Interview With the Interim President of New York City Transit

The Andy Byford era is over, and an interim president by the name of Sarah Feinberg is running the New York MTA's buses and trains.

1 minute read

March 4, 2020, 6:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


New York MTA

Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Flickr

Stephen Nessen sat down with Sarah Feinberg, newly appointed interim president of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), for an interview. Feinberg is succeeding the popular and relatively successful leadership of Andy Byford.

Nessen introduces Feinberg thusly:

[Feinberg] takes the reigns at a time when on-time performance is at the highest level in six years, but the MTA is also in the midst of a reorganization in which it hopes to cut 2,700 jobs -- including 700 jobs in operations, the workers she’ll oversee. Feinberg's background is in navigating politics in Washington, serving as special assistant to President Barack Obama, and senior advisor to Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. She was head of the Federal Railroad Administration for two years, and was chief of staff at the Department of Transportation for two years as well.

The interview that follows includes discussion of Byford, Feinberg's past experience, the transition to new leadership at the MTA, an the role of state political leadership in oversight of the city's public transit system, among other topics.

Monday, March 2, 2020 in Gothamist

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents

The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

July 11 - Real Change

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

July 11 - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

July 11 - Cities Today