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MTA warns staffing shortages, absenteeism limit on-time performance; agency ramps hiring and training
Summary
MTA officials told supervisors operator vacancies and employee absenteeism are the chief constraints on system reliability and on-time performance, and outlined hiring and training steps while acknowledging a multi-year recovery is likely.
MTA representatives told the Budget & Finance Committee that staffing — especially operator vacancies and unscheduled absences — is the key factor limiting on-time performance. The agency reported that on‑time performance has hovered near 70%, below the Prop E target of 85%, and flagged operator availability and absenteeism as major constraints.
The MTA described targeted interventions, including concentrated operational attention on the No. 1 California route (which exceeded 85% on-time after focused efforts), stepped-up hiring to fill frontline positions, and collaboration with the Controller’s Office to manage hiring within budget constraints. The agency said unscheduled absences were 11.9% for FY06 against a target of 9.7% and overall absenteeism near 22% when scheduled leave and long-term work‑comp cases are included.
Supervisors urged the MTA to track success in filling budgeted positions as a performance metric and to continue aggressive recruitment and training; MTA staff said that while immediate improvements are underway, a full recovery in staffing and operations could take more than a year given training and equipment constraints.
