NEW YORK — Andy Byford, the president of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s subway and bus agency, New York City Transit, has resigned.
Politico first reported the resignation, which was confirmed at the beginning of today’s MTA board meeting.
In a statement, Byford said, I’m very proud of what we have achieved as a team over the past two years and I believe New York City Transit is well-placed to continue its forward progress now that the MTA has a record breaking $51.5 billion Capital Program in place. I’m very grateful to [New York Gov. Andrew] Cuomo, [MTA Chairman Foye and members of the Board for giving me the opportunity to serve New York and to head up North America’s largest transit system.”
He previously submitted his resignation in October — reportedly over disagreements with Cuomo — but later rescinded that decision after being convinced not to leave by MTA leadership. [See “NYC Transit chief resigns, then reconsiders,” Trains News Wire, Oct. 21, 2019.]
John Raskin, executive director of transit-passenger advocacy group Riders Alliance said in a statement that “Subway and bus riders are grateful to Andy Byford for his historic service at New York City Transit. In two years, Andy made subways faster and more reliable, he tackled longstanding challenges to improving bus service, and he crafted the first plan in a generation that would truly modernize the transit system.”
Raskin added, “No matter who runs the transit system day-to-day, ultimately Governor Cuomo is in charge of the MTA, and riders will be holding the governor accountable for the quality of our transit service.”
Byford was appointed President of New York City Transit in January 2018.
He had been Chief Executive Officer of the Toronto Transit Commission during that agency’s transformation. Previously, he was the Chief Operating Officer of Rail Corporation in Sydney, Australia, and Operations Director and Operations and Safety Director with Southern Railway and South Eastern Trains Limited in England. He started his 40-year career with the London Underground.
— Updated at 11:50 a.m. CDT with Riders Alliance statement
Problem:: Cuomo was just reelected. so he’s governor for another 3 years! I thought that it was funny how Cuomo crowed about the 2nd. Ave, stubway. He even signed the new maps.
Farewell Andy, we will miss you in NYC! DC should snap him up.
Replace Cuomo, not Byford. Maybe if New Yorkers finally wake up and vote out Cuomo, we can get Andy back to finish the job he started. What was not included in this article are statements representing Transit workers and how many of them respected Andy. Good leadership is hard to find these days. I am sure Andy will be snapped up quickly.
He must have resisted putting money in the right (or should I say “left”) pockets. Have no doubt, New York is a pay for play state.
Andy Byford was very effective here in Toronto. I wonder if he could be tempted to return for a new position in Ontario transit?
He has done a great job and will be missed here in New York
Did a great job in both NYC and Toronto. What’s he gonna do now?
This should come as no surprise, however regrettable. It was clear from the beginning of Byford’s tenure that Cuomo would not let him do his job without interference, Cuomo being the Trumplike megalomaniac he is. As one who has observed tangible MTA improvements the last several years, the parallel coming to mind is the Amtrak tenure of David Gunn. Just read a great account of the D-Day assault of Omaha beach…what if the USA had the leaders then we have now?