were deemed “the larg-est threat to America” to Mexican migrant workers today. If you were different from the majority group at the time it was deemed negative. By cel-ebrating diversity at Metro-North, we highlight with pride those characteristics that at one time were used to discriminate.

Second, we want to educate each other about our various ancestries and cultures. Rarely do we get to learn about

Why Do We Celebrate Diversity?

Being different can in some places cost an individual his/her life, but not here in Metro-North. We want our employees to celebrate those qualities that make them unique and make Metro-North a better place to work. So please join us throughout the year as we Celebrate Diversity!

Metro-North Railroad is committed to maintaining a culture that acknowledges and embraces the diversity of our workforce and of the customers we proudly serve. The railroad appreciates and respects the contributions and perspectives of all our employees, and promotes an inclusive, non-discriminatory working environment that inspires individual and organizational excellence. Together, we can accomplish our mandate to provide safe, efficient and reliable transportation for our customers. Thanks you for your support and efforts in helping us maintain a workplace that welcomes and values a diverse and inclusive workforce.

each other in the workplace otherwise. There is no better way to eliminate negative stereotypes than to learn the truth from someone with first-hand experience.

Third, when employees are engaged to learn about and celebrate each other’s individual characteristics, it has been proven to improve employee perfor-mance. A study by the Harvard Business Review compared 568 global companies and found that those with the highest employee engagement had the best employee performance. They measured performance by customer satisfaction. The conclusion – a happy employee is a happy customer. Let’s keep celebrating!

Finally, and most important, we cel-ebrate diversity because we can. If we look across the world, and sometimes in our own backyard, harm can befell any individual simply because they are a white Christian worker in the Middle East, a woman in Sudan or a gay man in Russia.

DIVERSITYArticle courtesy of the Office of Diversity & EEO.

8

Published for the employees of MTA Metro‑North Railroad by Corporate & Public Affairs, 420 Lexington Ave., New York, NY 10170

Executive Advisor: Mark Mannix

Editor/Writer: Joe Antonacci

Managing Editor/Writer: Nancy Huie

Communications Assistant/Writer: George Mateo

Senior Graphic Designer: Barbara Sarcich

Promotions & Retirees Are Now Online!Complete and up-to-date listings of pro mo tions and retirees can be found on our intranet (www .mnr .org) and extranet (www .your mnr .org)—look for the links under the “MNR News” tab.

Actor Richard Gere was spotted this past .March in Grand Central Terminal,

when film production crews set up to shoot scenes for his upcoming thriller “Oppenheimer Strategies”.

Gere stars as the story’s lead, Norman Oppenheimer, a small time operator who befriends a young politician at a low point in his life. Three years later, when the politician becomes an influential world leader, Norman’s life dramatically changes for better and worse.

The film crew got their shots of Gere and actor Hank Azaria (The Simpsons, Godzilla) walking and talking in front of the Terminal on Vanderbilt Avenue, as well as Gere in a solo scene in front of the MetLife escalators. According to Corporate Relations

All Eyes (Not) On HimRepresentative Meredith Conti, the shoot went seamlessly…but like any Hollywood production, the day had its oddities.

“Usually when a scene is being filmed in a public setting, production assistants ask passersby to refrain from using any flash photography,” Conti said. “Richard Gere however, couldn’t have anyone even LOOKING at him while he was doing this scene, so he could better concentrate. It was strange, but didn’t prove to be an issue.”

Unusual acting methods aside, the film – which will feature some major names including Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire, Reservoir Dogs) – is set to release this year, so be on the lookout for the Terminal’s latest cameo! n

Weekly News has gone paperless! Besides saving some trees, we’ve seen

that our online Weekly News (on the intranet and extranet) has become THE preferred way for employees to get all the news that is fit to read! It is easy and convenient to access our online newsletter—every week we send out an email with the intranet and extranet links to Weekly News. Recipients merely click on a link on their smartphone, tablet or desktop to read about Metro-North happenings. Currently we are reaching about 6,200 employees via email… not getting your electronic message? You can — just go to your personal profile on the MTA BSC website (www.mtabsc.info) and enter your preferred email address. Our email list is updated quarterly, so if you haven’t done so yet, make the switch now and get on the online bandwagon! n

goes greenweekly news

748 million do not have access to an improved source of drinking water, and those most affected are generally the poorest and most marginalized groups.

We’re lucky enough to enjoy one of the best supplies of drinking water in the world. Use this information to continue to keep our water supply clean and safe for years to come.

continued from page 3

Actor Richard Gere playing out a scene in Grand Central’s Main Concourse for his

upcoming Hollywood blockbuster.

Photo: Meredith Conti