MBTA chief named new transportation secretary by governor, replacing Mullan

By Michael Levenson and Noah Bierman, Globe Staff

MBTA General Manager Richard Davey today was named the state’s new transportation secretary by Governor Deval Patrick, succeeding Jeffrey Mullan who is returning to the private sector.

Davey will take the reins of the transportation agency Sept. 1. His replacement at the MBTA is not expected to be named today. Davey will take time to choose his own replacement, either on an interim or permanent basis.

Davey was named to the top post at the MBTA in March 2010 and is credited with increasing the deployment of programs and applications that provide real-time data to commuters about arrival times of MBTA vehicles.

“We have accomplished much, but we have much to do,’’ Davey said at the State House press conference announcing his promotion. Davey, 38, vowed to continue to ride the Green Line from his home in the Back Bay to the transportation department building in Park Square.

In a statement, Patrick praised Davey for his “energetic leadership style” and expressed his appreciation to Mullan for taking on the task of overseeing MassDOT, a super-agency created in 2009 when numerous transportation agencies were merged into one.

“Rich has a proven record of commitment to safety and customer service, along with an energetic leadership style that will allow him to hit the ground running in continuing to implement transportation reform at MassDOT,” Patrick said in the statement.

He added, “I look forward to working with Rich, and want to express my deep appreciation for Jeff Mullan’s passion and outstanding service to the citizens of the Commonwealth.”

Before taking over the T, Davey had been general manager for 18 months at the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad, the company that operates and maintains the MBTA’s commuter rail service.

The MBTA was a target of criticism earlier this year when numerous commuter trains were delayed. The commuter rail contract expires in 2013, and depending on his longevity in office, Davey could be a major player in those talks. The Globe reported this year that the MBCR contract was changed by the MBTA board, easing the penalties MBCR would have to pay for late trains.

Davey acknowledged in March that the delays were more numerous than in the past and said that he understood riders’ frustration.

He said that most of the delays were caused by the unusually tough winter and an aging fleet of locomotives. He said the T was moving to address the problems by upgrading its locomotive fleet.

Mullan said in mid-July that he was stepping down. He will now return to his prior position as a partner in the Boston law firm Foley Hoag.

Mullan has been embroiled recently in a controversy over a 110-pound light fixture falling in a Big Dig tunnel in February and the delay in state officials notifying the public about it.

But two people close to the governor told the Globe that Mullan, who became secretary in October 2009, had asked for a raise in May because he was facing financial strain from his children’s school tuition.