People walk by a subway station in New York City. | Getty Images Former federal railroad official to temporarily succeed Byford as subways chief

Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s long pursuit of Sarah Feinberg appears to have borne fruit.

On Tuesday, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which Cuomo effectively controls, announced Feinberg would succeed Andy Byford, on an interim basis, as president of New York City Transit, the subway and bus system that carries more than 2 billion people a year.


Cuomo formerly asked Feinberg to serve as the MTA’s chairman and CEO, a position she declined, citing family and work constraints — news POLITICO first reported last March. He settled for naming her to the MTA board, where she has distinguished herself as a vocal advocate for expanding the MTA police force.

A business and communications consultant, Feinberg formerly served as head of the Federal Railroad Administration under President Barack Obama.

She will temporarily succeed the popular Byford while the MTA conducts a search for a permanent chief. POLITICO first reported Byford's departure earlier this year, after months of clashing with Cuomo.

Feinberg has been a close ally of the governor's on the MTA board, and has used the platform to sometimes tangle with critics of his police expansion on Twitter.

In a press conference Tuesday, she said that she would prioritize recruiting a permanent replacement. Feinberg said that for her, the job is a bad long-term fit because she has a young daughter at home.

"Sarah Feinberg is a seasoned professional with long, high-level experience in government and transit,” said Riders Alliance policy director Danny Pearlstein, in a text message. “We look forward to her continuing the progress of the past two years, reducing delays, speeding up trains, and delivering on the promise of the MTA's bus network redesigns."

She will start March 9. She declined to predict when her tenure would conclude. She will step off the MTA board to fill the staff position.

"This might actually be the best job in transportation in America,” Feinberg said.