BYFORD OUT, IN
Denies dustup with gov as he quits, returns
Just when Andy Byford thought he was out, they pulled him back in.
The NYC Transit president, an outsider hired two years ago by Gov. Cuomo to save New York City’s troubled mass transit system, abruptly resigned last week, several sources told the Daily News. And then he reversed course, opting instead to remain in his $325,000-a-year job.
“The letter has been rescinded,” said MTA spokeswoman Abbey Collins as word of increased tensions between the governor and Byford spread.
Byford was quick Friday to refute tales of any schism.
“I’m not going anywhere and I remain laser-focused on improving day-to-day service for millions of New Yorkers and delivering a transformed transit network,” he said in a statement released by the MTA. “The historic $51 billion capital plan provides a golden opportunity to further transform the subway and bus network with unprecedented investments in accessibility — and my team and I are totally focused on achieving that.”
It was a complete turn around from last week when Byford decided to walk away from the job — and sent his resignation letter to the MTA’s managing director, multiple sources said. He was reportedly motivated by increasing tensions with the governor, along with planned service cuts for mass transit, according to Politico, which first reported his resignation.
MTA honchos then spent the past several days trying to sweet talk Byford back into the fold — successfully, as it turns out.
The News encountered Byford on a bus en route to Thursday’s press conference, and the English-born transit chief said he was “looking forward to executing” his plans to improve bus and subway service for New Yorkers.
The Thursday press conference was originally scheduled for Oct. 11, the day after Byford turned in his resignation. The Oct. 11 event was cancelled at the last minute due to “a scheduling issue,” according to MTA spokesman Tim Minton.
In his Friday statement, Byford also denied any rift with Cuomo.
“The Governor and I are on exactly the same page about the need to dramatically improve the transit system in New York and we now have the plan and the funding to do that,” he said.
Cuomo last week held a press conference to announce the findings of the MTA’s “Speed and Safety Task Force,” a group formed at his request with the goal of increasing subway train speed limits.
Byford’s “Save Safe Seconds” campaign has been increasing speed limits on the subway for more than a year, and sources said Cuomo’s announcement aimed to take credit for the transit chief’s work.
Byford was on the final day of a vacation when Cuomo made his announcement last week.
“I have no idea when he’s taking vacation, when he’s not on vacation,” Cuomo said of Byford.