Ron Ester, MBTA's chief safety officer, resigning
BOSTON - Ron Ester, the MBTA's chief safety officer, is resigning.
General Manager Phil Eng made the announcement Tuesday in a letter to staff.
Ester came to the MBTA three years ago from the Chicago Transit Authority. His last day will be August 30.
In a statement, Ester called his departure "bittersweet." It comes after several safety incidents on the MBTA.
"I am proud of the work that we have done to make our system safer during my tenure, despite the many challenges that we have faced. The MBTA has been underinvested in for decades, and it has taken a lot of hard work to make our system as safe as it is today. I know that there is still more work to be done, but I am proud to have played a leading role in many of the improvements that have taken shape," he said.
Rod Brooks, the T's Senior Advisor for Capital, Operations, and Safety, will take over until a replacement is found.
In the past two years, the MBTA has been under heavy criticism for several safety concerns.
In 2022, 39-year-old Robinson Lalin, a father of two, was dragged to his death on the Red Line when his arm got caught in the door while the car left the subway platform.
In August 2022, an MBTA Orange Line train caught fire with 200 people onboard. Severla had to jump out of a car window, and one woman jumped into the Mystic River.
In March 2023, Cianna Navarro was nearly hit by a 25-pound ceiling panel that came crashing down to the platform at Harvard Square, just inches away. The news of Ester's resignation did not make her feel any more comfort.
"I do want a reliable system where my safety is not at stake," Navarro said. "The only thing I can hope for is things to improve in the future not only for me, but for everyone else in Boston who relies on public transportation."
Riders told WBZ-TV they just want to feel safe.
"I've been a an ironworker for 23 years. Safety either helps people or gets people killed," one man said.
