Signal light at Stillwell Avenue platform in Brooklyn | MTA Byford’s 'signals guru' follows him out the door

Pete Tomlin, the engineer that outgoing subways chief Andy Byford recruited to spearhead the wholesale resignaling of New York City’s aged subway system, is following his boss out the door.

A source said Tomlin's resignation came Friday, the day after Byford submitted his resignation letter. Byford’s resignation was first reported by POLITICO. His last day is Feb. 21.


Tomlin’s move could be the first sign that the popular subway chief’s departure will spark an exodus from New York City Transit, the subway and bus division that Byford has helmed for two years.

“You can be sure to see an exodus of @MTA talent in the wake of Andy Byford's departure,” tweeted former MTA board member Veronica Vanterpool on Thursday. “He is the reason so many people have been inspired to work at @NYCTSubway @NYCTBus despite the negativity.”

Tomlin's departure may also be the logical result of his close relationship with Byford.

“The departure was expected as Pete was hired by Andy a little over a year ago," MTA spokesperson Abbey Collins said in an email. "We thank Pete for his service and wish him well in the future.”

Tomlin could not be reached for comment.

Now that he is leaving, subway signaling will be handled by the MTA's newly centralized construction and development department, under the leadership of Janno Lieber, as per the MTA's transformation plan, Collins said.

When Byford first resigned in October, the MTA convinced him to stay in part by agreeing to let him — and Tomlin, too — retain control over subway signaling. That concession is now moot.

Tomlin's hiring in late 2018 was widely praised. Tomlin and Byford had worked together in London and Toronto. Byford referred to Tomlin as his “signals guru.”

“I love delivering world class signaling systems, and as NYC Transit is probably the most prestigious system in the world with many challenges, it is tremendously exciting for me to be a part of something that delivers a world-class service for the people of New York,” Tomlin said at the time.

Only two of New York City’s subway lines — the 7 and the L — have modern signaling, known as communications-based train control. Experts consider modern signaling to be the key to turning around the system over the long term. Many of New York City’s subway signals are so old that workers can’t buy replacement parts in the open market; they have to manufacture them in-house. Modern signaling not only enables significantly more reliable train operations, but also allows trains to run more closely together, thereby enhancing the overall capacity of the system.

But signaling also became a flashpoint in the relationship between Byford and his ultimate boss, Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

The governor routinely expressed frustration with the length of time it takes to install communications-based train control and would publicly deride the technology as old-fashioned. Byford nevertheless continued to voice the expert consensus that the technology is the modern gold standard for subway signaling. Installing it is a central element of the MTA's $51 billion reconstruction plan.

On Thursday, after POLITICO broke the Byford resignation news, Cuomo held an unrelated press conference. He again quibbled with the MTA’s signal modernization plans and defended his search for a new way of doing things.

“When the MTA tells you seven years, you know what I hear?” said Cuomo on Thursday. “More than seven years. Seven years is like a lifetime. So do CBTC and in the meantime, let's just query?”