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Head of New York City Subways, Andy Byford, Resigns Andy Byford, New York City’s Subway Chief, Resigns
(32 minutes later)
Two years after he arrived to turn around New York City’s failing subway, Andy Byford resigned on Thursday.Two years after he arrived to turn around New York City’s failing subway, Andy Byford resigned on Thursday.
Mr. Byford, a cheerful Brit who oversaw the subway and buses as the president of New York City Transit, made significant progress during his tenure. But he also repeatedly tangled with Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo over dueling visions for the future of the transit system. Mr. Byford, a British transit veteran who oversaw the subway and buses as the president of New York City Transit, made significant progress during his tenure. But he also repeatedly tangled with Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo over dueling visions for the future of the transit system.
“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,” Mr. Byford said in a statement.
His departure, which was first reported by Politico, could jeopardize the current campaign to fix the subway. He had ambitious plans to transform the system and a unique mix of charisma and a dogged work ethic that made New Yorkers believe in him. His arrival in January 2018 was celebrated as a turning point for the subway, and profiles in The New Yorker and on 60 Minutes followed.
Only 58 percent of trains were on time the month that Mr. Byford started. There were near constant meltdowns and several train derailments raised safety concerns.
Mr. Byford helped push the on-time rate over 80 percent through a series of operational changes and a focus on the basics. He said he wanted to bring the on-time rate into the 90s and proposed an ambitious overhaul of the subway’s ancient signal equipment.
But Mr. Byford struggled to get along with Mr. Cuomo, who controls the subway and the flow of money to the system. Colleagues say both men have supersize egos and wanted credit for the subway’s success. They quarreled over plans to fix the L train and new technology to upgrade signals.
Some believed Mr. Byford’s rock star status may have irked Mr. Cuomo. They compared the dynamic to Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and his police commissioner, William J. Bratton, who resigned in 1996 shortly after being on the cover of Time magazine.
When Mr. Byford publicly questioned Mr. Cuomo’s decision to call off the shutdown of the L train tunnel between Manhattan and Brooklyn, Mr. Byford suddenly found himself sidelined. The two men did not speak for four months in 2019.
Their relationship appeared to improve in recent months. Then Mr. Byford tried to resign in October, citing concerns over budget cuts and interference by Mr. Cuomo’s office. His bosses at the transit agency convinced him to stay, but the détente did not last long.
“Andy Byford will be departing New York City Transit after a successful two years of service and we thank him for his work,’’ said Patrick J. Foye, the chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the agency that operates the subway. “Andy was instrumental in moving the system forward, enacting the successful Subway Action Plan and securing record capital funding with the Governor and the Legislature, and we wish him well in his next chapter.”