RTO Conductor, Train Operator Honored as ‘Keepers of the City’

JUNE 12, 2026 – Two Local 100 members were honored last night at the annual Straus News awards event, Keepers of the City. Conductor Chis Sarro and Train Operator Anthony Outieral were honored among 12 essential civil servants and local heroes who keep New York City running.

The award ceremony, hosted in partnership with District Council 37, recognizes city and state workers who go above and beyond for their communities.

Sarro and Outieral were honored for their quick-thinking and intervention that saved the lives of five youths attempting to subway surf on a Manhattan-bound F train in Midwood back in December.

The teamwork and communication between Conductor and Train Operator resulted in the group coming back into the train car, but as the persistent subway surfers climbed down between the cars onto the tracks, Outieral’s “gut instinct” caused him to “pop my head out of the window and take a look back” before pulling off, as he told the Daily News at the time, which gave the youths time to clear the tracks.

The surfers fled before further action could be taken to address the near-death incident.IB Image

This story highlights the many ways that Train Operators and Conductors work together so New Yorkers can continue to reach their destinations safely. Were OPTO to become routine on all subway lines, there would have been no one to look out for the teens that day.

Local 100 congratulates Outieral and Sarro on their well-deserved awards.