Sarah Feinberg Slated To Become First Woman MTA Chair

New York City NY

08 June, 2021

3:23 PM

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NEW YORK CITY — A prominent transit official is slated to become the first woman to head the MTA. Sarah Feinberg, who currently heads city transit, will be nominated by Gov. Andrew Cuomo to become the next MTA chair, the Wall Street Journal first reported. The governor's office made an official announcement shortly after reports over Feinberg's historic nomination emerged. "I am thrilled to be stepping into a position that allows me to continue to play a significant role in how our subway and bus systems operate, but to also have even more of an impact in shaping the future of the agency, and of transportation in this city and region," Feinberg said in a statement. "There should be no higher priority than ensuring we are doing all we can to bring ridership back - and as ridership comes back, so will the city's economic recovery." Feinberg's nomination still needs approval by state lawmakers. But, if approved, she will replace current MTA Chairman and CEO Patrick Foye, who will step down July 30, officials said. Feinberg won't take the whole of her predecessor's job. Cuomo also seeks lawmakers' approval to split the combined role of MTA chair and CEO into two, the Wall Street Journal reported. Janno Lieber, MTA's current president of construction and development, will take the CEO role, according to the governor's office. For his part, Foye received a nomination to become president and CEO of Empire State Development — the state's economic development organization. Feinberg, despite officially being "interim" head of city transit, has been a prominent face in local government during the pandemic. She has spearheaded efforts to get riders back onto subways and buses, and engaged in high-profile clashes with Mayor Bill de Blasio over transit safety.