Published 09 Oct, 2014
New York Daily News EXCLUSIVE: Mario Maisonet had his leg amputated after developing a bad infection in his leg from a bug bite in Florida. Before that, he had passed the civil service exam to ditch his MTA bus driver job and become a motorman. He’s still on the path.
BY PETE DONOHUE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Wednesday, October 8, 2014, 2:30 AM
Transit worker Mario Maisonet (center), who lost his leg, almost lost his promotion to subway motorman. But since his amputation he’s shown he can handle virtually anything physical.
A Brooklyn man who had his right leg amputated is on track to become a subway motorman — but he doesn’t consider it a daunting challenge.
After all, he said he’s bicyled in 100 miles races — twice — and skied on both snow and water.
“I can do anything a lot of people with two legs can do, and probably do it better,” Mario Maisonet said. “It might take me a little longer to get there, but I’ll get it done.”
The MTA initially blocked Maisonet’s goal of operating trains but managers recently cleared him for training — after he and his union relentlessly pushed for approval, he said. Maisonet began taking classes at an NYC Transit facility in Brooklyn last week.
If he graduates, the married father of three will make his first solo run with subway riders in about six months, he said.
“His determination for justice, and the union’s tenacity, have paid off,” Transport Workers Union Local 100 President John Samuelsen said. “This is a victory for Mario Maisonet and his family.”
Maisonet, 47, developed an infection from an apparent bug bite while on vacation in Florida more than two years ago, he said. Doctors initially misdiagnosed the cause of the painful swelling in his right leg until it was too late, he said. They informed him the infection had spread into bone and amputation below the right knee was necessary.
Transit worker Mario Maisonet won fight against MTA to become motorman after losing his leg to a bug bite.
An MTA bus driver at the time, Maisonet was angry and depressed until post-surgery therapy sessions, he said. There he met other amputees who were doing physically demanding things — like hang-gliding — that he never even tried with two legs.
“It opened up a whole new world,” he said.
After being fitted with a prosthetic, and months of strenuous physical therapy, he became an avid sportsman. His activities have included hang-gliding, skiing and water skiing. He has competed twice in 100-mile bicycle races, he said.
“I don’t want to just compete with people with two legs,” he said. “I want to beat them. I consider it a challenge.”
The MTA didn’t initially embrace Maisonet’s job goals. He passed the civil service test to enter motorman training before the amputation.
When he returned and said he was ready to move from bus driver to motorman, which has a higher rate of pay, transit medical staff refused to give him clearance. Managers placed him in a job cleaning buses and offices, he said.
Fortunately for Maisonet, subway trains are operated using hand controls unlike buses.
He turned to two union reps, JP Pataffio and Willie Rivera, who argued on his behalf and took his case to a contract arbitrator. During the dispute, Maisonet took two “practical exams” in the field demonstrating he could physically do the job.
Transit managers weren’t concerned about Maisonet’s ability to drive trains, an MTA official said. They are operated by hand controls.
Managers were worried Maisonet would have difficulty with other tasks, like climbing the ladders subway workers use to board and exit trains in rail yards and tunnels during emergencies, the official said.
“We commend Mr. Maisonet’s determination through incredible adversity and look forward to seeing him complete his training to join our train operator ranks,” MTA spokesman Kevin Ortiz said.
There have been city bus drivers with one prosthetic leg. Transit and union officials couldn’t say Tuesday whether Maisonet would be the first motorman so equipped.
pdonohue@nydailynews.com
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